GROUP
Mother's Bio
- Date
- 1942, 1944 - 1967-2005
- Reference
- Series-7052
- Description
Handwritten biographical notes, stories, lists, correspondence and photographs, related to Betty Curnow’s life and family history from the 1960s to circa early 2000s. Includes some correspondence related to the birth of two of her children in the 1940s. The notes are densely written out on single pages, note cards, or sections of note pads. Topics range across Curnow’s youth and school years, her artistic works and exhibitions, friendships, and memories of her parents and their creative work. Many notes relate to Rita Angus her “Portrait of Betty Curnow” of 1942.
Title transcribed from original enclosure.
Arrangement: Originally housed in two file boxes, both labelled "Mother's Bio" and “BC. 2”, which arrived in two separate transit boxes. One transit box numbered "6" included another other file box labelled " Rita Angus material | And copies from my diaries…" and "BC.2". The other transit box was numbered "7" and included another file box labelled “Family Personal | Mother | Le Cren family” and “BC 2”.
Quantity: 23 folder(s) including 12 black and white photographic prints, and three colour photographic prints. 9 b&w copy photographic print(s). 7 b&w original negative(s). 2 volume(s). 2 colour original photographic print(s).
Provenance: This material was collected and created by Betty Curnow until her death in 2005. In the possession of her sons Tim and Wystan Curnow after that time.
Processing information: The boxes were not kept.
- Additional description
Some material requires conservation treatment before viewing.
- Use/Reproduction
- Copyright: Copyright owned by Wystan Curnow.
- Access restrictions
- Partly restricted material
- Format
- 23 folder(s) including 12 black and white photographic prints, and three colour photographic prints, 9 b&w copy photographic print(s), 7 b&w original negative(s), 2 volume(s), 2 colour original photographic print(s), Diaries, Film negatives, Manuscripts, Notes (Documents), Photographs
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Copyright
Unknown
Early photographs of Timaru
Date: [ca 1960s]
From: Curnow family: Collection
Reference: PAColl-10860-6
Description: Nine black and white photographs of Timaru from 1900 to 1960s, annotated by Betty Curnow with information about her family the Le Crens. Title transcribed from original enclosure. Arrangement: Originally housed in an annotated pink eastlight folder. Arrived in the transit box numbered “7”. Quantity: 9 b&w copy photographic print(s). Transfers: A photocopy of the annotations on the folder is at MS-Papers-12905-092.. Processing information: The folder was not kept.
Annotated copy of the book 'Craighead Diocesan School: School list 1911-1986'
Date: [ca1988-2005]
From: Curnow family: Collection
Reference: MSX-10296
Description: Book with lists of students and staff of the Timaru girls' school, with underlining and and marginalia made by Betty Curnow. Title supplied by Library. Arrangement: Loose in the file box along with bundles and envelopes of other printed material. Some notes and a typescript were interleaved. Quantity: 1 volume(s). Transfers: The notes and typescript are at MS-Papers-12905-077.. Processing information: The notes and typescript were removed for conservation reasons.
Annotated copy of the book 'Craighead: 1911-1986'
Date: [ca1988-2005]
From: Curnow family: Collection
Reference: MSX-10295
Description: Book on the history of the Timaru girls' school, with underlining and and marginalia made by Betty Curnow. Title supplied by Library. Arrangement: Loose in the file box along with bundles and envelopes of other printed material. A list of people in photographs was inside the front cover, and a note numbered "21" was in between pages 8 and 9. Quantity: 1 volume(s). Transfers: The interleaved material is at MS-Papers-12905-073.. Processing information: The interleaved pages were removed for conservation reasons.
Suter Gallery exhibition
Date: December 1987-August 1988
From: Curnow family: Collection
Reference: MS-Papers-12905-080
Description: Two letters and a card, regarding Betty Curnow’s exhibition at the Suter Gallery exhibition in Nelson 1987. Title supplied by Library. Arrangement: Originally loose inside the front cover of a black plastic ring binder labelled "Notes | Biography". Quantity: 1 folder(s). Transfers: Separated from MS-Papers-12905-078..
Biographical notes and clippings
Date: 1967-2005
From: Curnow family: Collection
Reference: MS-Papers-12905-079
Description: Mainly correspondence and notes about Betty Curnow’s work. Includes: - Two draft letters of 11 and 13 August 1982 to Marian Minson, Curator of Drawings and Prints, Alexander Turnbull Library regarding an ink drawing Curnow made. - A photocopied listing entitled “Betty Curnow’s scrapbook Turnbull”. - Other notes and correspondence related to the material Curnow deposited at the Alexander Turnbull Library in the 1980s. - A card from Janet Paul, 1983. - Correspondence with the Wairarapa Arts Foundation and Print Council of New Zealand, and galleries, 1960s and 1970s. Title supplied by Library. See letter received by Marian Minson, at Library reference MS-Papers-2292. Arrangement: Originally in an plastic enclosure, inside an envelope annotated “1. Typed up biography of Mum’s life. Various versions for exhibition of Peter Cape’s book. 2. Biographical notes”. The envelope was inside the front cover of a black plastic ring binder labelled "Notes | Biography". Quantity: 1 folder(s). Transfers: Separated from MS-Papers-12905-078.. Processing information: The material was removed from the plastic enclosure and envelope, and housed separately from the ring binder. Photocopies of the annotations on the envelope and plastic enclosure are alongside the material.
Notes, Biography
Date: [ca1988-2005]
From: Curnow family: Collection
Reference: MS-Papers-12905-078
Description: Notes, lists and correspondence mainly by Betty Curnow about her life, relationships, family history, and work. Includes: -Typed and handwritten lists with titles including “People in Christchurch in 1930 to 1950” and “Auckland, People I know (Betty Curnow)”, “1980s, Exhibitions, paintings”. - Pricelists for Curnow paintings. - Pages of notes on her health, including one headed “deafness and accident”, other pages on her childhood, about her parents, family history, and various places she lived. - Several handwritten pages headed “Note Rita portrait” and “Rita Angus portrait”. - Correspondence from Suter Art Gallery, Nelson about her 1987 exhibition. Title transcribed from original enclosure. Arrangement: Originally in a black plastic ring binder labelled "Notes | Biography". Quantity: 1 folder(s). Processing information: Material was removed from the ring binder for conservation reasons. The ring binder was not kept.
Material related to 'Craighead Diocesan School: School list 1911-1986'
Date: [ca1988-2005]
From: Curnow family: Collection
Reference: MS-Papers-12905-077
Description: Handwritten notes, and a typescript list of names and contact details entitled “Auckland Craighead Old Girls, 1973”. Title supplied by Library. Arrangement: Originally interleaved in the book. Quantity: 1 folder(s). Transfers: Separated from MSX-10296..
Material related to 'Craighead: 1911-1986'
Date: [ca1988-2005]
From: Curnow family: Collection
Reference: MS-Papers-12905-073
Description: Contains two pages of names related to pictures in the book 'Craighead: 1911-1986', and a short manuscript note. Title supplied by Library. Arrangement: Originally interleaved in the book. Quantity: 1 folder(s). Transfers: Separated from MSX-10295..
Biographical notes and clippings
Date: 1 December 1950 - [ca1978-2005]
From: Curnow family: Collection
Reference: MS-Papers-12905-072
Description: Handwritten biographical notes, stories, and clippings from publications, related to Betty Curnow’s life and family history. Includes some pages on her childhood diet and home health remedies. Includes a handmade notebook. Includes a clipping from ‘The Plainsman: Canterbury's family magazine’ from 1 December 1950. Date estimated by a sentence in one of the papers where Curnow muses how it is possible to summarise “my 70 yrs”. This places these writings in the early 1980s. Title taken from item. Arrangement: Some clippings and bundles were enclosed in envelopes or secured with clips. Quantity: 1 folder(s). Processing information: The papers were removed from the paper clips and envelopes for preservation reasons. The unmarked envelope was not kept, and annotated envelope is kept alongside in archival paper.
Own biographical etc, stories, poems
Date: [ca1978-2005]
From: Curnow family: Collection
Reference: MS-Papers-12905-071
Description: A hardcover notebook with pages missing. Contains stories and notes by Betty Curnow. Title transcribed from item. Arrangement: A notebook with several bundles of papers inside the front cover. Quantity: 1 folder(s). Transfers: The bundled papers are at MS-Papers-12905-072.. Processing information: The bundled papers were separated out for conservation reasons.