60850
Blackie family : Papers
Details
Reference NumberARC-0329CreatorBlackie familyDescriptionThis large collection includes papers of several generations and branches of the Blackie family. It has been extensively annotated by Judith Robinson and her notes are included with many items; she has dated many of the photographs according to when the photographers were operating. There are several different parts to the collection. The 'early family papers' series includes material she arranged chronologically, including some early papers from Scotland and others relating to the family's migration and early years in New Zealand. There is a series relating to family properties; this mostly concerns Pendreich farm, which was jointly owned by several of the family, but also relates to Lakeside farm, near Stirling, in which James Blackie and Margaret Dewar had shares. There are extensive sets of accounts, including receipts for many South Otago businesses.
The largest part of the collection is the papers of various individual family members, which vary according to their interests. Most include correspondence, often between family members, giving valuable insights into their lives and times. Agnes Blackie's papers include her unpublished memoirs, which are a rich source on the history of the University of Otago. Other highlights include James Blackie's university and theology workbooks, dating from the 1870s, and Alexander Blackie's journals of his 1870s world tour, including interesting references to Gallipoli. There is also a small collection of material relating to the artist Noeline Baker, known to Judith Robinson (nee Smith) through Stewart Island Smith family connections.
A collection of World War I papers includes the correspondence and other war material of Davidson Blackie, along with correspondence of the Dewar brothers and friends of various Blackies (there is also World War I material amongst the series of papers of individual Blackies). Some papers relating to the Pendreich branch of the Blackie family but not identified with one particular person are in the 'Other general Blackie family (Pendreich)' series. The general 'other papers' series includes miscellaneous items which do not fit elsewhere or where the family member concerned can not be identified.
There is a large collection of family photographs, ranging from early ambrotype and daguerreotype portraits to twentieth-century studio portraits, with many photographs featuring farming, World War I and early motor vehicles. Notable among several albums in the collection is one of Alexander Blackie's world tour.
Only a small part of this collection is digitised and available through Digital Collections. Information about other items can be found on the Hākena catalogue, through the Library Catalogues link above.History / BiographyThe Blackie family, originally from Dundee, Scotland, began its connection with Otago in 1848. Alexander Blackie and Margaret Arnot had three sons: James, Alexander and Davidson. James Blackie was appointed first schoolmaster to the Otago Free Church colony and arrived in Dunedin on the 'Philip Laing' in 1848. He started a school, but became ill with tuberculosis; he went to Sydney late in 1850 and died there early in 1851. He had bought land for a farm near Kaitangata and, after various legal complications, his brother Davidson migrated to take up the land. With his wife Margaret Pandrich and children Allan, James, Alexander and Margaret, he travelled on the 'Shooting Star' from Liverpool to Auckland in 1859; they arrived at the farm they named Pendreich early in 1860. James and Davidson's other brother, Alexander Blackie, migrated to the USA, as did some of Margaret Pandrich's relatives.
In the next generation, Alexander Blackie worked with his father Davidson on the Pendreich farm, taking over after his father's death in 1887. In 1878 and 1879 he took a world tour, visiting Australia, Britain, Europe, Asia and the USA. He married Tannie Nicholson, daughter of the Kaitangata schoolmaster, and they had four children: Nell, Pansie, Davidson and Rhoda. Nell qualifed in physical education and was a teacher and inspector in various places; she lost her job in the depression and became companion housekeeper to a Wingate relation of her mother's. After Miss Wingate died, Nell returned to Pendreich. Rhoda graduated in home science from the University of Otago in 1919. She then taught at Southland Technical College for many years, becoming senior mistress. After retirement she returned to Pendreich. Pansie and Davidson remained on the farm, though Davidson was away serving in World War I from 1917 to 1919. None of the four siblings married and after they had all died the farm was eventually sold.
James Blackie, Alexander's brother, was an early student at the University of Otago and the first graduate of the Presbyterian Church's Theological Hall. He served as minister of a large parish with its centre at Lumsden. In 1893 he married Jeanetta Walker. She was born in England to Scottish parents and well-educated in Edinburgh; she served as a governess there. She migrated to New Zealand in 1888 and became governess to a Dipton family. James and Jeanetta had two daughters, Greta and Agnes, but James died when they were very young. Jeanetta then established a small private school in Queenstown, moving to Dunedin in 1903 on her appointment as first principal of the Presbyterian Women's Training Institute, which trained women as deaconesses. Greta completed a BA at the University of Otago and became a teacher; she married Victor Robinson and had three children, Dorothy, Kathleen and Keith. Agnes completed a BSc and MSc at Otago and became one its earliest women lecturers, teaching in the physics department from 1919 to 1958, taking a break to travel and work overseas in 1927 and 1928.
Alexander and James's sister Margaret Blackie married William Dewar in 1880; they lived in North Otago and in 1901 took up a farm in the Maheno district. In 1928, a few years after William's death, Margaret retired to Awamoa. They had seven children: William, Davidson, John, Margaret, James, Alexander and Bella. Davidson and Alexander Dewar were both killed in World War I.
The largest part of the collection is the papers of various individual family members, which vary according to their interests. Most include correspondence, often between family members, giving valuable insights into their lives and times. Agnes Blackie's papers include her unpublished memoirs, which are a rich source on the history of the University of Otago. Other highlights include James Blackie's university and theology workbooks, dating from the 1870s, and Alexander Blackie's journals of his 1870s world tour, including interesting references to Gallipoli. There is also a small collection of material relating to the artist Noeline Baker, known to Judith Robinson (nee Smith) through Stewart Island Smith family connections.
A collection of World War I papers includes the correspondence and other war material of Davidson Blackie, along with correspondence of the Dewar brothers and friends of various Blackies (there is also World War I material amongst the series of papers of individual Blackies). Some papers relating to the Pendreich branch of the Blackie family but not identified with one particular person are in the 'Other general Blackie family (Pendreich)' series. The general 'other papers' series includes miscellaneous items which do not fit elsewhere or where the family member concerned can not be identified.
There is a large collection of family photographs, ranging from early ambrotype and daguerreotype portraits to twentieth-century studio portraits, with many photographs featuring farming, World War I and early motor vehicles. Notable among several albums in the collection is one of Alexander Blackie's world tour.
Only a small part of this collection is digitised and available through Digital Collections. Information about other items can be found on the Hākena catalogue, through the Library Catalogues link above.History / BiographyThe Blackie family, originally from Dundee, Scotland, began its connection with Otago in 1848. Alexander Blackie and Margaret Arnot had three sons: James, Alexander and Davidson. James Blackie was appointed first schoolmaster to the Otago Free Church colony and arrived in Dunedin on the 'Philip Laing' in 1848. He started a school, but became ill with tuberculosis; he went to Sydney late in 1850 and died there early in 1851. He had bought land for a farm near Kaitangata and, after various legal complications, his brother Davidson migrated to take up the land. With his wife Margaret Pandrich and children Allan, James, Alexander and Margaret, he travelled on the 'Shooting Star' from Liverpool to Auckland in 1859; they arrived at the farm they named Pendreich early in 1860. James and Davidson's other brother, Alexander Blackie, migrated to the USA, as did some of Margaret Pandrich's relatives.
In the next generation, Alexander Blackie worked with his father Davidson on the Pendreich farm, taking over after his father's death in 1887. In 1878 and 1879 he took a world tour, visiting Australia, Britain, Europe, Asia and the USA. He married Tannie Nicholson, daughter of the Kaitangata schoolmaster, and they had four children: Nell, Pansie, Davidson and Rhoda. Nell qualifed in physical education and was a teacher and inspector in various places; she lost her job in the depression and became companion housekeeper to a Wingate relation of her mother's. After Miss Wingate died, Nell returned to Pendreich. Rhoda graduated in home science from the University of Otago in 1919. She then taught at Southland Technical College for many years, becoming senior mistress. After retirement she returned to Pendreich. Pansie and Davidson remained on the farm, though Davidson was away serving in World War I from 1917 to 1919. None of the four siblings married and after they had all died the farm was eventually sold.
James Blackie, Alexander's brother, was an early student at the University of Otago and the first graduate of the Presbyterian Church's Theological Hall. He served as minister of a large parish with its centre at Lumsden. In 1893 he married Jeanetta Walker. She was born in England to Scottish parents and well-educated in Edinburgh; she served as a governess there. She migrated to New Zealand in 1888 and became governess to a Dipton family. James and Jeanetta had two daughters, Greta and Agnes, but James died when they were very young. Jeanetta then established a small private school in Queenstown, moving to Dunedin in 1903 on her appointment as first principal of the Presbyterian Women's Training Institute, which trained women as deaconesses. Greta completed a BA at the University of Otago and became a teacher; she married Victor Robinson and had three children, Dorothy, Kathleen and Keith. Agnes completed a BSc and MSc at Otago and became one its earliest women lecturers, teaching in the physics department from 1919 to 1958, taking a break to travel and work overseas in 1927 and 1928.
Alexander and James's sister Margaret Blackie married William Dewar in 1880; they lived in North Otago and in 1901 took up a farm in the Maheno district. In 1928, a few years after William's death, Margaret retired to Awamoa. They had seven children: William, Davidson, John, Margaret, James, Alexander and Bella. Davidson and Alexander Dewar were both killed in World War I.
Photograph
Archival Text
Alexander and Anne Blackie with children Pansie, Davidson and Nell
Blackie family, Blackie family : Papers. Hocken Digital Collections, accessed 03/11/2024, https://hocken.recollect.co.nz/nodes/view/60850