Women's Groups

This image comes from a collection of glass negatives found in the attic of a Palmerston North home. The people in the images are possibly the Lovelock family, but their identities have not been confirmed.

This image was taken for a story that ran in The Manawatu Evening Standard on 19 November 1958: "Nothing is left to chance when an R.N.Z.A.F. flight is arranged. Here L.A.C. W. Meldrum, a woman signaller on the staff at Ohakea, is seen at the radio control panel just before the Comet II took off on its North Island demonstration flight yesterday."

This image was taken for a story that ran in The Manawatū Evening Standard on 19 February 1958, page 8: "Miss A. Blackaby, of Wellington, is shown striking at a ball in the national senior B women's softball championships which opened in the city today. Waiting for the ball is the Hawke's Bay catcher, Miss G. Haronga."

This image was taken for a story that ran in The Manawatū Evening Standard on 04 March 1958, page 12: "Twenty-eight attractive young women are seen as they appeared before the judges in the "Miss Manawatū" contest at Guddop's Lake on Sunday." The winner was Cynthia Fielding of Palmerston North (contestant no.3). Dianne Butehart of Wanganui and Erika Hogan of Feilding, finished second and third respectively. Guddop's Lake is now called Dudding Lake (2019).

This photograph was created by William James Young in the early 20th century. A large variety of subjects are depicted in the collection, but family, rural life and travel are the most prominent themes. The exact location of the photographs in the Young Collection is unknown, but W J Young lived on a farm in Mt Stewart, Rangitikei, and some of the photographs include his house. The Young family were apparently avid travellers and photographs later in the collection feature scenes from Rotorua, Auckland, Whanganui, as well as other unidentified locations. The portraits are all unidentified, but are presumably of members of the Young family. The photographers parents were George Henry (b 1833) and Jane McDowell (b 1842, d 1916). They came to New Zealand in 1877. The same year, they bought the home farm on Mt Stewart and called it Kilrudden after Kilrudden House, the home of the McDowell family in Ireland. The couple had four children: Ann (b 1873), Margaret (b 1876), John (b 1878) and William James (b 1880). William James married Mary Elizabeth Thompson and they had four children: Doris (b 1914, d 1989), George (b 1916, d 1991), Royden McDowell (b 1925, d 1992) and Noel William (b 1927, d 2013).

This image was taken for a story that ran in The Manawatu Evening Standard on 15 February 1958, page 10: "Pictured with their trophies after the presentation ceremony at the conclusion of the Manawatu Women's Bowling Centre's open fours tournament yesterday are the victorious Northern team. They are from left: Mrs. A. Cleghorn (lead), Mrs. C. Clarke (No. 2), Mrs. E. Hadfield (skip), and Mrs. M.C. Turner (No. 3). "

This photograph was taken for a story that ran in the Manawatu Evening Standard on 29 October 1985 about an extended visit made by Highbury residents to the Kauwhata Marae (Feilding). The families spent the week at the marae for an educational programme aimed at connecting them with their heritage, including lessons in te reo and learning about taha wairua (spiritual health). The woman pictured is Aunty Kawa. To read the whole story, see Manawatu Evening Standard 29 October 1985.

This unidentified woman is using a Turbomatch Might Midget.This negative comes from the Elmar Collection - a large series of semi-identified and unidentified images from the 1930s-1970s. 

Indoor basketball team of women staff members of Herberts, Pahiatua. Herberts is probably A H Herbert & Co, general merchants. Women's indoor basketball was still a new sport in 1947. In 1946 the New Zealand Women's Basketball Association (Inc.) was formed and National and Island championships began in 1947.

A midwife astride her horse in the Apiti District.

The protesters were demanding the resignation of the District Court Judge, J.W.P. Watts, after remarks he made when sentencing Peter Howse, a man convicted of assaulting his de-facto wife. Identified (from left): Red Parsons (far left, coordinator of Community Volunteers after Dr Wendy Craig), Dr Liz Gordon (holding the left side of placard that reads, "This court is a circus"), Dr Wendy Craig (holding the right side of placard that reads, "This court is a circus"), Susan Grace (dark hair in front of window), Adrienne Baird (holding smaller sign at front), Freda Larsen (holding bag at front, right of Adrienne Baird), Ephra Garret (dark haired woman holding paper at front), Viv Maidaborn (flannel shirt) and Karen Sole (with megaphone, said to be the only one in Palmerston North at the time), involved with Fair Courts action group.

Staff members of the ROSCO [C.M.Ross & Co] indoor basketball team. Women's indoor basketball was still a new sport in 1947. In 1946 the New Zealand Women's Basketball Association (Inc.) was formed and National and Island championships began in 1947. Many sports teams were formed from businesses. C M Ross was one of the premier department stores in Palmerston North

An unidentified woman is seated in a rocking chair on a porch and knitting socks. She is wearing makeup to make her appear as an elderly woman. This was part of a set of glass negatives found with no information - see 2010G_Unknown_3559 - 3566.

Mrs E Clevely arrived in Bunnythorpe in 1879.

Members of the Women's Service League at work, on Alfred Seifert's Opiki farm, in order to earn money that went into a parcel fund. Those who worked could submit the names of servicemen overseas to receive parcels. From left: Unknown, Peggy McMahon, Unknown, Kitty Landers, Dorothy Anderson, Nancy Stuart, Joan Brown, unknown, unknown, Cathy Richards (?)

Some of the McDonald family having a day out at Foxton Beach. Joan Klee at right married Kenneth Lindsay McDonald.

Betty Dudson (b 1924) has been identified third from the right in the back row. The Premiere Drapery Company (PDC) building was built 1929-1930. The store was one of the foremost department stores in Palmerston North. In 1986 the PDC became part of the PDC Plaza. This was sold in 1988, and the PDC building demolished 1990.

The Whakarongo Country Women's Institute float in the 85th Jubilee parade. Whakarongo was originally called Stoney Creek. From left: Hazel Dawson; Margaret Goodman; Eunice Romley; Ruby Johanson; two of the Kamariera boys.

This photograph was created by William James Young in the early 20th century. A large variety of subjects are depicted in the collection, but family, rural life and travel are the most prominent themes. The exact location of the photographs in the Young Collection is unknown, but W J Young lived on a farm in Mt Stewart, Rangitikei, and some of the photographs include his house. The Young family were apparently avid travellers and photographs later in the collection feature scenes from Rotorua, Auckland, Whanganui, as well as other unidentified locations. The portraits are all unidentified, but are presumably of members of the Young family. The photographers parents were George Henry (b 1833) and Jane McDowell (b 1842, d 1916). They came to New Zealand in 1877. The same year, they bought the home farm on Mt Stewart and called it Kilrudden after Kilrudden House, the home of the McDowell family in Ireland. The couple had four children: Ann (b 1873), Margaret (b 1876), John (b 1878) and William James (b 1880). William James married Mary Elizabeth Thompson and they had four children: Doris (b 1914, d 1989), George (b 1916, d 1991), Royden McDowell (b 1925, d 1992) and Noel William (b 1927, d 2013).

A parade was held as part of the celebrations of Palmerston North achieving city status. It was declared the eighth city in New Zealand on 1 August 1930, but celebrations were delayed until better weather in November and combined with the New Zealand and Empire Industries Week. This Collinson and Cunningham float was partially or wholly designed by Joan Klee (2nd on float) who was a designer/ window dresser for Collinson and Cunningham.

A large group photograph showing members of a branch of the Women's Institute. All of the ladies in the photograph are unidentified. Originating in Canada in 1897, the The Dominion Federation of Women's Institutes, as it was known at the time, was set up to enable women to take an effective part in community life and its development. The idea of Women’s Institutes was first introduced to New Zealand by Miss Ann Elizabeth Jerome Spencer on her return from war work in England, where she had seen the work of the organisation and the first branch was founded in the Hawkes Bay in 1921. In 2014, there were 13 individual branches in the Manawatu Federation.

Aroha Clifford was the first pilot trained by the Canterbury Aero Club in 1928. She may have been New Zealand’s first woman pilot.

What looks like a family group of husband and wife in their car with two children standing on the running board, in a rural setting. An older woman is also part of the group, and may be a relative. Part of a series of five photographs showing differing views of this group. See also: 2010G_Unknown_3564; 2010G_Unknown_3565; 2010G_Unknown_3566. Part of a set of glass negatives found with no information - see 2010G_Unknown_3559 - 3566.

Joan Klee (middle) is dressed in an outfit she created for a Palmerston North Diamond Jubilee Parade. It caused quite the stir at the time because of its transparent bottom half. She was a window-dresser for the department store Collinson and Cunninghame, and was thought to be the first qualified female window-dresser in the country. She was instructed in the art of window-dressing by Claude Dixon, who had traveled to the United States to study at the prestigious Macy's Department Store. Joan Klee married Kenneth Lindsey Mcdonald

The Lady Liverpool fund helped to raise money to send parcels to soldiers fighting during World War One. It ceased operations by 1919. Identified people: Mrs J.A. Nash, wife of the Palmerston North Mayor (front row left); Mrs C.A. Massey, wife of Minister of Parliament (4th from the left).

This photograph shows three people in a pick-up truck. A young woman is behind the wheel, while two men ride as passengers - one in the front seat and another, with farm dog in tow, sits in the bed of the truck.

Miss Fay Jewell, see with the book week display, was Children’s Librarian, and worked at the Palmerston North Library 1950-1968.

Harrier clubs were often restricted to men only and the 1980's saw an influx of women's running club form in answer to this. This photograph, which ran in the Manawatu Evening Standard (4 March 1982, pg 13) with a story about the creation of three such clubs.

Joan Klee is dressed in an outfit she created for the Palmerston North Diamond Jubilee Parade. It caused quite the stir at the time because of its transparent bottom half. She was a window-dresser for the department store Collinson and Cunninghame, thought to be the first qualified female window-dresser in the country. She was instructed in the art of window-dressing by Claude Dixon, who had traveled to the United States to study at the prestigious Macy's Department Store. Joan Klee married Kenneth Lindsey McDonald.

A group of unidentified women serving in World War Two. The WAAC was attached to the army and carried out certain wartime duties.

This image was taken for a story that ran in The Manawatu Evening Standard on 17 September 1958: "A considerable amount of enjoyment was gained by the audience which attended the Manawatu Free Kindergarten Combined Mothers' Clubs talent evening held at the Concert Chamber. The second item was a short sketch provided by the West End group. In the photograph Mrs. G. Pauline (sitting), who played Liza, prepared to hit Mrs. J. Dickinson (Gerdie) for her insolence."

This image was taken for a story that ran in The Manawatu Evening Standard on 09 September 1958: "Players from Hawera, Feilding and Palmerston North competed in the Manawatu women's open golf championships which began at Hokowhitu today. Mrs. E. Trail is seen taking a putt. Mrs. F. Souness is holding the flag."

This image was taken for a story that ran in The Manawatu Evening Standard on 03 March 1958, page 8: "The flag is being "broken" in a ceremony at the commencement of the sports gathering of Central Districts Guide and Brownie companies at Whakarongo on Saturday."

This image was taken for a story that ran in The Manawatū Evening Standard on 17 September 1958: "The Feilding Kindergarten Mothers' Club provided a delightful act at the talent evening held in the Concert Chamber last night with a song and dance routine. They are (from left): Mesdames D. Monrad, J. Geary, J. Griffin and R. Hays."