Illegitimacy

Date: 30 Jun 1992

From: Women in World War II Part II

By: Rangiihu, Myrtle Tahiti, 1918-2003

Reference: OHInt-0064/20

Description: Myrtle (Bundy) Rangiihu was born at Kohupatiki, Hastings on 29 June 1918. Gives details of her family background and growing up on the farm at Kohupatiki. Describes being selected to learn kowhaiwhai and tukutuku when she left school and being taught these in Wellington by Apirana Ngata. Recalls also learning waiata from him. Discusses his influence and also that of Kingi Tahiwi and Bishop Bennett, the first Bishop of Aotearoa. Notes that Bishop Bennett introduced her to future husband Sam Rangiihu while he was becoming a curate. Talks about the consecration of Bishop Bennett. Recalls the Napier earthquake in 1931 and the incidence of tuberculosis amongst Maori in the 1920s and 1930s. Talks about marrying and living in the Mission House and also working with her husband in the Opotiki and Hicks Bay area. Describes adopting her son Gary, and three other children, and explains the process of whangai (adoption). Talks about the outbreak of war and Sam Rangiihu becoming chaplain to the forces with Wi Huata. Mentions that he was also chaplain to K-Force (in Korea). Comments on the quality of the Maori (28) Battalion and the deaths of Maori soldiers. Discusses American servicemen, sexuality and Maori attitudes to illegitimacy. Describes how her father contracted to grow vegetables for Watties during World War II to feed American soldiers. Talks about the growth of Watties. Describes the importance of land to Maori. Details the Government Rehabilitation Schemes and land bought for soldiers in Wairoa after the war. Reflects on her husband's death. Talks about the importance of the marae. Describes her involvement with the Chadwick Family Trust who run orchards in Hastings and a project growing everlasting flowers. Venue - Napier . 1992 Interviewer(s) - Queenie Rikihana-Hyland Venue - Napier Arrangement: Tape numbers - OHC-004786; OHC-004787; OHC-004788 Quantity: 3 C60 cassette(s). 1 printed abstract(s). 2.30 Hours and minutes Duration. Finding Aids: Abstract Available - abstracting complete AB 857. photograph of Kingi Ihaka, Bundy (Myrtle) Rangiihu, Manu Ihaka and Samuel Rangiihu about the 1950s; Myrtle and Samuel Rangiihu and family about World War II; Bundy (Myrtle) Rangiihu in 1992

Date: 3 Dec 1991 - 03 Dec 1991

From: Women in World War II Part I

By: Newcombe, Robina Elizabeth, 1909-2005

Reference: OHInt-0060/10

Description: Robina Newcombe was born in Huntly on 20 February 1909. Talks about her family and childhood which was dominated by World War I. Recalls meeting John Newcombe, a farmer, at a dance, dancing the Charleston and going to balls. Describes getting engaged and preparing a glory box for when she got married. Talks about the Depression, the first Labour government and the increasing likelihood of World War II. Describes the reaction to the announcement of war and her husband staying at home because he was a farmer. Talks about work on the farm, including taking the babies to the cowshed in a pram to milk the cows, fundraising, learning Red Cross, blackouts, rationing, the news of war dead, factory work for women, the American troops and relationships with New Zealand women. Comments on the response of New Zealand men. Discusses contraception, illegitimacy, divorce, attitudes to morality and abortion. Talks about the experiences of her sister who nursed in Italy and the treatment of women with venereal disease. Recalls the end of the war. Venue - Lower Hutt : 1991 Interviewer(s) - Jane Tolerton Venue - Lower Hutt Arrangement: Tape numbers - OHC-004697; OHC-004698 Quantity: 2 C60 cassette(s). 1 printed abstract(s). 2 Hours Duration. Finding Aids: Abstract Available - abstracting complete AB 828. photograph of Newcombe family about 1951

Date: 14 July 1993 - 14 Jul 1993

From: Woodford House Oral History Project

By: Fothergill, Margaret Joyce, 1930-

Reference: OHInt-0061/14

Description: Margaret Fothergill was an adopted daughter of Dorice Mary Holland, headmistress of Woodford House 1923-1941. Gives a detailed account of Miss Holland's background, education at University and her teaching career, starting in Te Kuiti in primary teaching and going to Auckland Diocesan School for a couple of years before becoming headmistress of Woodford House. Talks about being adopted and recalls what it was like at Woodford House, being the only illegimitate child in the school. Describes adoption in that era and explains private deals done by doctors. Mentions her brother who was also adopted by Miss Holland. Recalls contacting polio and being paralysed for a year. Discusses the damage done to Woodford House School during the Napier earthquake and explains Miss Holland's role in getting the money to have it repaired. Access Contact - see oral history librarian Venue - Raumati Interviewer(s) - Mary Varnham Venue - 57B Raumati Road, Raumati Arrangement: Tape numbers - OHC-005657-005659; OHLC-001650-001651 Quantity: 3 C60 cassette(s). 2.10 Hours and minutes Duration. Finding Aids: Abstract Available - transcript(s) available AB-1169. One photogaph of Margaret Fothergill's mother (adopted mother), Mary Holland, headmistress of Woodford House 1923-1941 and one photocopy of b&w photograph of Margaret Holland (later Fothergill), with her mother, Mary Holland, circa 1938.

Date: 21 Jan 1983 and 29 Jan 1983 - 21 Jan 1983 - 29 Jan 1983

From: Masterton South Rotary Club Oral History Project.

By: Barr, Ethel May, 1894-1988

Reference: OHInt-0015-10

Description: Ethel Barr nee Braggins, born 1894 in Masterton. Talks about family life; her mother's problems as an unmarried mother; illegitimacy; the family history; great grandfather as the first policeman in Greytown; grandfather as the hotel keeper at the Rising Sun Hotel. Describes the family home; grandfather doing the cooking; pre sewerage days; Daniell's Mill; Miss Fraser who ran a laundry; Mrs Burridge who ran the brewery; Mr and Mrs O'Leary. Recalls the days she was actively involved in politics; Michael Joseph Savage; Mr Marshall; Walter Nash; Sir Keith Holyoake. Remembers childhood; alcohol; discipline; dancing and singing; birthdays; religion; talks about past attitudes towards Catholics in Masterton; class distinctions; Maori neighbours: Waaka, Rimene, Mundy, Kuratene; relationships with Maori; relationships between Pakeha men and Maori women; German immigrants; husband as a soldier in World War I; local personalities: George and Kathleen Wong, Mr Yee - the greengrocer, Ah Lop, Beetham, Bunny, Bidwell; education at Central School with Miss Woolf (headmistress), Peter Jackson (headmaster); Wairarapa Technical School. Describes meeting husband; sex education; music; cinema; early employment; transport; worked at the Club Hotel (later the Midland); Queens Hotel (later Windsor House); bought a sweet shop; early marital problems; Mr Whatman; the influenza epidemic of 1918; as manager of Adams Bruce; fostering children; the effect of the Depression; involvement with the local theatrical society and mentions Mrs Phil Daniells, John Lawson, Margaret Robinson. Discusses early Masterton: H J Jones, Ewington, C E Daniell, O'Leary, Hunter, Doctor Hosking; early mayors, the remittance men, Queen Victoria's death, King Edward VII's coronation; Boer War; the opening of the abbatoirs; Tui, Jim and Ricky Long, the butchers; the Salvation Army soup kitchen; prohibition; the Masterton Opera House, mentions Gladys Moncrieff; the connection of electricity; Masterton during World War II, earthquake of 1942, the running of Tin Hut Hotel. Venue - Masterton Interviewer(s) - Judith Fyfe Venue - Flat 7, Panama Home, Masterton Arrangement: Tape numbers - OHC-004848 - OHC-004852 Quantity: 5 C60 cassette(s). 1 printed abstract(s). 4.30 Hours and minutes Duration. Finding Aids: Abstract Available - abstracting complete AB 891. Search dates: 1894 - 1983

Date: 7-8 Feb 1992 - 07 Feb 1992

From: Mothers and daughters oral history project

By: Pendray, Gwitha, 1925-

Reference: OHInt-0323/05

Description: Gwitha Pendray born Waipukurau 1925. Recalls a happy childhood, good attitude of parents, nursing training and circumstances leading to birth of daughter at St Mary's, Auckland. Refers to lack of contraceptives. Describes difficulties encountered trying to manage work while caring for daughter and recalls sending her as a boarder to Friends School Wanganui. Describes daughter's life and notes they became closer after daughter's marriage. Talks about attitudes towards mothers who stay at home to care for their children and notes they are as worthy of respect and admiration as the woman making a career, both requiring skill and concentration. Access Contact - see oral history librarian Interviewer(s) - Alison Gray Arrangement: Tape numbers - OHC-010339 Quantity: 1 C60 cassette(s). 1 Hours Duration. Finding Aids: Abstract Available - transcript(s) available OHA-3500.

Date: 1889

By: Blomfield, William, 1866-1938; New Zealand observer and free lance (Newspaper)

Reference: H-713-095

Description: The seven vignettes are entitled - 1. Innocent childhood. 2. Public school incidents. 3. Night courtship. 4. Driven out by mother. 5. In the Gilded Halls of Vice. 6. Her Gallant Defender. 7. Last scene of all. They portray her "rake's progress" from flirtation, to seduction, to un-wed motherhood, to prostitution, to alcholism, to death on the streets. Exhibited in 'Harpies & Heroines: A cartoon history of the changing roles of women in New Zealand' Exhibition curated by Rachel Macfarlane and Cerridwyn Young of the New Zealand Cartoon Archive and exhibited at the National Library Gallery, 11 July - 26 October 2003. Published in 'Harpies & Heroines' book published by the New Zealand Cartoon Archive in 2003. Quantity: 1 photocopy/ies. Physical Description: A4 size photocopy