Places

Date: 13 Oct 2009

From: MOTAT 1950s life oral history project

By: Stewart, Clyde Douglas, 1922-2012

Reference: OHInt-1005-03

Description: Interview with Clyde ('Snow') Stewart, born in Wellington in 1922. Recalls the family moving to Auckland and settling in Freemans Bay. Talks about attending Napier Street School, leaving this school during the Depression and attending a succession of primary schools. Comments on studying engineering Seddon Memorial Technical College. Discusses his father having a photography business and being a pioneer of cinematography in New Zealand. Mentions films he worked on including 'Birth of New Zealand' and 'Rewi's last stand'. Mentioned his father did aerial photography and was in the Auckland crew in the Melbourne centenary air race [1934]. Talks about his father beginning a business with Leo White (Stewart and White) and joining the business himself. Mentions the business was closed down during the War and he was called up into the Army. Refers to leaving the Army and assisting his father doing photography for the military. Recalls taking a photograph of the Queen Street victory parade for the crew of HMS Archilles that was published as a full-page image by the 'Freelance' newspaper. Discusses joining Leo White in the public relations section of the Air Force. Talks about setting up darkrooms in the old government buildings in Wellington and making large photographic murals of photographs from the Pacific. Outlines accompanying the Air Force task force in the Pacific as a photographer, doing both ground and aerial photography. Discusses the photographic section's work in Bougainville and air crew taking photographs. Recalls being present at the Japanese surrender in Bougainville and his movie camera breaking down. Comments on seeing the internment of Japanese prisoners afterwards. Discusses meeting his wife Jocelyn, marrying in 1949, and buying a section in Herne Bay. Comments on the difficulty of getting supplies for building a house in the post war years and living in a temporary cabin at the back of the section for a period. Mentions travelling to work by tram and buying a car in 1953. Refers to building dingies, going fishing and spearing flounder in the harbour. Talks about driving to Rotorua for family holidays and staying in a caravan. Mentions being given a washing machine and buying a refrigerator when they were hard to get. Recalls butchers, fish and hardware shops in Queen Street. Talks about joining Leo White in White's Aviation after the war to set up the photographic section. Refers to building an enlarger and aerial cameras using German lenses he had acquired in Rabaul. Describes aircraft that were used, usually a Cessna 172, and chartering them from aero clubs. Recalls using hand-held glass plate and roll film cameras. Explains why aerial photographs were in demand after the Second World War and were sold to property owners. Comments on other photographic work he did. Mentions continuing to work in Whites Aviation after Leo White died and retiring in 1983. Reflects on his father's photographic skills. Interviewer(s) - Megan Hutching Quantity: 1 digital sound recording(s). 2 Electronic document(s) (abstract). 1 printed abstract(s). 1 interview(s). 2 Hours Duration. Finding Aids: Abstract Available - abstracting complete OHDL-001733, OHA-7527. Search dates: 2009

Date: 1943

From: Kelson, Cara :Photographs relating to Cara Kelson's career as a Pianist

Reference: PAColl-5384-3

Description: Photograph of Cara Kelson seated at the piano on the set of "Music in Wartime" in the National Film Studios, Miramar, Wellington, taken in 1943 by an unknown photographer. Quantity: 1 b&w original photographic print(s). Physical Description: Gelatin silver print 15.7 x 20.6 cm