Photographer, Avarua, Rarotonga, Cook Islands. Born in England. Ran away from home at age 16, joined the navy and went to sea. In about 1900 he left ship in South Africa and became a Bombadier fighting for the British in the South African (Boer) War. He later joined the constabulary in South Africa, then in 1909 returned to England for a short time. He then went to new York and spent time travelling in the United States. Subsequently he travelled the Pacific and spent time in Australia, Hawaii, and the Society Islands. In 1914 he decided to settle in Rarotonga where he set up as a professional photographer. His studio was located in Avarua town centre on the site of the present treasury office. He continued to practise as a photographer until his death in 1948. (Source: Cook Island News, 15 October, 1988, p 4).
Hopkins, Sydney, 1881-1948
Wilson, Diana :Photograph of garden party at "Ngatipa", Rarotonga, on the occasion of t...
Date: 1922 - 1924
By: Townsend, E H, active 1922-1924; Hopkins, Sydney, 1881-1948; Wilson, Diana June, 1924-
Reference: PAColl-2977
Description: Quantity: 1 b&w copy photographic print(s). Finding Aids: Details of provenance and names of subjects on sheet enclosed with image.
Photographs of Pacific Islands
From: New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs :Photographs of Pacific Islands
By: Hopkins, Sydney, 1881-1948
Reference: PAColl-0644-2
Hampton, Doris :Photographs of the Cook Islands
Date: [ca 1920s-1930s]
By: Hopkins, Sydney, 1881-1948
Reference: PAColl-0875
Description: Photographs of Rarotonga by Sydney Hopkins. Source of title - Title supplied by Library Arrangement: Negative housed at 1/2-144802 Quantity: 11 b&w original photographic print(s).
Smith, Stephen John, 1887-1948 : Photographs relating to his World War One military ser...
Date: [ca 1914-1938]
By: Smith, Stephen John, 1887-1948; Hopkins, Sydney, 1881-1948
Reference: PAColl-1557
Description: Contains black and white photographs. Images chiefly taken by Stephen John Smith; also by Sydney Hopkins and unidentified photographer(s) between 1914 and 1938. Includes: -Photographs of New Zealand troops in Samoa during World War One, including two taken aboard a ship, possibly the Moeraki or the Monowai, and a picture of the nursing staff in Apia, Samoa. Also included is a picture of Samoan stamps, a meal with pineapples and an image of Samoan policemen which was published in Smith's book "The Samoa (N.Z.) expeditionary force, 1914-1915". There are inscriptions on the reverse of these prints. -Two photographs of New Zealand military camps in Samoa during World War One, possibly Vaea Camp. -Two landscape photographs of beaches in Rarotonga, Cook Islands. One of the lagoon at Ngatangiia, and the other near Avarua. The image of Avarua has the H.M.S. Dunedin in the background. -One photograph of the outside of a stone house in Carnwath, Lanarkshire, Scotland and two photographs of the inside of the old hall, Weycroft, near Axminster, England. These were possibly sent to Smith by Colonel Robert Logan. Publication - The Samoa (NZ) Expeditionary Force 1914-1915 [Wellington: Ferguson & Osborn, 1924] Source of title - Title supplied by Library Accompanying material - Transfer form with item information filed in the PA14 folder in the staff backfile. Quantity: 15 b&w original photographic print(s). Physical Description: Black and white photographic prints Transfers: From Manuscripts & Archives - Ms-Group-0047. See also Curios-006-022 in Drawings, Paintings & Prints collection..
Photographs of Cook Islands including official visits
Date: 1923-1933
From: Kingsbury family :Photographs of Cook Islands
By: Hopkins, Sydney, 1881-1948
Reference: PAColl-8046-2
Description: Photographs of the interior of a radio station, Cook Islands women, European and Cook Islands men, the visits of Governors General Sir Charles Fergusson and Lord Bledisloe, and New Zealand politicians Sir William Massey and Sir Apirana Ngata. There is a group photograph taken during the farewell to John Everson who was Superintendent of Cook Island schools and deputy Resident Commissioner. Another shows the crowd at a fancy dress ball held in the Royal Hall Avarua in about 1928. There are two panoramas, one of a general view of Avarua in the landscape and the other of the Administrative Buildings in the Avarua town centre. Quantity: 15 b&w original photographic print(s). Provenance: Donated by Janice McAdam, Sydney, Australia, in January 2002.
Photograph of a flood on Rarotonga
Date: ca 1920s-1930s
From: Hampton, Doris :Photographs of the Cook Islands
By: Hopkins, Sydney, 1881-1948
Reference: PAColl-0875-1
Description: Photograph of flood water surrounding trees in Rarotonga. Photograph taken by Sydney Hopkins. Arrangement: Negative housed at 1/2-144802 Quantity: 1 b&w original photographic print(s).
Hampton, Doris: Photographs of the Cook Islands
Date: ca 1920s-1930s
By: Hopkins, Sydney, 1881-1948
Reference: PAColl-4391
Description: Two duplicate photographs of the administration offices and the premises of J Kohn & Co in Avarua, one with a caption in the bottom left corner and one without; a view of Avarua wharf on Rarotonga with railway tracks along the pier; a more distant view of the same wharf; and a view of a bay and palm trees at Ngatangiia. Photographer was Sydney Hopkins. Quantity: 5 b&w original photographic print(s).
Photographs of Pacific Islands
From: New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs :Photographs of Pacific Islands
By: Hopkins, Sydney, 1881-1948
Reference: PAColl-0644-1
Hopkins, Sydney, 1881-1948 :Lagoon scene, Ngatangiia, Rarotonga
Date: 1928
By: Hopkins, Sydney, 1881-1948
Reference: PA7-49-07
Description: View of palms on beachfront at Ngatangiia, Rarotonga. Possibly published in New Zealand Free Lance Annual 1928 Inscriptions: Verso - bottom centre - Title and date Quantity: 1 b&w original photographic print(s). Physical Description: Silver gelatin 180 x 265 mm
Sydney Hopkins: Four unidentified young women in Rarotonga
Date: [ca 1920s]
By: Hopkins, Sydney, 1881-1948
Reference: 1/2-144737-F
Description: Four unidentified young women in Rarotonga, circa 1920s. Photograph taken by Sydney Hopkins. Quantity: 1 b&w original negative(s).
Hopkins, Sydney, fl 1920s : Buildings and shoreline being lashed by a hurricane, Rarotonga
Date: [ca 1929]
By: Hopkins, Sydney, 1881-1948
Reference: 1/2-144788-F
Description: Photograph of Rarotonga, showing buildings and shoreline being lashed by a hurricane, probably in 1929. Photographed by Sydney Hopkins. Photographer identified as Sydney Hopkins by Mrs P M Rasmussen, 14/9/90 Quantity: 1 b&w original negative(s). Physical Description: Film negative
Looking from the island of Ngatangiia, Rarotonga, Cook Islands, towards the island Motu...
Date: [192-?]
By: Hopkins, Sydney, 1881-1948
Reference: 1/2-144764-F
Description: Looking through palm trees on the island of Ngatangiia, Rarotonga, Cook Islands. The view overlooks the island of Motu Oneroa. Photograph taken by Sydney Hopkins, possibly in the 1920s. Quantity: 1 b&w original negative(s).
Path through the bush, Rarotonga
Date: [ca 1920s]
From: Union Steam Ship Company of New Zealand :Assorted photographs
By: Hopkins, Sydney, 1881-1948
Reference: PAColl-0422-1-01
Description: Photograph showing a man with pack horses, stopped on a pathway through a bush track which is lined with coconut and palm trees, taken in Rarotonga circa 1920s by Sydney Hopkins. Source of descriptive information - Note on back of file print states: `Photographer: Sydney Hopkins, identified by Mrs P M Rasmussen' Quantity: 1 b&w original photographic print(s). Physical Description: Silver gelatin print 12.5 x 19.5 cm on cardboard backing
The ship Tahiti at Rarotonga
Date: [ca 1920s]
From: Original photographic prints and postcards from file print collection, Box 12
By: Hopkins, Sydney, 1881-1948
Reference: PAColl-6348-18
Description: View of the starboard side of the ship Tahiti and an unidentified schooner. Taken in Rarotonga, circa 1920s, by Sydney Hopkins. Sydney Hopkins identified as photographer by Mrs P M Rasmussen, 14 Sept 1990 Quantity: 1 b&w original photographic print(s). Physical Description: Silver gelatin print