AUDIO

Interview with Charles Barr

Ask a librarian about this item

See original record

Date

03 Dec 1984

By

Barr, Charles William Mayo, 1893-1988

Reference

OHInt-0070/02

Description

Charles Barr describes in detail family background, father's cartage business, childhood in Christchurch in the 1890s and 1900s, including clothing worn. Recalls education and mentions classmate Sid Holland. Describes first employment at a tobacconist shop, then employment at the Post Office and work as a message boy, wages, conditions, uniforms. Mentions nickname was Sandow. Details work in the Telegraph Operating Room, discusses the importance of telegrams.

Recalls the Telegraph Training School at Oamaru, and discusses the personality, stresses, requirements of the ideal telegraphist, social life. Describes his service in World War I in the ANZAC Wireless Troop, serving in India, Iran, and France. Talks about conditions of service. Recalls career after the war in the Telegram Delivery Branch, Christchurch, changes in telegram delivery, growing employment of women in both Post Office and Telegraph Branch, the Post and Telegraph Association (later the Post Office Union), Post Office administration and attitude to staff, his later employment as Rehabilitation Officer for the Post Office.

Venue - Christchurch

Interviewer(s) - Judith Fyfe

Venue - Claremont Avenue, Christchurch

Accompanying material - Four pages of handwritten biographical notes and a newspaper article obituary on Mr Rupert Thomas Wood of Rotorua attached to the printed abstract

Arrangement: Tape numbers - OHC-000746 - OHC-000749A

Quantity: 4 C60 cassette(s). 1 printed abstract(s). 3.09 Hours and minutes Duration.

Finding Aids: Abstract Available - abstracting complete AB-110.

Search dates: 1893 - 1984

Additional description

Alternative form available: Listening copies available OHLC-000545 - OHLC-000548

Use/Reproduction

Public use requires the written permission of the donor and the interviewee Copyright: Held by the donor

Access restrictions

Restricted - Content cannot be accessed without permission - Access requires written permission of the donor

Part of

New Zealand Post Office Oral History Project

Format

4 C60 cassette(s), 1 printed abstract(s), 3.09 Hours and minutes Duration, Oral histories, Equipment used: Marantz Superscope recorder ; Shure microphones

There are 5 items in total.

See original record

Click to request to view this item, access digital version (if available), and see more information.