McCall, Frances Helen, active 1922-1933

Date: 17 Jan-19 Dec 1926

From: Tyndale-Biscoe family: Papers

Reference: MS-Papers-11956-02

Description: Contains outward correspondence relating to Eric Tyndale-Biscoe's time as a master at Wanganui Collegiate School and travels in New Zealand. Work life at Wanganui Collegiate features. Tyndale-Biscoe describes school politics, colleagues, headmaster Rev C F Pierce (particularly the effect of a stroke on his performance at work), problems with prefects, bullying of new boys (including on school picnic), school trips (to the beach with boarders, to freezing works with agriculture class, and to Maori Pageant at Opera House), punishment of a boy caught smoking, rugby (match against Te Aute College), cricket, school dances, performance of 'Box and Cox' play at Harvey House (including annotated programme). Relates talks he has given about Kashmir (with lantern slides) in Wanganui, at Nga Tawa School, and in Christchurch as well donations of money at these talks (and politics surrounding this). Includes a printed program for "East & West Missionary Exhibition" at Drill Hall. Other topics include family matters, events in Kashmir and Britain, and education philosophy. Also discusses Nga Tawa headmistress Frances McCall and female teachers at Nga Tawa and social events (including beach visit and attendant scandal); Phyllis Long (later Tyndale-Biscoe's wife) is mentioned a number of times. Numerous mentions are made of Mr Frank McGrath his wife Elizabeth (including her mental breakdown), and Hugh and Vera Austin. Other names noted include D K Leather, George Harris, Marjorie Dalrymple, and Miss Downing. Describes holidays taken around the North Island in the school holidays. These include: fishing, camping, visit to a cheese factory, poultry, pig, and cattle farming [Gordon's? Waikato]; Kai Iwi Beach holidays; trip to Paihia (including map of route and descriptions of Auckland Zoo and stone store (Kerikeri); a number of trips to the Hawkes Bay with the Reeves Family and Mrs Williams; staying with The Gilbertson family at 'Clairinch" sheep station (owned by Mrs Williams) during docking; staying with the Maclean family in Napier; bathing in the Tukituki River with the Reeves boys; travelling to Wellington and going to the opera as well as trip back (including car accident); skiing at Whakapapa ski field (on "Waimana House, Waimarino " letterhead). Also relates preparation for an automobile tour (buying a car and fitting it with a caravan) as well as planning for job chaperoning Mrs Williams' son Bruce around Europe. Tyndale-Biscoe's correspondence also relates New Zealanders' impressions of missionaries, a trip to see the Don Cossack Choir, a woodchopping event, flooding in Wanganui on 26 July 1926, and a description of the Bishop of Wellington. Also includes a letter from Vera Austin to Mrs Blanche Tyndale-Biscoe thanking her for "Xmas toys" sent for her children, a letter from Mr Austin to Mr Cecil Tydale-Biscoe and another from Frank McGrath describing the esteem in which his son is held, and a holograph copy of Pierce's letter of commendation for Tyndale-Biscoe upon his departure from New Zealand. Quantity: 1 folder(s). Physical Description: Mss, printed matter Letters also include Tyndale-Biscoe's hand drawn pen illustrations of events he describes in his letters. These include a lamb in a docking cradle, a diagram of the yards and movements of sheep during docking at "Clairinch" station, a diagram showing a near car accident coming back from Wellington, and a map showing motorcycle trips taken in the Wanganui area.

Date: 16 Sep 1923-14 Jul 1925

From: Tyndale-Biscoe family: Papers

Reference: MS-Papers-11956-05

Description: Contains correspondence from Phyllis Long to her family back in England. Letters relate to voyage to New Zealand, including trip through Panama Canal and life and people on board the ship. Describes Panama and the coaling station in great detail as well as activities and events on board the ship such as the ceremony crossing the equator, a cricket match, a tennis tournament, and a dress up party. Describes her impressions of Wellington, Nga Tawa school and the surrounding area, her colleagues, her accomodation, horses kept at the college, and food in New Zealand. Also includes a description of the 1924 fire at Nga Tawa. Letters also relate a number of holiday trips Long took. Tramping, skiing, and climbing around Central Plateau (two trips) including one with her future husband Eric Tyndale-Biscoe feature. Long also describes the Ruby Lounge in Palmerston North and methods of transport including train travel and taxis. People mentioned in the correspondence include Nga Tawa headmistress Frances McCall and colleagues Miss Cooper-Evans, Miss Rowe, Miss Halstead, Miss Kingsford, Miss Rickards, Miss [Lane?], Miss Page, Miss Hinton, Miss Dudding, and friend Sylvia Lysaght. Also travelling companions Frank McGrath, Mr Baines, Mr McLean, and Eric Tyndale-Biscoe. Quantity: 1 folder(s). Physical Description: Mss Includes hand drawn map of Panama Canal

Date: 1923-1930

From: Tyndale-Biscoe family: Photographs

Reference: PA1-o-1945

Description: Album of photographs compiled by Phyllis Long of her journey to New Zealand in 1923, time teaching at Nga Tawa School, and return to England in 1926. Also includes photographs likely taken in Kashmir in circa 1928-1930. Long is likely the photographer of most images, with other photographers unidentified. Some images have captions. Photographs of Long's trip to New Zealand on board the ship 'Tainui' include a commercial postcard of the ship and passengers waving from the deck as the ship leaves the wharf, Panama Canal (Culebra Cut, Gatun Lock, Mira Flores Lock, dredges, and a coaling station), Pitcairn Island, and Pitcairn Islanders approaching in a rowboat and selling local goods on board the ship. Further ship board scenes show deck sports (croquet, tennis), crossing the line ceremony (greasy pole, Father Neptune), unidentified people in deck chairs, and Phyllis Long with various children including Jo, Eileen, Audrey, and the Whiteside family. Nga Tawa photographs show the original school building (Wellington Diocesan School) with images of the entrance, a side view, and veranda. Also the swimming bath and interior images of the dining room and gym. Album also includes a photograph of the new school building, built after the 1924 fire. Students in school uniform are seen on excursions with Long such as having a picnic beside a river and in a copse of trees, wading in the water [Rangitikei River?], swimming, and on the poolside during swimming event. One poolside image shows a large monster costume. Teacher's accommodation where Long lived (a cottage on the school grounds) is shown with exterior and interior images and sometimes with teachers, including Long, in shot. Miss Else J. Rowe, Miss Halstead, Miss Cooper-Evans, and Frances McCall (the headmistress) are identified. Also images of their horses Ngaio, Kaiwarau, Pipette, and Petone. In one image McCall holds a puppy. Long and other teachers are also seen setting out for a picnic on horseback and swimming in a river under a railway bridge. Some group photographs show teachers and students. Other images show a pitched tent, boiling billies over a campfire, flooded farmland, an unidentified obelisk-shaped memorial, Long and an unidentified man standing on coastal rocks in Sydney, and a Rough Collie dog with a stick. Image of Long's return to England on board the ship 'Marama' in 1926 include unidentified people on deck and children in fancy dress. A series of images, likely of Kashmir, show river scenes (canoe with outrigger, [house boats?]), street scenes (pineapple stall, rickshaw, water buffalo pulling carts), children swimming, and houses. See Phylis Long's letters home to her parents describing her arrival and life at the school in MS-Papers-11956-05. Phyllis Long taught at Nga Tawa School near Marton from 1923-1926. She met her future husband Eric Tyndale-Biscoe during this time. They moved to Kashmir after they married in England in 1927. Quantity: 1 album(s) containing 132 prints. Physical Description: Photograph album with plain brown leather cover, 22.6 x 24.9 cm Processing information: One print of Nga Tawa school was was loose and has been placed in an enclosure at the rear of the album.

Date: [1920-1960]

From: Riddiford family : Papers

Reference: MS-Papers-5714-083

Description: Comprises speech to introduce speaker (?Mrs Weston) on democracy; a simple prayer from St Freancis of Assisi; speech at Thurso Castle to a group including Lady Sinclair and the Provost; statement re St George's Park, Thurso, by M F Macpherson, inspector, collector, clerk and registrar (1920s); draft of letter to `Wairarapa Age' re letter of Mr Atmore; speech to prize giving at Nga Tawa school; list of people headed Dan which includes staff; and notes, `The whole of the extracts below are from genuine letters sent to the Pensions Office' and are mostly humorously anecdotal Quantity: 1 folder(s).