Diplomats' spouses

Date: [ca 12 July 1999]

From: Dominion Post (Newspaper): Photographic negatives and prints of the Evening Post and Dominion newspapers

Reference: Dom/1999/0713/01-F

Description: Susan Williams, wife of the British High Commissioner. Photographs taken ca 12 July 1999 by staff photographer of The Dominion newspaper. Quantity: 6 colour original negative(s) strips with 16 frames. Physical Description: Dye coupler negatives, 35mm

Date: 1927-[ca 1970]

By: Scott, Ruth Copland, 1916-2007

Reference: MS-Group-1561

Description: Correspondence with her mother, Winifred Alexander, and with her sister, Bet, describing life in Japan and at the Trade Commission. Also, a notebook giving details of functions held at the Scotts' residence in Tokyo, and a two page account by Ruth Scott of her life, particularly referring to her interest in ikebana. Also, further papers of loose correspondence, recipes, and some material relating to her husband, John Stuart Scott, added later. Two cassettes, part one and part two, containing interview with Ruth Scott by Arthur Feslier about ikebana for Take Five radio programme. Radio interview with Ruth Scott played in two parts, one week apart. Source of title - Supplied by Library Other - One photograph and some ephemera sent to PHA and Ephemera collection. The photograph is at PAColl-8994. The main collection is with the Manuscripts and Archives Section. Relationship complexity - Interview with Ruth Scott held in the Oral History Centre at OHInt-0418/02, while further material is held at PR-07-0630 Arrangement: The first five folders (MS-Papers-8691) were accessioned in 2006, while MS-Papers-8939 were transferred from the Printed Collection in 2007. Ruth Scott, a keen student of ikebana and the wife of the New Zealand Trade Commissioner, John Stuart Scott, lived in Japan 1957-1963. During that time her mother, Winifred Alexander, stayed at the Trade Commissioner's Residence for a year. Quantity: 9 folder(s). 0.15 Linear Metres. 2 C60 cassette(s). Transfers: To Ephemera Collection - Collection of ephemera - To Photographic Archive - One photograph.

Date: 18 Mar 2000

From: Government House oral history project Stage II

By: Shroff, Janet Marie Warren, 1944-

Reference: OHInt-0642/7

Description: Marie Shroff was born in Auckland in 1944. Describes Irish, Scots and English ancestry. Mentions agnosticism. Describes how the family coped after the death of her father. Describes attending Epsom Girls' Grammar School and Auckland University. Gives a detailed outline of her career. Mentions originally working as a research assistant with External Affairs before becoming an NZBC journalist with Gallery and Checkpoint. Describes difficulties as a female journalist getting on air time. Mentions going to Western Samoa with her husband Gordon Shroff who worked with External Affairs. Describes teaching English at Samoa College. Comments on the lifestyle of diplomatic wives. Describes working in the New Zealand Consulate General in New York, returning to New Zealand and work with the State Services Commission (SSC). Mentions loss of grading for spouses of Foreign Affairs staff when overseas and her role in changing this. Recalls working in the UK Civil Service Department when her husband was posted to London, returning to New Zealand and becoming director of the Policy Development Unit and then director of the State Enterprises Branch at SSC. Mentions the role of Dr Mervyn Probine. Describes working with Rod Deane, Roger Douglas and Geoffrey Palmer corporatising government departments. Comments on the role of Treasury and her attitude to changes to the government sector. Mentions Graham Scott. Comments on the treatment of staff by Treasury. Describes being asked to apply for the position of Secretary to Cabinet and Clerk of the Executive Council and succeeding Patrick Millen in the role. Describes the two parts of the job as constitutional and running the secretariat. Gives details of the Executive Council and dual responsibility to the Prime Minister and the Governor-General. Comments on the significance of Sir Paul Reeves as first and working class and Maori Governor-General. Recalls a hui in the ballroom at Government House. Discusses problems in administration at Government House and her role in initiating a review under Joan Gillies. Describes the redefinition of the role of Official Secretary and the replacement of Paul Canham by Ken Richardson in the role. Describes the `upstairs downstairs' mentality created by the roles of Official Secretary and Comptroller and the removal of the role of Comptroller. Discusses issues during the 1980s which had constitutional implications for the Governor-General. Mentions the 1984 snap election, conflict between Roger Douglas and David Lange and the post 1996 election coalition negotiation. Discusses the relationship between Sir Paul Reeves and David Lange and the attitude of the Labour Government to the role of Governor-General. Discusses the re-election to Cabinet of Roger Douglas, the `December 17 package' which was overturned by David Lange and the collapse of the Labour Government. Comments on the constitutional implications of this. Gives her opinion of the attributes required by Prime Ministers. Mentions Jim Bolger and Helen Clark. Discusses Geoffrey Palmer's efforts to get a female Governor-General. Comments on the political understanding of Dame Catherine Tizard. Comments on the perceived importance of the role of Governor-General since proportional representation began. Discusses the repatriation of the role of Governor-General under Sir Paul Reeves and Dame Catherine Tizard. Mentions Jim Bolger's views on knighthoods and New Zealand as a republic. Discusses relations with Buckingham Palace. Comments on her relationship with the role of Official Secretary. Comments on the importance for the Governor-General of understanding constitutional concepts and the appointment of Sir Michael Hardie Boys. Discusses the test to the system of the nine weeks negotiation of a coalition government after the 1996 election. Explains the relationship between the Governor-General and the Prime Minister during this period. Interviewer(s) - Hugo Manson Quantity: 4 C60 cassette(s). 1 printed abstract(s). 1 interview(s). 4 Hours Duration. Finding Aids: Abstract Available - abstracting complete OHA-3408.

Date: 1974, 1979

From: Scott family : Papers and photographs relating to the Cachemaille, Boxer and Scott families

Reference: MS-Papers-11969-04

Description: Draft of a manual written in 1974 by Marguerite Scott for partners and families of foreign service personnel serving overseas. Accompanied by memorandum, dated 2 May 1979, from the Secretary Foreign Affairs addressed to all posts overseas asking for comment on the draft and summarising comments already received. Quantity: 1 folder(s).

Date: 1978-1981

From: Scott family : Papers and photographs relating to the Cachemaille, Boxer and Scott families

Reference: MS-Papers-11969-05

Description: Questions regarding the Women's Foreign Service Association, addressed by Marguerite Scott to the Heads of Mission Meeting in Brussels in 1981, concerning its relationship with the existing Foreign Service Association. Includes description of the membership of the Women's Foreign Service Association as it existed in 1978 and the particular problems faced by diplomats' spouses, together with an advocacy that her handbook for foreign service families be adopted by the Foreign Service Association. Quantity: 1 folder(s).

Date: 10 Jan 2007

From: Alliance Francaise Centenary oral history project

By: Asbridge, Marie-Claire, 1932-

Reference: OHInt-0881-09

Description: Interview with Marie-Claire Asbridge, born in Perpignan, France in 1932. Recalls her education at schools run by nuns in Perpignan. Talks about speaking English as a child because her mother taught English, but not learning it seriously until secondary school. Refers to studying at Montpellier University where she met her husband Gordon and marrying him in England. Talks about the trip by sea to New Zealand, arriving in Wellington when she was pregnant, and meeting the Asbridge family. Comments on missing French food and wine and the limited choice of vegetables. Refers to a trip back to France in 1955 with her baby daughter, and to keeping in contact with her family by weekly letters. Mentions giving her daughters a bilingual upbringing. Talks about going to the French club in Wellington and being welcomed by Mme Finlayson and Frankie Huntington. Mentions how the club helped her to settle here, and the importance of French language and culture to her. Refers to the Charge d'affairs and other diplomats attended the French club, and the wool buyers and their wives. Talks about performing in the club's plays, including "Treize a table" which was toured to Christchurch and Palmerston North. Reflects that the French club lost some of its friendliness when it became the Alliance Francaise de Wellington. Comments on her husband's posting to Tokyo and being a diplomat's wife. Outlines living in Canberra where she taught French in the Women's International Club and was involved with Alliance Francais. Discusses their posting to Paris, the first time she had lived there, and being an "Ami du Louvre" (Friend of the Louvre). Mentions that they visit France regularly now, the people, pollution and other changes, and their uncluttered life in Wellington. Refers to Le Groupe Francais d'Amitie in Wellington which she belongs to. Contents: Accompanied by: photocopy of the list of members of Groupe francais d'amite, novembre 1991 (1 p) Interviewer(s) - Ann Tohill Quantity: 1 printed abstract(s). 1 C60 cassette(s). 1 interview(s). 1.12 Hours and minutes Duration. Finding Aids: Abstract Available - abstracting complete OHA-5948. Photographs of Marie-Claire and Gordon Asbridge (Montpellier, France, 1954; Wellington, 2004); photocopies of photographs of Groupe francais d'amitie (1990, 1991) Search dates: 1932 - 2007

Date: 2002

From: Buckingham, Louise, 1937- : Papers

By: Buckingham, Louise, 1937-

Reference: MSX-7820

Description: Memoir written by Louise Buckingham on her late husband, Ira Buckingham, an official with the former Department of Foreign Affairs. Includes photographs, tributes, reminiscences from former friends and colleagues and copies of correspondence. Source of title - Transcribed Quantity: 1 volume(s). Physical Description: Computer typescript, printed on an inkjet printer Provenance: Donor/Lender/Vendor - Donation, Louise Buckingham, 2006

Date: 29 June 1960

From: Dominion Post (Newspaper): Photographic negatives and prints of the Evening Post and Dominion newspapers

Reference: EP/1960/2321-F

Description: Photograph taken for the Evening Post newspaper of Wellington by an unidentified staff photographer. Shows Sacred Heart Cathedral, Wellington, possibly the memorial service for French Charge d'Affaires Mr J B Georges-Picot and Mrs Georges Picot who died on 25 June 1960. Source of information for memorial service: "French Diplomat's Death", 'Press', Volume XCIX, Issue 29242, 28 June 1960, p.13 accesed at https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19600628.2.74 on 12 January 2023. Title taken from negative register. Quantity: 1 b&w original negative(s). Physical Description: Cellulosic film negative, 6.5 x 6.5 cm Processing information: Title and descriptive information updated 12 Janaury 2023 following information provided by a researcher.

Date: 2 Sep 1958

From: Evening post (Newspaper. 1865-2002) :Photographic negatives and prints of the Evening Post newspaper

Reference: EP/1958/2945-F

Description: Photograph taken for the Evening Post newspaper of Wellington by an unidentified staff photographer. Quantity: 1 b&w original negative(s). Physical Description: Cellulosic film negative, 6.5 x 6.5 cm

Date: 2 Sep 1958

From: Evening post (Newspaper. 1865-2002) :Photographic negatives and prints of the Evening Post newspaper

Reference: EP/1958/2946-F

Description: Photograph taken for the Evening Post newspaper of Wellington by an unidentified staff photographer. Quantity: 1 b&w original negative(s). Physical Description: Cellulosic film negative, 6.5 x 6.5 cm

Date: 29 Jun 1960

From: Dominion Post (Newspaper): Photographic negatives and prints of the Evening Post and Dominion newspapers

Reference: EP/1960/2320-F

Description: Photograph taken for the Evening Post newspaper of Wellington by an unidentified staff photographer. Quantity: 1 b&w original negative(s). Physical Description: Cellulosic film negative, 6.5 x 6.5 cm

Date: 1957

From: Evening post (Newspaper. 1865-2002) :Photographic negatives and prints of the Evening Post newspaper

Reference: EP/1957/3213-F

Description: Photograph taken for the Evening Post newspaper of Wellington by an unidentified staff photographer. Quantity: 1 b&w original negative(s). Physical Description: Cellulosic film negative, 6.5 x 6.5 cm

Date: 1955

From: Evening post (Newspaper. 1865-2002) :Photographic negatives and prints of the Evening Post newspaper

Reference: EP/1955/0606-F

Description: Photograph taken for the Evening Post newspaper of Wellington by an unidentified staff photographer. Quantity: 1 b&w original negative(s). Physical Description: Cellulosic film negative 6.5 x 6.5 inches

Date: [1942 or 1943]

From: New Zealand. Department of Internal Affairs. War History Branch :Photographs relating to World War 1914-1918, World War 1939-1945, occupation of Japan, Korean War, and Malayan Emergency

Reference: PAColl-5547-050

Description: Walter Nash, New Zealand Minister to the United States, and his wife Lotty, at the front door of their home in Washington DC, with a Cadillac car in the driveway. Photographed in 1942 or 1943, by an unidentified photographer. Other - Notes on the backing board of the print read: "(9) The Nashes part at their front door, the New Zealand Minister to make official calls, Mrs Nash to direct the decorating and furnishing of the legation downstairs room. Sturdy well trimmed ivy vines cover the brick walls of the legation in Washington" Source of descriptive information - Notes on backing board of print. Dates estimated by cataloguer. Quantity: 1 b&w original photographic print(s). Physical Description: Silver gelatin print, 14.1 x 12.8 cm

Date: 1958

From: Evening post (Newspaper. 1865-2002) :Photographic negatives and prints of the Evening Post newspaper

Reference: EP/1958/2592-F

Description: Photograph taken for the Evening Post newspaper of Wellington by an unidentified staff photographer. Quantity: 1 b&w original negative(s). Physical Description: Cellulosic film negative 6.5 x 6.5 inches