Hocken Digital Collections

Baxter family : Papers

Details

Reference NumberARC-0351CreatorBaxter familyDescriptionThe collection includes family correspondence. A large proportion of this is letters of James Baxter to his parents. There are also letters written by Terence, from detention camp, to James. Correspondence from the earlier generation includes letters written by Donald Baxter while in prison as a conscientious objector. The collection also includes various personal papers of James, among them school reports and financial papers. There are also financial papers of Archibald, and various miscellaneous papers. Finally, there are photographs of several generations of the family, including many of James and his parents.
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 Baxters were a noted pacifist and literary family, based in Brighton, where they were small farmers and rural workers. John Baxter and Mary McColl, both from Scottish migrant families, married in 1879. They had seven sons - John, Archibald, Mark, Hugh, William, Donald and Sandy - and one daughter, Margaret. During the South African War, Archibald became a pacifist and convinced his family to join his cause - he and five of his brothers were imprisoned as conscientious objectors during World War I (the other escaped conscription as he was married). Archibald married Millicent Macmillan Brown in 1921. They had two sons, Terence and James. Terence was imprisoned as a conscientious objector during World War II. James became one of New Zealand's greatest poets, and was also a noted social critic. He married Jacqueline Sturm in 1948 and they had two children, Hilary and John.

Photograph

James K. Baxter in his early twenties

James K. Baxter at Cathedral Square, Christchurch

Terence Baxter, 'Terry c.18'

Mrs Gill and Millicent Baxter

Baxter family, 'James, Daddy, Mother'

Baxter family, 'Camping'

Baxter family, 'Terry, Daddy, Mother, James, approx. 1938'

Millicent Macmillan Brown, 'Mother about 22'

Archibald Baxter

'A. [Archibald] Baxter just after marriage at brother Mark's home Middlemarch'

Archibald Baxter

Millicent and James Baxter

Father John Weir

John and Hilary Baxter

Millicent Baxter and her sister Viola Notariello

Archibald Baxter and other staff at Gladbrook Station

Baxter family, 'Terry, Daddy, Mother, James, approx. 1938'

Depicts Or Relates To

SubjectsPoets, New ZealandPacifists - New ZealandWorld War, 1914-1918 World War, 1939-1945Farm life - Otago

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Baxter family : Papers

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