ABOUT THE MUSEUM…

Nelson Provincial Museum is the museum of social history
of Nelson City and Tasman District.

The Museum cares for an estimated 1.4 million artefacts and specimens, including newspapers and documents, Maori taonga, plans and maps, archives, drawings and paintings, domestic and technical objects, and a nationally acclaimed collection of photographic negatives and prints.

SERVICE CHARGES from 1 September 1999

Museum service charges are used to offset the costs of collection care and service delivery. The Museum reserves the right to review these charges at any time. All prices include GST.

• Use of research facilities (Library & Photographic Services)
  $2.00 per adult per afternoon

• Research by staff/correspondence
  $42.00 per hour in steps of $10.50 per 15 minutes

Photocopying is charged separately. Prices available on request.

• Photographic prints
  See price list at Information Counter or contact the Curator Photographic Collections for further details.

HOURS FOR SERVICES:

Reference Library & Archives

Weekdays   12.30pm to  4.30pm

Photo Sales 

Weekdays   12.30pm to  4.30pm

Collection Services

Weekdays   12.30pm to  4.30pm

Exhibitions

Closed as from June 2003

The Museum is only closed on Christmas Day.

FACILITIES

Toilets including, wheelchair access, are located to your right just inside the main entrance.

Refreshments are not available at the Museum. The Stoke Shopping Centre, including supermarkets, café, bar, bakery and tea-rooms, is located nearby on Main Road, Stoke.

RESOURCES FOR FAMILY HISTORY

REFERENCE LIBRARY & ARCHIVES

The Museum's reference library was developed with financial assistance from the Bett Trust and features a comprehensive collection of books and documents that can be used for local and family history research. Material may not be borrowed. Some photocopying is available under NZ Copyright Act.

If you are unfamiliar with our library & archives, contact the Museum's Curator Archive Collections to find out how you can make best use of the resources listed below.

1. Biography Index

A card index filed alphabetically by surname, giving information from various sources (such as jury lists or shipping lists). Some references to other sources of information such as biography files and newspapers.

2. Birth, Death and Marriage Notices, 1842-1920, 1981-1998

Birth, death and marriage notices have been transcribed from local newspapers and are indexed alphabetically.

3. Cemetery Records

Headstone transcriptions and burial records are available for many cemeteries in the Nelson, Marlborough and West Coast area.

4. Census Records 1845, 1849

Population censuses in the Nelson district and outlying areas (such as Wairau) were held in 1845 and 1849. The Returns are available with an alphabetical index. The 1845 census gives the name, address, occupation, number in the family and amount of land occupied. The 1849 census gives further details such as ages of family, religion, crops and livestock.

5. Church Records

6. Cyclopedia of NZ

The Cyclopedia was published in six volumes in the early 1900s and contains brief biographies and photographs of local identities who paid a fee to be included. Volume 5 covers Nelson, Marlborough and the West Coast.

7. Electoral Rolls 1853-1896

Rolls for 1853-1877 are divided into electoral districts and include Buller and Wairau. For 1865-1896, there are microfilms of rolls for the whole country. (Microfilms are housed upstairs, mezzanine floor).

20th Century
Very few electoral rolls held for 1900-1960. Holdings include:

• Buller: 1960-1966
• Motueka: 1938
• Nelson: 1919, 1928, 1935, 1943, 1960-1975, 1992
• Tasman: 1970, 1972, 1989, 1991, 1992
• Waimea County: 1903, 1983
• Southern Maori: 1954, 1938

8. Freeholders' List 1882

In 1882, the government published the Return of the Freeholders of New Zealand which gives an alphabetical list of people owning land at that time. Information includes the location, area and value of the property.

9. Jury Lists 1843-1861

A list of people required for jury service was published each year in the newspaper. These lists give the person's name, brief address and occupation.

10. Lucas's Nelson Almanac and Yearbook 1871 -1966 (incomplete set)

Published annually - included a small directory section listing local businesses, postmasters, hotels, churches, friendly societies etc. for Nelson and district. Some issues contain listings for Lyell, Reefton, Karamea & Westport. Ask staff to view particular years.

11. Newspapers

• The Colonist 1857-1920
• Golden Bay Argus 1883-1911 (microfilm)
• Inangahua Herald 1872
• Lyell Times 1888, 1892
• Nelson Advertiser 1860
• Nelson Evening Mail 1866-1993 (1866-1915, 1950-1985 on microfilm)
• Nelson Evening Mail Apr 1958-Jun 1965
• Sports Edition
• Nelson Examiner 1842-1874 (microfilm)
• Motueka Star/Star Times 1930's (poor condition)
• NZ Spectator 1846-1847
• NZ Wesleyan 1880-1881

Ask staff to view particular issues.
Strip-copies of newspaper columns are available on request.

12. Passenger Lists 1840-1880

Passenger Lists vary in the amount of detail given. Greatest detail is available for assisted immigrants sponsored by:

• New Zealand Company 1840-1850 (Passenger application numbers enable you to find their place of origin).
• Nelson Provincial Government 1853-1867
• New Zealand Government 1874-1880

Brief passenger listings from local newspapers are also available and include Trans-Tasman and coastal shipping.

13. Personal Papers

Material in our archives includes personal papers, diaries, journals, and reminiscences. These are listed under name and subject in the "Archives" section of the card catalogue. Family histories are deposited in manuscript and book form - check both "Archives" and "Publications" sections of the catalogue.
Note: There may be restrictions on access to some material.

14. Photographs

The Museum has a collection of over 1.2 million original negatives, which includes portraits from the 1860s onwards. These images were taken only in the Nelson region. Search fees may apply to some requests. For further details, enquire at Museum Reception or write to:

Curator Photographic Collections, Nelson Provincial Museum
PO Box 645, Nelson, New Zealand
Phone/Fax: 03 - 547 9740 Email: museumnp@iconz.co.nz

15. Photo News (Nelson) 1960-1974, 1983

Photo News was a weekly pictorial magazine. It included photos of weddings, recent engagements, sporting, social and theatrical events in Nelson. Negatives are held for most issues from 1960 - 1970. An index to the weddings included is held in the library with other marriage notices. Ask staff to view particular issues.

16. Postal Directories

The library holds a few postal directories prior to 1900 and an incomplete set until 1947.

17. Published Family and Local Histories

The Library holds copies of published local and family histories. The collection also includes general texts on New Zealand history, costume, transport etc. These are listed in the card catalogue marked "Publications". Books are classified using the Dewey Decimal System - use the Dewey number (e.g. 920 CAM) to locate the item on the shelf.

18. Rating Records

• Nelson Board of Works: Nelson City rating rolls, 1857-1878.
  Indexed by owner and occupier - also useful for dating buildings. Records for 1857-1873 are on microfilm (upstairs). Ask staff to view records for 1874-1878.
• Nelson City Council: Valuation rolls 1910-1949. Ask staff to view records.
• Tahunanui Town Board: Valuation rolls 1933-1950. Ask staff to view records.

19. Records of local businesses & organisations

The archives collection contains records of local businesses, organisations and societies e.g. Women's Division of Federated Farmers, Ancient Order of Foresters, E. Buxton & Co., Roads Boards, Nelson Provincial Scottish Society, Nelson Badminton Association, Nelson Chamber of Commerce. Check the "Archives" section of the card catalogue. Ask staff to view particular items.

20. School Records

• Nelson Education Board
  The Museum is the official repository for school and school committee records from the former Board area. These include admission registers for Nelson and Buller, the earliest dating from 1873. Listed in brochure:
  School admission registers held at Nelson Provincial Museum.
• Nelson College
  The Museum holds College archives dated 1853-1959 (including class rolls: Boys 1881-1931, Girls 1896-1933).
• ^{Bishop's School Roll 1860-1895.}

21. Telephone directories

Most Nelson directories from 1938 to the present.

22. Vertical File

Alphabetical subject files of biographical and general information. Includes obituaries, which are listed in the Biography Index.

Email: museumnp@iconz.co.nz

Addresses of other Museums in this region

© 2000-2007 Nelson Provincial Museum.