Interview with Jean Struthers Wright

Jean Struthers Wright describes her family background, her parent's appearance and personalities and their attitudes to discipline, politics and religion. Notes her father's involvement in the Presbyterian Church. Recalls having no contact with Maori and discusses the lack of Maori in the library profession and possible reasons for this. Talks about being encouraged to read by her parents, joining the Canterbury Public Library, a private library called the Children's Library, the lack of good children's books at the time and mentions the books Dorothy Neal White brought back from America.

Details her educational history and her teachers. Talks about early employment aspirations and living through the Depression. Describes her first library jobs at Canterbury Public Library, her fellow staff members, the hierarchy of authority at the library at that time and achieving a library qualification along with Graham Bagnall and Stuart Perry through the English Library Association.

Details joining the Country Library Service in Wellington as a Library Assistant in 1938, the role of G T Alley in the Service, his background and personality, selection process, wages, the building where the service was situated, fellow library and office staff and the van. Describes the first van being taken down to Christchurch by Hugh Lorimer and the official opening. Describes her duties, the range of books available initially at the Service and the building up of the collections. Gives background information on the development of library services in New Zealand. Details the formation of the Country Library Service and the development of the National Library. Mentions Cliff Collins, John Harris and Archie Dunningham. Details the way books were imported, the interloan system and the development of Index of New Zealand Periodicals. Describes the state of the main public libraries with reference to the librarians instrumental in their development. Discusses the conflict in the New Zealand Library Association during the late 1940s and the opposition to the Country Library Service from Dunedin Public Library and the National Librarian. Explains the relationship between the Country Library Service and Public libraries, how the `A', `B' and `C' libraries were defined, what services they and the city libraries received from the Country Library Service and the advice and guidance given by the Service.

Gives background details about Hugh Lorimer, the first South Island Field Librarian. Gives information about the staff at the Country Library Service and subsequent library careers.

Describes her own work in book selection and order work, the impact of World War II on the Country Library Service and the establishment of the War Library Service to military camps and troop ships.

Details in depth the development of the Service in Christchurch with reference to staffing, book selection, relationship with Wellington office, the role of the book van drivers, relationship with local councils, budget matters, service given, her own career within the Service and various staff members, librarians and van drivers over the years. Comments on the `B' libraries in the South Island, the development of new libraries, the development of the Service centres throughout the North Island and the development of the National Library of New Zealand, Library School and the Library Association. Talks about librarians and politicians, involved in the development of these library services and about some of the future National Librarians.

Reflects back over her career, recalls her library training and association memberships and details her retirement interests.

Venue - Christchurch

Interviewer(s) - Hugo Manson

Venue - Miss Wright's home in Christchurch

Arrangement: Tape numbers - OHC-00, OHC-00, OHC-00, OHC-00

Tape numbers - OHA CLS 2600, 2601, 2608, 2609, 2610, 2611, 2612

Quantity: 4 C60 cassette(s). 1 printed abstract(s). 3.30 Hours and minutes Duration.

Finding Aids: Abstract Available - abstracting complete AB 304.

Printed abstract contains portrait photograph of Jean Wright, a photograph of Jean Wright with G T Alley and Helen Sullivan and a group photograph of early Country Library Service staff outside Parliament Buildings dated ca 1938.

Search dates: 1912 - 1989

Alternative form available: Listening copies available OHLC-000749 - OHLC-000752

Digital copies of the recording and abstract are also available in the Library's Reading Room