Lowe, Wallace George, 1924-2013

Date: 1954

From: [Ephemera relating to mountaineering and mountain climbing in New Zealand or by New Zealanders. 1900-1959]

By: Geographical Society of Philadelphia

Reference: Eph-A-MOUNTAINEERING-1954-01

Description: Programme for an event in Philadelphia, sponsored by the Joint Himalayan Committee of the Royal Geographical Society and the Alpine Club of Great Britain, lists the guests of honour (includes Hon L K Munro, NZ Ambassador to the United States) notes on Hillary, Lowe and Evans, and an illustration and notes about the Hillary Medal designed "to commemorate the greatest achievement of our time" by Edward Warwick, George Borst and Julius Windner, and executed by Helen Stevenson West. Quantity: 1 album(s) Album(s). Physical Description: Booklet of 8 pages, 218 x 140 mm. Provenance: Purchased at New Zealand Book Auctions, in 2008.

Date: 1956 - 1958

By: Lake, Robyn, 1943-

Reference: Eph-C-ANTARCTICA-1956-01/02

Description: Scrapbooks include magazine clippings (text and photos) about the expedition to Antarctica 1956-1958), with share certificates signed by George Lowe and Sir Edmund Hillary (Certificates now at Eph-B-ANTARCTICA-1956). Scrapbook number one shows a clipping portrait of Sir Edmund Hillary stuck to the cover. Scrapbook number two has within it a cut-away illustration of the Antarctic expedition supply ship, the "Theron". The donor's father, Mr George Gilltrap, was a tractor dealer in Rotorua, and was involved in fundraising for the Antartic expedition. He also ran a vintage car museum in Rotorua in the 1950s. Quantity: 2 album(s). Physical Description: Newsclippings stuck or loose in scrapbooks, each measuring 375 x 247 mm, and covered in green and white embossed wallpaper

Date: 1960-1962, 1966

By: Swan, Lawrence W (Dr), 1917?-1999

Reference: MS-Papers-11932

Description: Comprises letters between Dr Lawrence Swan, George Lowe and Desmond Doig. There is some reference to the activities of their mutual friend, Sir Edmund Hillary, to the expedition by Hillary and Doig to search for the yeti in the Himalayas in 1963 and to Hillary's narrow escape from an aeroplane crash in 1960. Source of title - Supplied by Library George Lowe, Desmond Doig and Larry Swan were friends of Sir Edmund Hillary and shared his fascination with mountaineering and Nepal. All had accompanied Hillary on several expeditions. Quantity: 1 folder(s). 0.01 Linear Metres. Physical Description: Mss, typescript Provenance: Unknown provenance but probably from the collection of Dr Swan.

Date: 1953 - 1973

From: Lambert, Max Edwin, 1936- : Papers relating to the 12th edition of Who's Who in New Zealand

Reference: MS-Papers-11961

Description: Consists of a folder of newspaper articles on and by Sir Edmund Hillary. An unsourced book review of George Lowe's 'From Everest to the South Pole' republished in 1961, discusses Lowe's association with Hillary. Three articles commemorate the 20th anniversary of the 1953 ascent of Mt Everest by Hillary and Tensing Norkey, and assess this climbing achievement. They also discuss Hillary's character, career as a mountaineer and Antarctic explorer. One article mentions a planned circumnavigation of Cape Horn to be led by Hillary. Two newspaper articles by Hillary are included. The first, 'Ordeal on Makalu' (Sunday Times July 2 1961) gives an account of an unsuccessful ascent of Mt Makalu. In the second article, 'Forbidding Mt Herschel Yields Twice to Determined Team' (Evening Post Feb 1 1968) Hillary writes of the successful ascent of Mt Herschel by members of his team in October 1967. Also included in the folder are copies of Reuters telegraphs dated 14 and 15 May 1973. They announce Hillary's attendance in Darjeeling, India, at a world conference on mountaineering and other 20th Everest ascent anniversary observations. Also reported is an exchange between Hillary and members of an Italian Defence Ministry Expedition on the size and nature of their 1973 summit of Everest. Quantity: 1 folder(s). 0.01 Linear Metres.

Date: 1952, 1958

From: Riddiford family: Harold Earle Riddiford papers relating to Garhwal Himalaya and Everest Reconnaissance

Reference: fMS-Papers-12631-3

Description: Contains material relating to the British Himalayan Expedition of 1952. This includes correspondence, a newspaper clipping, shipping information, invoices, and lists of equipment and suppliers. Inward correspondence includes letters from L P Kirwan at the Royal Geographical Society and Bank of New Zealand. There is a list of equipment suppliers as well as a separate list of photographic materials being supplied to the expedition by Ilford and Kodak. There is an invoice from Benjamin Edgington (Silver and Edgington Limited) and a list of equipment and supplies from Andrew Lusk & Co Ltd. There are notes on letterhead from the Swiss Mount Everest Expedition of 1952. Also contains material relating to the Indian Cho Oyu Expedition of 1958, including a letter from Keki Bunshah and a letter from the mother of Keki Bunshah to Miss Lowe (George Lowe's sister). Title supplied by Library. Arrangement: Material arrived at the Library in box "2" in a plastic sleeve with note in pencil describing the contents as "Cho Oyu - Weekly Overseas Mail" and in blue ink "Keki Bunshah" and "8". Quantity: 1 folder(s). Physical Description: Newspaper clippings, mss, typescript Processing information: Not all names associated with this item are indexed.

Date: 1954

From: [Ephemera relating to mountaineering and mountain climbing in New Zealand or by New Zealanders. 1900-1959]

By: World Adventure Tours (Canada)

Reference: Eph-A-MOUNTAINEERING-1954-03

Description: Programme booklet with photographs taken on the climb, and including advertisements for Sir John Hunt's book "The ascent of Everest", and the film "The conquest of Everest". Quantity: 1 album(s) Album(s). Physical Description: Booklet of 8 pages, 225 x 152 mm. Provenance: Purchased from Meridian Rare Books, London, in June 2013.

Date: 1954

From: [Ephemera relating to mountaineering and mountain climbing in New Zealand or by New Zealanders. 1900-1959]

By: World Adventure Tours (Canada)

Reference: Eph-A-MOUNTAINEERING-1954-02

Description: Green ticket for admittance to a presentation by three of the Everest Expedition group of 1953, rubber stamped by the Registrar's Office at McGill University, and autographed by George Lowe. Quantity: 1 colour photo-mechanical print(s). Physical Description: Relief print on green card, 65 x 96 mm. Provenance: Purchased from Meridian Rare Books, London, in June 2013. Formerly from the collection of Sir George Lowe.

Date: June-July 1951

From: Riddiford family: Harold Earle Riddiford papers relating to Garhwal Himalaya and Everest Reconnaissance

Reference: Series-6713-08

Description: Contains photographic prints and negatives. Taken by Harold Earle Riddiford on the first New Zealand expedition to the Garhwal Himalaya, June to July 1951. Title supplied by Library. Arrangement: Photographic prints and negatives arrived at the Library in a Kodak photographic paper box labelled "Garhwal negatives" and with the address "Earle Riddiford | c/o Mrs. A.M. Kennedy | 5 Pentland Ave | Colinton | Edinburgh | U.K.". Negatives stored in paper envelope labelled "1" and "Pan 2 | glossy & lustre". Further prints, which corresponded to the negatives, arrived at the Library in a smaller Kodak photographic paper box. Both were in a file box labelled "Mountain Photos". Quantity: 129 b&w original negative(s). 128 b&w original photographic print(s). 1 item(s) of photographic ephemera. Processing information: Photographs and negatives separated for reasons of preservation and storage.

Date: 1952

From: Riddiford family: Harold Earle Riddiford papers relating to Garhwal Himalaya and Everest Reconnaissance

Reference: 1/4-138184-F

Description: Shows mountaineers Wallace George Lowe and Dr Charles Evans seated with mountainous forest and unidentified Himalayan peaks in the background. Taken by Harold Earle Riddiford in Nepal, 1952. Mounted exhibition print made from this negative is at PAColl-D-1579. Title supplied by Library. Arrangement: Negatives and prints arrived at Library in a Ilford HP3 film negative box. Negatives were in a glassine sleeve labelled "No 1" and "misc 1/2 plate". Quantity: 1 b&w original negative(s). Physical Description: Cellulosic film negative, 1/4 plate. Transfers: See PAColl-10769-09 for prints originally stored with this negative.. Processing information: Negatives and prints were separated and rehoused for reasons of preservation and storage.

Date: 1951, [ca 1998]

From: Riddiford family: Harold Earle Riddiford papers relating to Garhwal Himalaya and Everest Reconnaissance

Reference: MS-Papers-12631-03

Description: Contains correspondence relating to the First New Zealand Expedition to the Garhwal Himalaya, 1951. Includes: - letter of introduction from Prime Minister Sidney Holland dated 26 April 1951. - letter from Krenek at the Himalayan Club regarding Pasang Dawa, Nima Sherpa, Yila Tenzing, and Thundu dated 26 May 1951. - Riddiford's application to the British Alpine Club including recording of mountaineering expeditions up until 1951. - Inner Line Passes issued by Abdul Jalol Khan, Deputy Commissioner, Garhwal. - Tourist Introduction Pass issued by the Government of India and telegram to L T Nicoll of Christchurch regarding arrival in Nepal. - Newspaper clipping regarding Edmund Cotter's son Guy and his company Adventure Consultants and a photograph of Edmund Cotter. Title supplied by Library. Arrangement: Material arrived at the Library in file box "1" stored in a number of plastic sleeves with descriptions written in black ink on red paper. Quantity: 1 folder(s). Physical Description: Mss, typescript, printed matter, silver gelatin prints Processing information: Not all names associated with this item are indexed.

Date: 1951-1953

From: Riddiford family: Harold Earle Riddiford papers relating to Garhwal Himalaya and Everest Reconnaissance

By: 1951 British Mount Everest reconnaissance expedition

Reference: MS-Papers-12631-17

Description: Contains correspondence relating to the 1951 British Everest Reconnaissance. Includes: - Telegram from Peck regarding Harold Earle Riddiford and Edmund Percival Hillary joining the British party in Nepal. Also telegram from Riddiford to Eric Shipton regarding acceptance of invitation. - Notes left for Riddiford by Edmund Percival Hillary and Wallace George Lowe [while he was convalescing?]. and hand-drawn maps of Dakshini Chamrao glacier area and Mukut Parbat. - Letter from B R Goodfellow, Honorary Secretary Himalayan Committee, informing Riddiford he will not be part of the 1953 Everest party. - Inward correspondence from Pasang Dawa [Pasang Lama?]. Title supplied by Library. Arrangement: Material arrived at the Library in file box "2" stored in a number of plastic sleeves with descriptions written in black ink on red paper. Quantity: 1 folder(s). Physical Description: Mss, typescript, hand-drawn maps Processing information: Not all names associated with this item are indexed.

Date: 1957-1958, 1980s

By: Fortune, Graham Charles, 1941-2016

Reference: PAColl-10660

Description: Comprises an autographed group photograph of members of the Crossing Party, one of the two teams of the Commonwealth Trans-Antarctic Expedition of 1957-1958, taken by an unidentified photographer in Antarctica, and a photograph of a hut and tent in Antarctica, taken circa 1980s by an unidentified photographer. Signatures on the Crossing Party photograph include V E Fuchs, David Pratt, Hal Lister, Ralph Lenton, Ken Blaiklock, George Lowe, Hannes La Grange, Jon Stephenson, Geoff Pratt, Allan Rogers, David Stratton, and Roy Homard. Graham Fortune has had a long involvement with New Zealand's Antarctic programme. Quantity: 1 b&w original photographic print(s). 1 colour original photographic print(s). Processing information: The photograph of the crossing party was removed from a frame by Library staff in 2022.The frame was not kept.

Date: 1862-1966

From: Pascoe, John Dobree, 1908-1972 :Photographs of family, holidays and tramping trips

Reference: PAColl-8765-07

Description: Photographs relating to New Zealand explorer and mountaineer, Charles Douglas, taken between 1862 and 1906. Included are photographs of maps and of two drawings by Douglas. Photographs of New Zealand mountaineers Edmund Hillary and George Lowe, as well as other portraits of unidentified men. Some of the photographs of Hillary and Lowe were taken when they were celebrities and three were taken when they visited the Pascoes in August 1953. There are also photographs of the summit of Mount Everest. Views of the Haast Pass taken in 1966. Quantity: 48 b&w original photographic print(s).

Date: 1953, 1958, 1960, 1963

From: Pascoe, John Dobree, 1908-1972 : Papers

Reference: MS-Papers-8630-08

Description: Letter, envelopes, postcards, from an envelope labelled `Hillary and Lowe'. Cards and envelopes relate to the Everest expeditions of 1953 and 1960, and to the Trans-Antarctic expedition of 1958. Related photographs are with PAColl-8765-07-21 to -42. Quantity: 1 folder(s).

Date: 19 July 1952

From: Riddiford family: Harold Earle Riddiford papers relating to Garhwal Himalaya and Everest Reconnaissance

Reference: MS-Papers-12631-23

Description: Contains letter to Norman David Hardie from Edmund Percival Hillary dated 19 July 1952. Includes account of Cho Oyu trip and includes Hillary's assessments of various members of the party and comments regarding Eric Shipton's plans for a Mount Everest attempt the next year. Also contains two cards, one from Percival Augustus Hillary and Gertrude Hillary acknowledging their thanks for a letter of congratulations regarding their son's ascent of Everest as part of the British Everest Expedition, and another advertising a 1952 talk by Hillary for the New Zealand Alpine Club (Wellington Section). There is also a computer printout with quotes from Hillary's letter to Hardie. Title taken from item. Arrangement: Material arrived at the Library in box "2" in a clear plastic sleeve with a note on green paper in black ink reading "Hillary's letter to Hardie re Cho Oyu". Quantity: 1 folder(s). Physical Description: Mss, printed matter Processing information: Not all names associated with this item are indexed.

Date: 1951-1959

From: Riddiford family: Harold Earle Riddiford papers relating to Garhwal Himalaya and Everest Reconnaissance

Reference: MS-Papers-12631-22

Description: Contains largely inward correspondence to Harold Earle Riddiford, 1951 to1959. Correspondents include William Percival Packard, Jim McFarlane, Ed Cotter, William Packard, William B Beaven, and Norman David Hardie. Subjects include the selection of the party for the British Everest Expedition in 1953. Various mountaineering expeditions around the world is also discussed. One of Hardie's letters relates to the publication of George Lowe's book "Because it is there", Includes a copy of Riddiford's reply to Hardie as with as the statement he put out regarding Lowe's account. Title taken from item. Arrangement: Material arrived at the Library in box "2" in a clear plastic sleeve with a note in pencil reading "Correspondence Hardie Bevan Packard| Incl. [Bain?] trip" and another reading "Cotter| McFarlane". A note in blue pen reads "Plus a letter to Hardie from Hillary about Cho Oyu" [see MS-Papers-12631-23 for this letter]. Quantity: 1 folder(s). Physical Description: Mss, typescript Processing information: Not all names associated with this item are indexed.

Date: 1952-1955

From: Riddiford family: Harold Earle Riddiford papers relating to Garhwal Himalaya and Everest Reconnaissance

Reference: MS-Papers-12631-21

Description: Contains inward correspondence to Harold Earle Riddiford from Edmund Percival Hillary and Wallace George Lowe, 1952 to1955. Also typescript copies of Riddiford's outward correspondence. Includes letter from Riddiford to Hillary and Lowe congratulating them on the successful ascent of Mount Everest in 1953. Other subject matter includes freight logistics and tariffs, mountaineering equipment, finances relating to the New Zealand Garhwal expedition, the Mount Everest Expedition of 1953, and photographs taken by Lowe and Riddiford on various expeditions. Title taken from item. Arrangement: Material arrived at the Library in box "2" in a clear plastic sleeve with a note in pencil reading "Correspondence Hillary & Lowe | Oct-Nov 1952 | 53-4" and "Done". Quantity: 1 folder(s). Physical Description: Mss, typescript Processing information: Not all names associated with this item are indexed.

Date: 1953-2002

From: Riddiford family: Harold Earle Riddiford papers relating to Garhwal Himalaya and Everest Reconnaissance

Reference: MS-Papers-12631-34

Description: Contains material relating to Harold Earle Riddiford, 1953 to 2002. Includes Harold Earle Riddiford's inward and outward correspondence with most material relating to Riddiford's involvement with the New Zealand Alpine Club. Also letters from Keki Bunshah and from Eric Tyndale-Biscoe regarding the Tyndale-Biscoe school in Srinagar, Kashmir. Correspondence and material relating to Earle's participation and membership of the New Zealand Alpine Club, including acknowledgement of his donation to an expedition to China in 1985 and material about the proposed New Zealand Everest Expedition, 1981, Also Rosemary Riddiford's inward and outward experience after her husband's death including a 2002 letter to Listener magazine regarding the 1951 Garhwal Himalaya expedition and correspondence relating to Earle's climbing equipment going to a museum in Nelson [Uchi Deshi House?], Title taken from item. Arrangement: Material arrived at the Library in box "4" in a manila envelope labelled "Mountaineering Personal Correpondence". Quantity: 1 folder(s). Physical Description: Mss, typescript Processing information: Not all names associated with this item are indexed.

Date: 1951

From: Riddiford family: Harold Earle Riddiford papers relating to Garhwal Himalaya and Everest Reconnaissance

Reference: MS-Papers-12631-13

Description: Contains Harold Earle Riddiford's inward and outward correspondence relating to the New Zealand Himalayan Expedition, 1951. Includes telegrams and holograph letters as well as typed and carbon copies. There is extensive correspondence between party members Riddiford and Edmund Percival Hillary and George Wallace Lowe relating to trip preparation and planning. Also some inward and outward correspondence with expedition member Edmund McCarthny Cotter and with Norman David Hardie, who originally intended to join the expedition. Finances, equipment and supplies, logistics, the 1951 waterfront dispute, sponsorship, and travel dates are some of the topics discussed. There are typescripts of thank you letters for financial contributions to the expedition. In addition to correspondence there are lists of ideas for menu, breakdowns of costs, and newspaper clippings regarding the expedition. Also contains Lowe's personal gear list. Other correspondents include William Percival Packard, Pasang Dawa, Dr Noel Ewart Odell, Allan Odell, R E Hotz, John Robert Hugh McKenzie, John Dobree Pascoe, Mr Pearson, Frank A C Thomas, A J Scott, Arthur Pearson, Enid B H Nelson, P Rickard, [Dr?] Don Beaven, Mr Webber, and J P Cook. There is a tranche of correspondence relating to New Zealand Government Departments relating to the expedition, including from Robert Hunter Wade, Secretary of Internal Affairs, and with Indian Government officials, including E Sanyal. Includes accounts from providers of mountaineering equipment and supplies. Also contains correspondence with companies and clubs regarding fundraising, sponsorship deals, services, and supplies. These include the New Zealand Alpine Journal, R M Griffiths & Company, Imperial Bank of India, Himalayan Club (various members including Krenek and T H Braham), Dominion Motors Limited, The New Zealand Alpine Club (also includes minutes of meeting regarding expedition and its financing and circular letter to all members regarding the expedition), Canterbury Mountaineering Club, The Federated Mountain Clubs of New Zealand, Bank of New Zealand, Aulsebrook & Company, A Wander Limited, The Bruce Woollen Manufacturing Company Limited, Cadbury Fry Hudson Limited, Union Steam Ship Company, and Arthur Ellis & Co Limited. Title supplied by Library. Arrangement: Material arrived at the Library in box "1" in a plastic sleeve with pink stick label reading "10. (on inventory) | Valuable correspondence, telegrams - Hillary, Low etc." Quantity: 1 folder(s). Physical Description: Mss, typescript, printed matter, carbon copies Processing information: Not all names associated with this item are indexed.

Date: 1950-1951

From: Riddiford family: Harold Earle Riddiford papers relating to Garhwal Himalaya and Everest Reconnaissance

Reference: MS-Papers-12631-16

Description: Contains Harold Earle Riddiford's inward and outward correspondence regarding the New Zealand Himalayan Expedition. Includes holograph and typescript correspondence as well as some carbon copies and telegrams. Also contains memoranda, equipment lists and a food inventory, notes on phone calls, and expedition proposal documents (including expedition member descriptions). Dated largely in 1950, but also material from 1951. Correspondents include Harry Ayres, Norman Hardie, Edmund Percival Hillary, Wallace George Lowe, John Dobree Pascoe, Roland [?], Geoff (at Hermitage), Noel Ewart Odell, Jock Sim, Arthur Paul Harper, and Archie [Archibald James?] Scott. Companies corresponded with include Union Steam Ship Company. There is also correspondence with members of the Himalayan Club and New Zealand government officials and ministers. This latter group includes Robert Hunter Wade, Frederick Widdowson Doidge, William Alexander Bodkin, and Ronald Macmillan Algie. These include letters of introduction and the organisation of permits with the Indian Government. There is a copy of the ''Memorandum Re Proposed Himalayan Expedition'' which was handed to Doidge. Title supplied by Library. Arrangement: Material arrived at the Library in box "1" in a file stamped "Bell & Taylor Barristers & Solicitors Christchurch" and labelled "1950-1951| General correspondence/telegrams + food inventories" in blue pen. Quantity: 1 folder(s). Physical Description: Mss, typsscript, carbon copies Processing information: Not all names associated with this item are indexed.