Hocken Digital Collections

Manson family : Papers

Details

Reference NumberARC-0677CreatorManson familyDescriptionThe collection includes a notebook kept by James Manson, mostly recording details of his building and iron work. There are also 21 glass plate negatives of photographs taken by William Manson, James Manson's son. These date from around the 1890s and include photographs of Invercargill and Queenstown views, Manson family and friends, and a number of farming scenes, most relating to hay making. Also included are a computer disk with copies of the photographs, some family history notes, and a copy photograph of the prefabricated house.
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 / BiographyJames Manson of Thurso, Scotland, first came to New Zealand in 1858, helping build First Church in Dunedin. After striking over working conditions, he and a friend returned to Scotland. James Manson then travelled to Victoria, Australia, where he worked as a carpenter for 16 months before returning to Scotland. He married Elizabeth Sutherland and they migrated to Invercargill in 1863 on the 'Sir William Eyre.' They brought a pre-fabricated house with them. James Manson worked as a builder on his own account and later worked for Robert Tapper, Invercargill timber merchant and ironmonger. In 1874 Manson founded his own ironmongery, later known as J. Manson and Sons. James and Elizabeth Manson had seven children - William, Esther, Barbara, Elizabeth, Alexander, James and John George.

Photograph

Scene [at Colac Bay] showing a road, tramway line, buildings, and a group of women and children

Scene at Invercargill [?], showing a road, timber tramway tracks, and a woman

Scene showing railway, wooden buildings, children, and cleared land

Jim Manson (centre) and two unidentified men in a garden, next to a house

Depicts Or Relates To

SubjectsBuilding TradesCarpenters and carpentryIron industry and trade

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Manson family : Papers

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