The Alexandra Home for Friendless Women, as it was originally known, was set up in 1879 by the Wellington Ladies' Christian Association (founded in Mar 1878). Its centennial history in 1979 refers to it as the Alexandra Home for Unmarried Mothers. The first premises for the Home was in a house owned by Mr Kebble, in Little Taranaki Street. These premises were only suitable for one year, a second site being established at the corner of John Street and Hanson Street in 1881. A new building was built at 71 Rintoul Street, Newtown, Wellington in 1974. At its closure in 1991 it was referred to as the Alexandra Nursing Home (or Alexandra Home).
Alexandra Nursing Home
Streets - H
Date: 1989-1993
From: Shephard, Wayne, active 1990-2001: Papers relating to Wellington buildings
Reference: 2007-116-067
Description: File comprises Archive of Wellington Architecture research forms. Some forms include newspaper cuttings. Selected names indexed. Composite folder of streets beginning with H. Quantity: 1 folder(s).
Mrs Ann Pask, matron of Alexandra House, with her predecessor, Miss Doris Bennett
Date: 2 October 1972
From: Dominion Post (Newspaper): Photographic negatives and prints of the Evening Post and Dominion newspapers
Reference: EP/1972/4753
Description: Original Evening Post caption reads: "The present matron of Alexandra Home (right) Mrs Ann Pask with her predecessor, Miss Doris Bennett. The Hanson Street premises in the background will close in November." Photographed on 2nd October 1972 by an Evening Post staff photographer. Quantity: 1 b&w original negative(s) strip with 2 images. Physical Description: Cellulose triacetate negatives, 35mm
Miss P Dowling, matron of Wellington's Alexandra Home
Date: 10 April 1974
From: Dominion Post (Newspaper): Photographic negatives and prints of the Evening Post and Dominion newspapers
Reference: EP/1974/1642-F
Description: Miss P Dowling, matron of Wellington's Alexandra Home photographed by an Evening Post staff photographer 10 April 1974. Published in the Evening Post 8 May 1998 Quantity: 1 b&w original negative(s) 35mm negative strip comprising 3 images. Physical Description: Cellulose triacetate film negative, 35mm
The building that formerly housed the Alexandra Nursing Home, on the corner of Hanson a...
Date: [ca 10 Jun 1971]
From: Dominion Post (Newspaper): Photographic negatives and prints of the Evening Post and Dominion newspapers
Reference: EP/1971/2572-F
Description: The building that formerly housed the Alexandra Nursing Home, on the corner of Hanson and John Streets, Newtown, Wellington, during renovation, days before the eye department of Wellington Hospital moved in. Shows a two storied brick building. Photographs taken circa 10 June 1971 by an unidentified Evening Post staff photographer. Quantity: 1 b&w original negative(s) negative strip with 2 images. Physical Description: Cellulose triacetate negative, 35mm
[Ephemera and programmes up to quarto size, for musical events, collected by Robert Par...
Date: 1880 - 1884
Reference: Eph-B-MUSIC-Parker-1880/1884
Description: Includes: 1880: Mr Robert Parker's second annual concert (With Mrs Quick, Miss Swainson, Mrs Mantell, Miss Williams, Miss Reid, Mrs George Cotterell, Miss Kennedy, Mr Robert Parker, Mr Herbert Lang, Messrs Isherwood, Stephens, Gore, Schwartz and Cazneau. Athenaeum Hall Wellington, 22 July 1880. Programme "The Harmonic Club". First private concert. St Paul's Church Room Tinakori Road, 27 February 1880. Programme "The Harmonic Club" Wellington. Second season 1880-1881. List of singing members "The Harmonic Club". Second private concert. Athenaeum Hall, 20 May 1880. Programme "The Harmonic Club". Third private concert. Athenaeum Hall Lambton Quay, 5 October 1880. Programme "The Harmonic Club". First private concert of second season Athenaeum Hall Lambton Quay, 23 December 1880. Programme St Paul's Church Room. [Concert, and scenes from Shakespeare's "A midsummer night's dream". 16 January 1880. Programme St Paul's Church Room. Concert in aid of school funds. 17 June 1880. Programme St Paul's Church Room Tinakori Road. Complimentary concert to be given by the choir to Mrs George Cotterell. 12 October 1880. Programme 1881: Mrs George Cotterell's concert. Theatre Royal, 30 August 1881 (with Mrs George Cotterell, Orpheus Glee Club, Miss Kennedy, Mr J W Parker, Mr Stephens, Mr R Parker, Miss Brogden, Miss E Johnston, Miss Turnbull, Mr G Jones). Programme / flyer (pink) Athenaeum Hall, Wellington. A grand concert in aid of the building fund of the Home for Friendless Women will be given on Friday March 11, 1881, by members of the Harmonic Club under the direction of Mr Robert Parker. Programme / flyer (green) "The Harmonic Club". Second private concert. Athenaeum Hall, 17 June 1881. Programme (2 copies on cream paper, 2 copies on mauve paper) "The Harmonic Club". Third private concert. Church Room, Tinakori Road, 22-23 September 1881. Programme (2 copies) "The Harmonic Club", Wellington. Third season 1881-1882. List of singing members "The Harmonic Club". First private concert, 3rd season. Athenaeum Hall, 22 December 1881. Programme Orpheus Glee Club. Messrs Gore, Hickson, Lang, J W Parker, R parker, Stephens and Tarleton request the pleasure of ... company on Tuesday evening, May 31st 1881, in the Lecture Room at the Museum [Invitation card, and associated? programme card, both gold-bordered] 1882: Orpheus Glee Club. 17 August 1882. Programme card (gilt-edged) (2 copies) Mr R Parker's concert. Athenaeum Hall Wellington, 25 August 1882. Programme (1 copy grey, 2 copies blue) "The Harmonic Club". Third season. Second private concert. Church Room Tinakori Road, 5 May 1882. Programme (2 copies) "The Harmonic Club". Third season. Third private concert. Athenaeum Hall, 22 September 1882. Programme (2 copies) "The Harmonic Club". Fourth season 1882-83. List of singing members "The Harmonic Club". Fourth season. First private concert. Athenaeum Hall, 15 December 1882. Programme (2 copies) Entertainment in aid of the Choristers' Prize Fund, under the direction of Mr R Parker. St Paul's Churchroom, Tinakori-Road. , 20 November 1882. Flyer / programme 1883: Farewell benefit concert of Mrs George Cotterell (With Mrs George Cotterell, Mr W Fitzgerald, Messrs Allpress, Isherwood, Schwartz, Gumprich, Miss E Pynsent, Miss Levin, Mr Hickson, Messrs Lang, Mowbray, Waters, Mrs Alexander. Theatre Royal, 19 April 1883. Programme Mr R Parker's concert. Athenaeum Hall Wellington, 24 August 1883. Programme (2 copies) Wellington Orchestral Society. Second concert. Athenaeum Hall, 16 March 1883. Programme Wellington Orchestral Society. Third concert. Athenaeum Hall, 9 July 1883. Programme (2 copies) "The Harmonic Club". Fifth season 1883-84. List of singing members (2 copies) "The Harmonic Club". Fifth season. First private concert. Athenaeum Hall, 30 November 1883. Programme (5 copies) "The Harmonic Club". Fifth season. Second private concert. Athenaeum Hall, 25 May 1883. Programme (2 copies) "The Harmonic Club". Fifth season. Third private concert. Athenaeum Hall, 21 September 1883. Programme (5 copies) Wellington Orchestral Society, under the direction of Mr Robert Parker. Concert of chamber music. Church Room Tinakori Road, 6 December 1883. Programme (2 copies, one of them trimmed) St Paul's Cathedral Wellington. Feast of the Conversion of St Paul. Mendelssohn's oratorio "St Paul". 25 January 1883. Libretto Choir concert this evening (with Mr R Parker, Isherwood, Gumprich). St Paul's Church Room, Tinakori-Road, 19 June 1883. Programme / flyer (2 copies) 1884: Grand vocal and instrumental concert tendered to Mr C M J Edwards previous to his departure for Australia, by the leading musicians of Wellington. Musical director Mr Robert Parker. Theatre Royal, 27 June 1884. Programme The Harmonic Club, Wellington. Fifth season. Third private concert. Athenaeum Hall, 21 October 1884. Programme The Harmonic Club. Sixth season 1884-85. List of singing members "The Harmonic Club". Fifth season. Second concert. Church-Room Tinakori Road, 23 June 1884. Programme (2 copies) Wellington Orchestral Society. Fourth concert, 13 March 1884. Programme Concert in aid of the general church fund. Athenaeum Hall Wellington, 24 April [1884]. Programme Concert in aid of the Dorcas Society of the Wellington Ladies' Christian Association. Athenaeum Hall, 3 June 1884. Programme Organ recital from the works of handel, with further vocal illustrations by the choir, by Mr R Parker. St Paul's Church, Thorndon, 29 July 1883. Programme / flyer Wellington Orchestral Society. Concert of chamber music, under the direction of Mr Robert Parker. Church Room Tinakori Road, 25 February 1884. Programme / flyer (2 copies) Wellington Orchestral Society. Concert of chamber music, under the direction of Mr Robert Parker. Wesley Church Room Taranaki Street, 8 January 1884. Programme/flyer (2 copies) Churchroom, Tinakori-Road, Tuesday 30th December 1884. Programme / flyer (2 copies) [Concert, and] Scenes from Shakespeare's "A midsummer night's dream"St Paul's church Room, 26 August 1884. Programme / flyer Organist Mr Neville Barnett; Leader of orchestra Mr M Cohen. Quantity: 1 folder(s). Physical Description: Letterpress 292 x 230 mm. Provenance: From the collection of Robert Parker.
Interview with Elsa Fitzroy
Date: 12 Dec 1984
From: New Zealand Nursing Education and Research Foundation oral history project
By: Shadbolt, Yvonne Telford, 1933-; Fitzroy, Elsie Rose, 1898-2001
Reference: OHInt-0014/056
Description: Elsie Rose (Elsa) Fitzroy describes childhood and life on a Banks Peninsula farm; reasons for going nursing; training at Masterton Hospital 1919; work at Pahiatua Hospital with reference to Matron Berry; accident; registration as maternity nurse; work in the Waikato Region (Te Aroha and Matamata); relations with doctors; marriage; conditions of work; abortion experiences and work in the Alexandra Home. Access Contact - see oral history librarian Venue - Auckland Other - limited biographical information available Interviewer(s) - Yvonne Shadbolt Venue - Eden Tce, Auckland Quantity: 1 C60 cassette(s). 1 interview(s). 1 Hours Duration. Finding Aids: Abstract Available - no abstract(s) available.
Interview with Tina McLennan
Date: 18 May 1992
From: Women in World War II Part II
By: McLennan, Christina Emma, 1917-2000
Reference: OHInt-0064/07
Description: Tina McLennan was born in Queensland, Australia on 20 July 1917. Explains that her mother is Jewish but she is not. Talks about her father's death when she was five, her mother's remarriage and moving to Plimmerton. Describes life there including pastimes, discipline, music and religion. Talks about her education at Wellington Girls College. Describes her first job at the British and Foreign Bible Society. Discusses her belief in the importance of healthy eating. Talks about her friendship with the masseur William Barke. Recalls training as a Karitane nurse and working at the hospital at the oubreak of war [World War 2]. Describes her husband, their marriage and moving to Eastbourne. Talks about the birth of her son and her husband being called up in 1942. Discusses his time in army camp at Linton before being sent overseas. Describes the difficulty of living on her own with her baby. Talks about working at the Petone Nursery School, Karitane nursing and working at the Alexandra Maternity Hospital in Tasman Street. Notes that many of the mothers were single and adopted out their babies. Comments on attitudes towards single mothers. Discusses wartime promiscuity and contraception. Recalls the excitement when war was over followed by the reality of restoring relationships. Comments on her independence and the effect of war-time separation on their marriage. Talks about adopting daughter and continuing to work with mothers and babies. Describes her retirement before and since her husband's death. Comments on war. Venue - Wellington : 1992 Interviewer(s) - Susan Fowke Venue - Island Bay, Wellington Arrangement: Tape numbers - OHC-004753; OHC-004754; OHC-004755 Quantity: 3 C60 cassette(s). 1 printed abstract(s). 2.45 Hours and minutes Duration. Finding Aids: Abstract Available - abstracting complete AB 846. Photographs of Tina McLennan about 1940 and and in 1992
Photographic prints relating to health
Date: 1950-2000
From: Dominion Post (Newspaper): Photographic negatives and prints of the Evening Post and Dominion newspapers
Reference: PAColl-7327-1-078
Description: Photographs taken and collected by the Evening Post. Images taken in New Zealand and abroad, by a range of photographers, between 1950 and 2000. Images relating to treatment are arranged alphabetically from P to V Images relating to hospitals are arranged alphabetically from A to MA Quantity: 1 box(es) of prints, grouped in folders.
Alexandra Nursing Home (Wellington) : Records
Date: 1879-1990
By: Alexandra Nursing Home
Reference: MS-Group-0733
Description: The records of the home include girls' registers (1879-1881, 1927-1989), Home Committee minutes (1927-1972), Home Committee reports (1893-1965), Hospital admissions registers (1940-1967), fees registers (1928-1933), matron's reports (1920-1976), Home diaries (1977-1989), some statistical medical reports, correspondence, work papers, visitors' book, printed histories of the Home and other related material. Source of title - supplied title Quantity: 5 box(es). 75 volume(s). Physical Description: Mss., printed material, typescript (some photocopies)
Wainuiomata Historical Society : Scrapbook - Bluey and Curley
Date: 1926-1955
By: Wainuiomata Historical Society
Reference: MSY-6568
Description: Scrapbook includes a large number of cuttings of Alex Gurney's cartoons `Bluey and Curley'. These cartoons depict a soldier's life in the Australian Army in the 1940s and 1950s. The second section comprises mainly newspapers and magazines cuttings, cartoons, ephemera, beer labels, Devonport Steam Ferry Co Ltd tickets, greeting cards, original black and white photographs. Topics include animals, women, children and babies. Of interest is a newspaper cutting depicting the 10,000th baby born at the Alexandra Maternity Home, Wellington (no date). Source of title - Transcribed from item Quantity: 1 volume(s) (ca 196 pages). 0.02 Linear Metres. Physical Description: Printed matter (29 x 45cm) Provenance: Donor/Lender/Vendor - Donated by Wainuiomata Historical Society, Wellington, 1992 Transfers: From Photographic Archive - PA-Coll-2436.
Voluntary Aid Detachment nurses holding infants at the Alexandra Maternity Home in Well...
Date: [ca 26 January 1944]
From: New Zealand Free Lance : Photographic prints and negatives
Reference: PAColl-6203-01
Description: Voluntary Aid Detachment nurses holding infants at Alexandra Maternity Home in Wellington, circa 26 January 1944. Photographer unidentified. Note on back of file print reads "P26.1.44", which probably means that this photograph was published in the New Zealand Free Lance 26 January 1944. Quantity: 1 b&w original photographic print(s). Physical Description: Silver gelatin print
Baby with parents at Alexandra Home, Wellington
Date: 1950
From: Evening post (Newspaper. 1865-2002) :Photographic negatives and prints of the Evening Post newspaper
Reference: 114/210/12-G
Description: The ten thousandth baby born at the Alexandra Home with parents photographed in 1950 by an Evening Post photographer. Quantity: 1 b&w original negative(s). Physical Description: Dry plate glass negative 3.25 x 4.25 inches
O'Brien, Rebecca, fl 2004 : A women's place; the Alexandra Home and buildings
Date: 28 Feb 2003
By: O'Brien, Rebecca, active 2004
Reference: MS-Papers-8069
Description: Research essay on Wellington's Alexandra Home buildings covering the period 1879 to 1974 in which she discusses society's attitude to and treatment of unmarried mothers. Chapters cover the home in the 19th century from 1879 to 1900; the need for the Alexandra Maternity Hospital, from 1900 to 1930; and the development and design of the new Alexandra home, from 1930 to 1974 Source of title - Transcribed Written by O'Brien for her Master of Public History Quantity: 1 folder(s). 0.02 Linear Metres. Physical Description: Typescript
Certificates and personal papers
Date: 1993
From: Pedersen, Doris Taur, 1907-2001 : Papers relating to her career in nursing
Reference: fMS-Papers-7072-2
Description: Certificate of registration, Registrar, Nurses and Midwives (1930, 1933, 1937); post-graduate nursing diploma, Dept of Health with Victoria University College (1944), Plunket Society registration as a general and maternity nurse (1935, 1936); employment recommendations, Plunket Society (1936); Alexandra Home recommendation (1934, 1936); State nursing examination results (1937); letter of recommendation from the vicar of Ormondville (1927); letters of recommendation from Wellington Hospital (1931); letter from Doris Gordon (1940); clipping of examination results (1936); Wellington Hospital certification as a medical and surgical nurse (1930); diploma from the `World Who's who of women' (1973) Also map of India (see also MS-Papers-7072-4) Quantity: 1 folder(s).
Nurses holding newborn baby Anna Pascoe, Alexandra Nursing Home, Wellington
Date: May 1942
From: Pascoe, John Dobree, 1908-1972 :Photographic albums, prints and negatives
Reference: 1/4-067620-F
Description: Photograph of nurses holding newborn baby Anna Pascoe at Alexandra Nursing Home, Wellington, in May 1942. Photograph taken by John Dobree Pascoe. Quantity: 1 b&w original negative(s). Physical Description: Cellulosic film negative 5.6 x 5.6 cm