Ratana Church album

Album relating to the history of the Ratana Church, most likely compiled by James Henderson, 1918-1974.

Contains scenes from the Ratana movement, some with accompanying notes. Buildings shown in photographs include the Ratana home and two halls at Ratana Pa (Piki te Kaha and Whare Marama) in 1922, a later image of the halls combined with three others as Te Manuao circa 1937, the interior of the Whare Maori museum (with faith healing articles), Te Temepara O Te Haahi Ratana (exterior and interior images), the Ratana Church at Te Hapua, an aerial image of Ratana Pa in 1846, a montage of images from Ratana circa 1939, and stacks of mail requesting healing waiting for response. Events featured are the opening of Te Omeka Pa, Matamata, in 1937, the opening of Te Manuao in 1938, and the funeral of T W Ratana in 1939. Also contains an image of a 1921 faith healing camp in Wanganui.

Contains portraits of Tahupotiki Wiremu Ratana, photographed at a number of times from age 44 onwards, and Ratana family members Maata [Te Reo Hura], Matiu, Te Omeka, Te Urumanao (Te Whaea), Piki Huia, Rawinia (Winnie) and Te Arepa. Other identified figures include Maori Affairs Minister Frank Langstone, Mete Keepa, Patu Pere, Tangi te Pere [Makere?], Maori Affairs Minister Koro Wetere, Japanese visitor Daisy Nakada, Ralph and Flora Love, Tapihana Dobby Paikea and Maudi Rakatairi. Portraits of Maori politicians are also included, with Nga Koata E Wha (The Four Quarter) group photographs showing Paraire Paikea, Tiaki Omana (Jack Ormond), Haami Tokouru Ratana, Eruera Tirikatene, Tini Whetu Marama Tirikatene-Sullivan, Matiu Rata, Paraone Rewiti, and Iriaka Ratana, identified in various group and individual portraits. Tirikatene-Sullivan is also shown with her newborn baby and husband. Group images show Ratana constable Tiaki Rennie (Jack) with unidentified Ratana waitresses, a Ratana kapa haka group in ca 1934, Te Reo Puriwiritua brass band having their instruments blessed, unidentified Morehu, and Awhina (sisters) of the Ratana Church.

Photographers identified include Tesla Studios, William Hall Raine, Auckland Weekly News, Z A Morton, Ans Westra, James McLeod Henderson, Dominion Newspaper, Percy Albert Godber, Whites Aviation, and [Pix?]

Additional material includes newspapers clippings, a ca 1950 annotated illustration in coloured pencil and pen of the Pictorial History of the Ratana Church and the development of the Ratana Sign, a photocopy of church symbols, and a copy of a painting of Ratana holding the bible and Te Tiriti O Waitangi by Paula Novak. Pamphlet on The Treaty of Waitangi, statistics relating to Maori Religious Professions from the 1976 Census, and two copies of Ratana newsletter Te Whetu Marama from May-April 1973 and January 1974 and a photocopy of the cover from September 1955.

Arrangement: Album contains two pages where film negatives and prints were attached with tape to annotated backing paper. These have been separated for conservation reasons and the material rehoused. Photographic prints and paper stored in interleaved acid free folders and negatives rehoused and stored in negative store. Photocopy of original page inserted in original sleeve to show original order and arrangement.

Quantity: 1 album(s) red clearfile containing b&w original photographic prints, 8 photo mechanical prints, 5 b&w copy photographic prints, 4 b&w original photographic negatives, 1 b&w digital photographic print, 1 colour digital photographic print, and papers and cuttings.

Physical Description: Silver gelatin photoprints, photo mechanical prints