Born 28 February 1885 at Orlik, near Prague in what is now the Czech Republic. Arrived in New Zealand in February 1909. Worked as a miner, mostly on the West Coast, and for most of his life in New Zealand at the Blackwater Mine, Waiuta. From 1930 he remained there for the rest of his life. When he arrived in New Zealand he owned a camera and was soon taking photographs. He has left a record of the community of Waiuta, miners working in the mine, social and community events, and views of the township. Most of his surviving photographs of the town date from the 1920s and 1930s. (Information from New Zealand History online. Biographical notes available in Photographic Archive biographical file)
Divis, Joseph, 1885-1967
There are 6 related items to this topic
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French, Derek : Photographs of Waiuta, West Coast taken by Joseph Divis
Date: ca 1910, ca 1930s
By: Divis, Joseph, 1885-1967; French, Derek, active 1968
Reference: PAColl-4796
Description: Photographs of the gold mining town of Waiuta, West Coast. Comprises scenes of the township, miners, mine shafts and batteries, chiefly taken (1930s?). One image taken in 1909. Photographed by Joseph Divis between 1909 and ca 1939. Arrangement: Copy negatives at 1/2-031557 to 031563, 051759, 059926, 067501 to 067503, 072209, 084282, 084286, 092027, 0092709, 094289 to 094296. Quantity: 28 b&w copy photographic print(s).
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West Coast Mining album
Date: [Circa 1880s to 1912]
By: Divis, Joseph, 1885-1967
Reference: PA1-o-531
Description: Very clear views of West Coast gold and coal mines (mainly in the Reefton subdivision), and mining towns, taken by unidentified photographers, except for one of "Wondrous Waiuta New Zealand" Jos. Divis Photo (p 27). Views on various roads include the Reefton to Blackspoint Road, Reefton to Westport Road, the Buller Gorge, the Maruia Road alongside the Inangahua River, Progress Road, and fording a river near Progress Mill. Images relating to mines include a winter picture of the old Wealth (of Nations) waterwheel covered in icicles; and gold batteries at various stages of development. Gold mines include the Progress Mine, Wealth of Nations Mine, Welcome Mine, the Mountain Battery at Boatman's Creek, the Blackwater Mine and the Globe Mine. Coal mines include views of Lanky's Creek Coal Mine, and the Lanky's Creek to Energetic coal tramway showing new bridges and coal miners. One photograph (p 9) shows several men "beach combing" for gold on the West Coast. There are a number of articles in The West Coast Times, Otago Witness and Otago Daily Times talking about the success or otherwise of seeking gold by this method in the 1860s to 1880s (see Papers Past paperspast.natlib.govt.nz, search under "beach combing" "west coast") Inscriptions: Album page - "To Messrs E & A Spencer with best wishes from D Turnbull, Reefton, N.Z., 13/10/1911, 2/6/1912" Quantity: 1 album(s) Album(s). Physical Description: Album with dark grey cover, entitled "Photographs" in gold lettering; 19.0 x 27.5 cm
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Divis, Joseph, 1885-1967 :Stereoscopic photograph of the township of Waiuta and sleeve ...
Date: [ca 1920]
By: Divis, Joseph, 1885-1967; Nathan, Simon, 1943-
Reference: PAColl-9969
Description: Stereoscopic photographic print of the gold mining town of Waiuta, West Coast, showing the township and Blackwater Mine's south shaft (top right) taken by Joseph Divis about 1920. Also a glasine sleeve labelled 'Jos. Divis Photographer Stereoscopic work a speciality'. Envelope printed about 1930 when Divis was trying to make a living as a photographer. Source of title - Title supplied by Library Source of descriptive information - Information about photograph and glasine envelope from a note provided by donor Simon Nathan and housed at PAColl-9969. Quantity: 1 b&w original photographic print(s) (Stereograph). 1 item(s) of photographic ephemera (Glasine sleeve). Provenance: Donated by Simon Nathan, Wellington, 2012 Transfers: From Manuscripts & Archives - MS-Group-2054: Nathan, Simon, 1943-: Research papers.
Group
Series 3 Joseph Divis
Date: 2008 - 2011
From: Nathan, Simon, 1943- : Research papers
Reference: Series-5180
Description: Series comprises of research material compiled by Nathan for his 2010 biography `Through the eyes of a miner: the photography of Joseph Divis' Quantity: 4 folder(s).
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Divis, Joseph, 1885-1967: Photographs of New Zealand gold mining and international travel
Date: [ca 1920-1935]
By: Divis, Joseph, 1885-1967; Wilshire, Brendon, active 2009
Reference: PA-Group-00527
Description: Photographs taken by Joseph Divis during the period circa 1920 to 1935, portraying Waiuta and nearby mining areas; Waihi and Karangahake Gorge; Alexander River; Argo dredge near Reefton; travels in New Zealand; and personalities. Also a trip Divis took in the late 1920s to Czechoslovakia which included along the way, Japan, Hawaii, Philippines, and the United States. Images give a comprehensive view of life in the little mining town of Waiuta, mainly between 1931 and 1935, including all aspects of the mine, the town, social gatherings, and images that were published in the Auckland Weekly News. Also includes Divis's stereo-graphoscope. Finding aids - see Photograph Archive backfile for subject lists linked to reference numbers. Negatives at 1/1-039791-G to 1/1-039826-G; 1/2-233028-G to 1/2-233377-G. A selection of images from this collection were published in: Nathan, Simon, 'Through the eyes of a miner: The photography of Joseph Divis', Greymouth: Friends of Waiuta, 2016. Title supplied by Library. Quantity: 382 b&w original negative(s). 282 b&w original photographic print(s) stereoscopic prints. 1 box(es) containing stereo-graphoscope and wooden box. Provenance: Joseph Divis left his possessions to his friend Maybelle Harvey. After she died, she gave some of the material to her daughter, Eve Leggett and to family friend Brendon Wilshire.
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Iron sulphate stalactites and stalagmites, Martha Mine, Waihi
Date: 1922
From: Waihi Arts Centre & Museum: Photographs of Waihi
By: Divis, Joseph, 1885-1967
Reference: 1/2-150108-F
Description: Photograph taken by Joseph Divis in 1922 showing men alongside iron sulphate stalactites and stalagmites at Martha Mine in Waihi. Note on back of file print reads "From back of original print : Waihi Mine. No 10 Level (Plan) 150 ft from South end of Edward Lode. stalactites & stalagmites of mostly Iron Sulphate - 2 to 3 years in forming. 1922." Photographer identified by a researcher July 2022. Quantity: 1 b&w original negative(s).