Education

In this guide:

 

Department of Education

Education Boards

Teachers

Universities

 

EDUCATION

 

NB: Where possible, this HTML research guide contains direct links to Archway for items and series in the archival reference field.

 

Introduction

 
Archives New Zealand holds a variety of education records, many of which are of interest to family historians because they record individual schooling or the employment of teachers. Policy and administrative records are less useful.

Background

Education was largely in the hands of the churches or private enterprise until the setting up in 1853-1854 of provincial governments which created regional boards of education. Only a few early lists of pupils survive in provincial papers.

After abolition of the provinces, central government organisation of education began with the Education Act 1877.

Primary education was the first focus of central government. The Act established twelve regional Education Boards, most of which took over from provincial boards. Each Education Board (the number varied over time) was responsible for public education in its district and the main concern was primary education.

Secondary schools were originally under the direct supervision of the Education Department. Few of their records are held at Archives New Zealand. Most records held date from the mid-1960s when education boards took on a greater role in the oversight of secondary schools.

Universities were set up in different centres between 1869 and 1897, under acts of parliament, to create the University of New Zealand and its constituent colleges. Other colleges were created later. In 1961 most colleges became independent self-governing universities.

School records

Most school records useful to family historians come from Education Boards. Others have come from the Department of Education, and a few schools have deposited material directly.

Some schools retain their own records, but others have deposited their records in local libraries, museums, or similar institutions, throughout the country.

Most Archives New Zealand offices hold Education Board records for their regions. The exception is Dunedin. Otago Education Board records are held in the Hocken Library, Dunedin, and Southland Education Board records are held in the Invercargill Public Library.
Holdings

Some records are held for the following education groups and organisations:

• Department of Education
• Education Boards (mainly primary school records)
• Teachers (erratic, mainly primary)
• Universities
   

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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

 

Background

Primary Education

The Department of Education initially supervised the work of the Education Boards, providing funding, prescribing the syllabus of instruction, and certifying and classifying teachers. Under the Boards, the School Committees never took on the full powers which the Education Act 1877 had allowed for. It was the Department which increasingly set national standards, particularly for primary schooling.

• 1901 the Department established a national scale of teachers’ salaries and staffing in primary schools.
• 1909 an act made it compulsory for Boards to ensure that “physical drill” was taught to all boys and girls over the age of eight.
• Education Act 1914 concentrated more powers in the hands of the Department.
• From 1914 inspectors of primary schools were centralised in the Education Department rather than based in the Education Boards.
• Regular inspections of schools and teachers led to a national graded list of primary teachers which was the basis of appointments by 1920.

Secondary Education

Few secondary school records are held at Archives New Zealand.
Secondary and technical schools were originally separate from Education Boards. The first secondary schools were established under their own acts of parliament.

• Under the Secondary Schools Act 1903, such institutions were run by Boards of Governors responsible to the Department of Education. They kept their own registers of admission and attendance.
• The Department of Education provided the funding for secondary schools and the Education Act 1914 further advanced departmental control at a policy and administrative level. In the twentieth century the Department of Education had increasing influence on what secondary schools did.
• By the mid-1960s it was the Education Boards which had the delegated power to administer secondary schools, though under their Boards of Governors such schools continued to have greater independence than primary schools until the late 1980s when Boards of Trustees were established for all schools.

Education Board archives hold records of the development of district high schools, which included secondary students. Later records of Education Boards may include some material on secondary schools, but it does not usually include personal information.
 

Industrial and Special Schools

Institutions called Industrial Schools were set up from the late 1860s to cater for both neglected and delinquent children. Sometimes an orphanage was part of the institution. Special schools, for children with physical and/or intellectual disabilities and for delinquent children, were set up from 1881. Some industrial schools became special schools and the difference was not always clear. Responsibility for these schools remained with the Department of Education because there was no social welfare department of government for many years.

Access

The personal nature of many records means that access to them may be restricted for 100 years.

Background

The Neglected and Criminal Children’s Act 1867 empowered provincial governments to establish Industrial and Reform Schools for children under 15 years.
 

• A distinction was made between neglected and delinquent children and they were to be kept separate.
• Provided that a child spent at least half the period of committal in an industrial school, s/he could otherwise be boarded out with foster parents, friends, or be placed in employment.

The provincial governments of Otago and Canterbury opened, respectively, the Caversham Industrial School in 1869 and the Burnham Industrial School in 1874. Others were opened later.

With the end of provincial government in 1876, the Justice Department took over administration of industrial schools. In 1881 control of industrial and reformatory schools was transferred to the Education Department, which was also responsible for Receiving Homes – temporary places for children to stay while their future was sorted out.

Special Schools for specific groups of children, such as the School for the Deaf at Sumner, Christchurch, were also set up from 1881. Some special schools were not always clearly distinguished from Industrial Schools.

The Industrial Schools Act 1882 was significant:

• It provided for government schools, local schools and private institutions approved by government.
• Under this act, the courts could commit, to the care of the industrial schools, neglected children under 15 years who were brought to them by the police.
• Parents could also bring uncontrollable children to the courts to be institutionalised.

A Special and Industrial Schools Branch of the Education Department was developed to administer all the institutions. The Child Welfare Division of the Education Department took responsibility from 1925.

Industrial Schools were phased out by 1925, replaced by Child Welfare institutions which were intended to be educational rather than penal. Boarding out in foster homes was encouraged in the 1920s and 1930s. The main institutions 1925-1948 were:

• Boys’ Training Farm, Wereroa, near Levin (for boys of all ages requiring a period of reformative detention).
• Special School at Richmond, near Nelson, for girls
• Sumner School for the Deaf

Provision was also made for blind children and adults, at the New Zealand Institute for the Blind, Auckland.

From 1948 the Child Welfare Division ran four national ‘training institutions’ for children considered too emotionally disturbed or delinquent to stay in the community: Kingslea, Kohitere, Hokio Beach School and Fareham House. The Division also then administered 13 short term facilities for the remand, observation and classification of children, and family homes (51 in 1970).

The Child Welfare Division of the Department of Education was also responsible for the administration of special schools:

• Campbell Park School, Otekaike, for ‘mentally retarded’ boys
• Salisbury Girls School, Richmond, near Nelson, for ‘mentally retarded’ girls
• Sumner School for the Deaf, Christchurch
• Kelston Deaf Education Centre (Titirangi), Auckland

 

Industrial and Special SchoolHoldings

Access may be restricted

Auckland Office:

In the years 1870-1882 children were sent to the Naval Training School and to the Kohimarama Industrial School after it was opened. Howe Street Industrial School took mainly girls to 14 years. Among other industrial schools were ‘Door of Hope’ in Cook St.

• Destitute Children’s Home Record Books 1870-1882 [BAAA 1954/1-2] (AK)
• Admission Registers Industrial Schools 1879-1919 [BAAA 1955/1-9] (AK)
• Nominal Roll, Auckland Industrial School 1902-1913 [BAAA 1956/1a-1e] (AK)
• Waihi Industrial School Report Book 1916-1925 [BADB 11354/1a] (AK)

Wellington Office:

Record Books, Registers & Nominal Rolls

• Nominal Rolls, Industrial Schools 1882-1910. The rolls give a child’s name, age, date of admission and arrangements. Each industrial school has its own record in the nominal roll with alphabetical listings of names. [CW 14/1-27] In early years these Rolls include various Orphanages and Industrial Schools:

Kohimarama
Howe Street (Auckland)
St Marys (Auckland)
St Stephens (Auckland)
Auckland Girls
Thames
St Josephs (Wellington)
St Marys (Nelson)
Motueka
Canterbury
Lyttelton
Burnham
Caversham
By the late 19th century only Industrial Schools are listed:
Auckland
St Marys (Auckland)
St Josephs (Wellington)
St Marys (Nelson)
Burnham
Caversham

• Miscellaneous Records, Industrial Schools. A variety of registers and other records for Industrial Schools c1874-1918, including Burnham Photograph Album c1874. [CW 15/1-9]
• Nominal Roll, Wellington Receiving Home 1901-1915. The rolls give a child’s name, date of committal, age, status, place, section of act used, religion and arrangements for the child. [CW 16/1-9]
• Orders to send Children to Industrial Schools, March 1893 to February 1906 (6 vols) [JC-Wellington 7/1-6]
• Record Books of Proposed Admissions to Industrial and Special Schools, 1919-1961 (indexed 1949-1961). The record books give date, child’s name and address, and remarks. [CW 11/1-8]
• Registers of Committals to Industrial and Special Schools 1932-1952. Details include child’s name, date of birth, place and date of committal. [CW 12/1-8]
• Stoke Industrial School registered files 1900. [P 10/1]
• Warrants Issued under the Industrial Schools Act 1882. Duplicate copies of warrants 1880-1885 bound into volumes. These warrants were issued to permit children at industrial schools to board with foster parents, and they give details of child and foster parent. [CW 13/1-7]

Napier Magistrates Court

• Index to Destitute Persons and Industrial Schools Orders 1916. [AAOW W3244 (Box 272)]

Palmerston North Magistrates Court

• Industrial School Orders 1908-1926 [AAOY W3298 (Box 783)]
• Industrial School Orders Index 1908-1925 (Index has 140 entries, not quite all those in the School Orders)  [AAOY W3298/783]

Wellington Magistrates Court

• Registers Under Industrial Schools Act 1908, 1893-1935 [JC-W 7]

Staff Register 1878-1954
This staff register records teachers, mostly for Native, Industrial and Special Schools, for the period 1878 to 1954. There are few entries after 1910. This register, held in the Register Room, records name, date of birth, dates of appointment, leaves of absence and remarks about service. It may include other information. [E 16/1]

Special Schools

• Burwood Admission Register 1933-1949 [CW 17/4]
• Fareham House Admission Register 1944-1949  [CW 17/5]
• Jubilee Institute for the Blind Nominal Rolls 1908-1940 [CW 18/5-7]
• Otekaieke (Campbell Park School) Admission Register 1925-1949 [CW 17/1] Nominal Rolls 1908-1920 [CW 18/8-9]
• Richmond Admission Register 1925-1949 [CW 17/2] Nominal Roll 1917-1921 [CW 18/10] Special & Adult Classes 1923-1929 [CW 18/11-12] Hostels 1938-1944 [CW 18/13-14]
• Sumner (deaf and some mute children, some adults 1919-1922) Nominal Rolls 1908-1944 [CW 18/1-4]
• Weraroa (Levin) Admission Register 1928-1949  [CW 17/3]

Christchurch Office:

Burnham Industrial School

Photograph Album of Boys 1914 (indexed) and a few other photographs of the school [AADK CH438/1a-1i] (CH) (Most records for this school are to be found in Record Books, Registers & Nominal Rolls at Archives New Zealand in Wellington)

Kingslea Girls’ School [CH378] (CH)

McKenzie Residential School

• F Series (various files) 1971-1975  [CATB CH256/F4-F36] (CH)
• Professional Inspection Reports 1979-1987 [CANB CH232 36/1/25/3] (CH)
• Minutes of Management Committee 1980-1989  [CANB CH232 36/1/29 Parts 1-3] (CH)
• Annual Reports 1980-1989  [CANB CH232 36/6/6 Parts 1-2] (CH)

Stanmore Boys Home (Christchurch Boys Home)

• Daily Diaries 28 March 1946-4 December 1974 [AADK CH438/2a-7a] (CH)
• ‘Duplicate’ Daily Diaries 5 September 1947-15 October 1952 [AADK CH438/7b-d] (CH)
• Menu Register 14 October1936-3 July 1941 [AADK CH438/7e] (CH)

Sumner School for the Deaf - Van Asch College

• Pupil Status, Admissions & Discharges 1944-1969 (including Titirangi 1943-1944 and Fendalton Road 1943) [CAHK CH8/3] (CH)
• Kelston School for the Deaf 1946-1968 [CAHK CH8/12] (CH)
• 75th Jubilee Records (1955) [CAHK CH8/15-26] (CH)
• Centennial history 1980 [CAHK CH8/27] (CH)
• Nominal Roll 1908-1913 (includes admission dates from 1900) [CAHK CH8/28] (CH)
• Nominal Rolls 1914-1924, 1925-1942 [CAHK CH8/29-30] (CH)
• Notes (names of pupils with notes) 1880-1916 [CAHK CH8/31-32] (CH)
• Register of Pupils in Special Classes at Wellington, Auckland & Dunedin 1920-1961 [CAHK CH8/34] (CH)
• Registers of Children’s Heights & Weights 1949-1966, 1962 & 1968 [CAHK CH8/35a&b] (CH)
• Diaries 1948-1955, 1967-1973 [CAHK CH8/36-43] (CH)

Dunedin Office:

Campbell Park School, Otekaieke, Waitaki Valley (formerly Otekaieke Special School for Boys, established 1908)

• Registered files, Pupil records, Day Books, Admission Registers [CAJG D16] (DN)
• Registered files, Pupil records, Index of Pupils, Log Books, Photographs (Overall date range 1900-1987) [CANB D227] (DN)

Caversham Industrial School

• Industrial School Books, Children Committed to the School 1886-1897 [COPY D REPRO 2] (DN) (Photocopies of two volumes listing children committed to the Caversham Industrial School from the Police Commissioner’s (District) Office, Dunedin.)
• ‘Roll of Indigent Children Committed 1885-c1942’ (to various institutions – Payment Book) [DAHI D284/91] (DN)

Native / Maori Schools

In 1880 the Department of Native Affairs transferred the control of Maori education to the Education Department. That department administered separate Native/Maori Schools up to 1969 when many were abolished and the rest transferred to Education Board control.

Records of approximately 450 Native/Maori Schools are held in the Auckland office of Archives New Zealand. Most records come from the Northern Regional Office of the Department of Education; a few schools transferred records directly. The many records include:

• Registers of Admission, Progress & Withdrawal [BAAA 1004] (AK)
• Registers of Attendance [BAAA 1006] (AK)
• Examination Registers [BAAA 1007] (AK)
• Registers of Progress & Achievement [BAAA 1011] (AK)
• Attendance returns can be found in the Registered Subject Files [BAAA 1001] (AK)

Teacher Training

Teacher Training came under the control of the Department of Education, especially after 1903. Some Teacher Training College records are held at Archives New Zealand, but most institutions hold their own records (see page 7).

Other Department of Education Responsibilities

• May 1907 School Journal first published. It aimed to provide New Zealand children with high quality reading material.
• From 1921 the Education Gazette was the official publication of the Education Department.
• From 1922 private (non-state) primary schools were required to register with the Education Department, but they remained outside Education Board control.
• 1922 Correspondence School established under the Education Department.
• 1939 School Publications branch of the Education Department established
   

 

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EDUCATION BOARDS

 

Introduction

The Education Boards were the principal means of putting into effect the desire that primary education should be available equally to all New Zealand children. From the Education Act 1877 the regional boards were responsible to central government for the provision and administration of public education in each district.

Their main concern was primary education, but they also controlled district high schools (both primary and secondary pupils), and from 1908 a few technical schools. The twelve education boards established in 1877 became thirteen in 1883 when the Grey/Greymouth Education Board (also called West Coast/Westland Education Board) was added, but the number was reduced after 1914.

The boards increasingly became administrative bodies, acting for the Education Department. The 10 remaining were abolished in 1989 (see map page 12). Since then the Ministry of Education and School Boards of Trustees have administered education and schools.

Many surviving Education Board records came to Archives New Zealand. Records are held regionally, including those of schools which transferred material directly. Some Education Board records are held in other institutions.
 

Primary Schools - Student Records

A number of records may give information about the schooling of individuals. It is usually necessary to know the name of the school which a person attended, the dates, and the Education Board which administered the school.

For the period 1878-1924 it is possible to discover what schools existed through the annual Education Department Reports in the AJHR (Appendices to the Journal of the House of Representatives). They contain lists of all primary and district high schools, teachers’ names and the number of pupils.

The primary school records of most interest to family historians are the Registers and Class Schedules.

Registers

Schools created various registers to record in summary form the attendance and progress of each student. Only some schools passed these on to the Education Boards and so Archives New Zealand does not hold a complete set.

• The most common form of register was a Register of Admissions, Progress and Withdrawal. For each student is recorded: date of birth, date of admission, name and address of parent or guardian, class attended each year. Sometimes previous and later schools attended were entered.
• Examination Registers list students’ names and the grades they attained. Some include teacher comments, on the class or individual students.
• Daily Attendance Registers record not only days attended but also often reasons for absences.

Class Schedules

Schools sent various annual lists of students to Education Boards. They were created for different purposes, and they have a variety of names:
classification lists
examination schedules
inspection reports
class lists
class/school rolls
proficiency schedules (Standard 6 only).

The information included varies, but all contain the names of students and their classes. Usually student ages are listed (years and months) and the teacher’s name given. Assessment grades are given on some lists and there may be comments by the teacher or inspector.

Access

Access is normally unrestricted, but for preservation reasons access to some records may be restricted.

Primary School Student Records – Holdings

Auckland Office:

Auckland Education Board

• Class Lists/Schedules 1879-1953 (indexed by name of school) [YCAF 4135] (AK)
• Certificates of Proficiency 1908-36 [YCAF 5493] (AK)
• Registers of Admission, Progress and Withdrawal (various schools) [YCAF] (AK)

Hamilton Education Board

• Registers of Admission, Progress and Withdrawal (various schools,indexed; overall date range 1896-1987) [YCAG] (AK)
• Examination Registers (various schools; overall date range 1906-c1950) [YCAG] (AK)
• Attendance Registers (various schools; overall date range c1874-1987) [YCAG] (AK)

Hawkes Bay Education Board

• Waiomatatini (Maori) School Registers of Admission, etc 1876-1981 [YCAK 1365] (AK)

Wellington Office:

Individual School Records (transferred directly)

• Berhampore School [ABUQ 7165-7173]
• Clyde Quay School  Registers 1903-1991 [AAFC 7998] School Diary 1889-1965 [AAFC 7999]
• Hokio Beach School [AAUF 6218 & 6223]
• Tawa Primary School [ABWC 7373]
• Te Aro School [ABHO W4175 & W3771]
• Torere School [ABIT W4050]
• Utiku School [ABIU W4048]
• Waiwhetu Girls High School Pupil records, surnames A-C 1958-1967 [AAQD W3368 (Box 3)]
• Wellington Girls College [AANB 875, 876 & 877]

Hawkes Bay Education Board

• Inspectors & Examination Reports – Annual Returns (overall date range 1885-1956; alphabetical by school) [ABDJ W3568 (Boxes 1a-56d)]
• Inspectors & Examination Reports – Annual Returns (overall date range 1903-1950 – private, Catholic & High schools) [ABDJ W3568 (Boxes 56e-60k)]
• Registers (various) 1878-1987 (alphabetical by school) [ABDJ W3568 (Boxes 203-214)]

Nelson Education Board

• Examination Schedules 1879, 1881-1920 [ABDW W3572 (Boxes 45-61)]
• Class Lists 1921-1954 (except Standard 6)  [ABDW W3572 (Boxes 63-70)]
• Proficiency Lists 1921-1936 (Standard 6 only)  [ABDW W3572 (Boxes 61-62)]

Some Nelson Education Board records are held at the Nelson Provincial Museum.

Taranaki Education Board

• Examination Schedules 1879-1947 (alphabetical by school within year groupings) [ABDU W3570 (Boxes 1-18)]
• Inspectors Reports 1895-1989 (alphabetical by school within year groupings) [ABDU W3570 (Boxes 19-34)]
• Admission Registers 1879-1989 (closed schools) [ABDU W3570 (Boxes 100-103)]
• Admission Registers 1881-1962 (a few schools only) [ABDU W3570 (Box 125)]

Wanganui Education Board

• Class/School Rolls 1890-1953 (alphabetical by school within years) [ABDV W3571 (Boxes 1007-1038)]
• Classification Lists 1901 (alphabetical by school; K-M, N-R only) [ABDV W3571 (Box 1086)]
• Proficiency Schedules 1909-1936 [ABDV W3571 (Boxes 49-52)]
• Admission & Withdrawal Registers 1874-1982 (closed schools; alphabetical in two lists) [ABDV W3571 (Boxes 55-56)]
• School Records (various) (overall dates 1881-1987, some undated; alphabetical by school) [ABDV W3571 (Boxes 910-1006)]

Wellington Education Board

• Class Schedules 1885-1909 (alphabetical by school within year groupings; some private schools; Marlborough not included; some records missing) [EB-W 8/1-94, (Boxes 1-39)]
• Classification Lists 1891-1909 (Marlborough only; alphabetical by school within year groupings)  [ABDM W3569 (Boxes 544-549)]
• Classification Lists 1910-1955 (including Marlborough & some private schools) [ABDM W3569 (Boxes 550-596 & 684)]
• Registers (various – closed schools) overall range 1879-1988 [ABDM W3569 (Boxes 380-430)]

Christchurch Office:

 
Canterbury Education Board

• Records of closed primary schools 1871-1988 [CAMJ CH206] (CH)
• Various records, including Examination schedules, Inspection reports and Classification lists 1872-1989 [CAMJ CH210] (CH)
• Classification Lists and Proficiency Reports 1918-1936 [CAMJ CH274] (CH)

Other Records

• Early school records 1851-1852 [CH290] (CH)
• Photocopies are held of records for a number of schools in the Buller area [CH386] (CH)

Note:

A number of Schools have transferred records directly to Archives New Zealand in Christchurch. Some of these records may include Class Schedules and Registers. However, many early Education Board records from the Canterbury area are held by the Canterbury Museum.

Dunedin Office:

• Hokonui School (previously East Forest School) Examination Registers 1885-1899 [ABEP D242] (DN) Attendance Registers 1925, 1936, 1941, 1951 [ABEP D242] (DN)

Note:

• Otago Education Board records are held in the Hocken Library, Dunedin.
• Southland Education Board records are held in the Invercargill Public Library, Invercargill.
   

Information on Schools

Education Board archives include a wide variety of records documenting the development of primary schools and district high schools. There is much less material for secondary schools and only from a later period. These records are not usually directly useful to family historians, but can give context and background.

• Architectural records. Since Education Boards were responsible for school buildings, their archives include many site plans, building plans, contracts and specifications, usually arranged by school.
• Closed School Records. When schools were closed, their records (registers, log books, etc) were usually sent to the Education Board of the district.
• Inspectors’ Reports. These brief reports on schools cover teaching methods, progress of pupils and perhaps building and grounds. Earlier reports often included the names of teachers and comments on them. Some education boards filed these reports with Classification Lists (see Class Schedules page 5).
• Jubilee Booklets. For each Education Board there is a collection of Jubilee booklets and other historical material produced for school anniversaries. Some Jubilee booklets include lists of teachers.
• Log Books. Usually kept by the headmaster/principal, these may give a day-to-day account of the life and operation of the school.
• Minute Books. These volumes record the business and decisions of Education Board meetings, including teacher appointments and the development and maintenance of school sites and buildings. Often they are unindexed.
• Photographs. Education Board collections include some photographs, of school buildings, special events, board members and teachers. Usually these photographs are unsorted. Often they are undated and only loosely captioned.
• School Committees. Education Boards recorded those who were elected to School Committees. As these committees elected the members of Education Boards, the lists are also called Voting Lists or Rolls.
• School Files. Education Boards organised their records in different ways, but somewhere in the archives of each board there may be records of each school, covering issues such as staffing, site and buildings, transport, school committee. Searches of Department of Education indexes and registers may be needed with earlier filing systems. Later records are usually subject or school based.
   

SCHOOL RECORDS AT ALEXANDER TURNBULL LIBRARY

Brooklyn 1902-1961 (including Mornington records)
Kilbirnie 1884-1983
Makara 1885-1972
Mt Cook Infants 1882-1935
Mt Cook Boys 1881-1925
Mt Cooks Girls 1882-1925
Mt Cook Main 1926-1978
Vogeltown 1883-1902

Early records for Mt Cook School 1875-1880 are in the Beaglehole Room, Victoria University, Wellington
 
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TEACHERS

Teacher Training

Many 19th century teachers were trained as pupil-teachers in schools, often at what became known as ‘Normal’ schools attached to Teachers Colleges. The system of training was a sort of apprenticeship in which trainees had to pay their own expenses.

Teachers Colleges were established in Dunedin and Christchurch just before the passing of the Education Act 1877 and by 1881 there were colleges in Wellington and Auckland as well.

A Parliamentary Select Committee Report in 1903 led to a reorganisation of teacher training by the Department of Education. Special allowances for the training of teachers were instituted in 1905. The Auckland and Wellington Teacher Training Colleges re-opened in 1906 and soon after those in Christchurch and Dunedin. Much later colleges were opened in Hamilton and Palmerston North.

Auckland Office:

• Auckland Kindergarten Teachers College, lists of diploma graduates 1950-1972 [BAKD A1119/12e] (AK)
• Auckland College of Education [YCAL A997 & A1178] (AK)

Note: The Auckland College of Education holds many of its own records.

Wellington Office:

• Wellington Training College Register & Pupil-Teacher Register 1886-1907 [EB-W 10/2]

Christchurch Office:

A wide variety of material is held for the Christchurch Teachers College / College of Education, including:

• Photographs of staff and students 1886-1993, arranged by year and division [CH182 & CH537] (CH)
• Photographs, plans and posters 1879-1988 [CH320 & CH708] (CH)
• Christchurch Normal School register of pupil-teachers 1877-1912 [CH207/50] (CH)

Note: The Christchurch College of Education also holds many records of its staff and of Christchurch teacher training.

 

Teacher Lists - AJHR

The Annual Reports of the Department of Education, published in the AJHR (Appendices to the Journal of the House of Representatives) from 1878 to 1924 included a variety of reports and lists of schools and teachers. In the first few years the records were inconsistent:

1878 AJHR H-1 Colleges and High Schools (includes some staff lists)

1879 AJHR H-2 List of Public Schools by Education District, and the names, status and emoluments [pay] of the Teachers (primary, organised by region and not alphabetical) Teachers Holding Certificates or Licenses under “The Education Act, 1877.” (primary, alphabetical within grades)

1880 AJHR H-1A (as for 1879, both lists)

1881 to 1909 AJHR E-1 Reports on Public (primary) Schools and lists of teachers. An alphabetical index of all teachers in December 1907 (from AJHR 1908 E-1 Table No.8 pp13-73) is held in the Wellington office of Archives New Zealand.

1910 to 1924 AJHR E-2 Reports on Public (primary) Schools and lists of teachers. The lists contain the names of all teachers and student teachers, and usually provide details of the school, teacher classification and often other information.

Education Department Reports in the AJHR 1878-1924 (some years) also include:

(a) reports of Secondary Schools with staff names
(b) lists of Teaching Certificate Passes
(c) lists of student teachers at Normal Schools or Training Colleges
(d) Annual Reports from Education Boards may include headmaster/principal names and those of some teachers.

Native Schools

Most Native School records are held in the Auckland office (see page 4). However, some record of Native School teachers is included in the Reports on Native Schools in the AJHR. In 1878-1879 these schools were under the Native Affairs Department, but in 1880 the schools were transferred to the control of the Education Department and reports with teacher names appear in Education Annual Reports until 1930.

1878 AJHR G-7 Most teachers named in school reports.

1879 AJHR G-2 Some teachers named in school reports.

1880 AJHR H-1F New instructions for the running of Native Schools.

1880 AJHR H-1L South Island schools reports only; most teachers named.

1881 AJHR E-7 Report includes table listing all schools and teachers.

1882-1908 AJHR E-2 Tables listing all schools and teachers.

1909-1930 AJHR E-3 Tables listing all schools and teachers.

After that date, Native School teachers were listed in the Public Service Employees Lists under Education.

Teacher Lists - Gazettes

New Zealand Gazettes 1879-1988 include a variety of teacher lists, usually published in a Gazette of March or April each year, under ‘Education Act’. From about 1957 they list post-primary teachers only. Among the lists are:

• Appointment of Pupil-teachers
• Teachers by grade (alphabetical)
• Teacher examination results
• Teachers holding Teaching Certificates

Provincial Gazettes up to 1876 may include provincial Education Board reports, inspection reports and
teacher lists. Education Gazettes may contain lists of teachers appointed, among more general information about education and schools.

Teacher Records - Primary

Archives New Zealand holds many primary school teacher records in Education Board archives. Records are held regionally in the four Archives New Zealand offices, but the holdings are often erratic, inconsistent and incomplete.

The main holdings useful to family historians are listed below, but other Education Board records may also hold references to teachers and their appointments. For example, earlier Inspectors’ Reports often included the names of teachers and comments on them.

Access is restricted to teachers’ salary cards and staff files. An individual may view his/her own card/file with proof of identity to Archives New Zealand. Otherwise permission from the Ministry of Education is required.

Auckland Office:
Auckland Education Board

• Auckland Teacher Salary Cards c1920-1980 (not strict alphabetical order; incomplete) [ABEP 4414] (AK)
• Auckland Teacher Salary Cards - Early Childhood and Part-time Staff c1924-1989 (Alphabetical but not complete - missing McL to Po) [ZABS A919] (AK)
• Whangarei Teacher Salary Cards c1928-1982 (Alphabetical order) [ZACB 4626] (AK)
• Teaching appointment cards (permanent staff) Auckland schools 1971-1981 [YCBD 19973/1-6]
• Teaching appointment cards (relieving teachers) Auckland schools 1981-1989 [YCBD 19975/1-3]
• Minute Books 1871-1989 [YCBD 5491 & A688] (AK) (Board meeting minutes may include details of teacher appointments, but there is often no indexing. A search is much easier if the commencement date is known.)

Hamilton Education Board

• Hamilton Teacher Salary Cards c1948-1984 (alphabetical) [BBEC 4413] (AK)
• Minute Books 1952-1989 [YCAU 4207] (AK) (Board meeting minutes may include details of teacher appointments, but there is often no indexing. A search is much easier if the commencement date is known.)

Northern Regional Office, Department of Education

• Maori School Teachers salary cards c1938-1952 [BAAA 1002/1-2] (AK)

Many other administration files, mostly after 1960, make some reference to teachers.
 

Wellington Office:
Department of Education

• Central Regional Office Teachers Salary Cards 1930s-1970s [ABFI W3556 (Boxes 21-54)] (Cards include Kindergarten and some Secondary teachers, as well as Primary. Roughly alphabetical, including date of birth, qualifications, service details, school, classes taught, position, grade and salary.)
• Staff Register 1878-1954 [E 16/1] (Mostly for Native, Industrial and Special Schools, from about 1878 to 1954, with few entries after 1910. This register records name, date of birth, dates of appointment, leaves of absence and remarks about service. It may include other information. This unrestricted volume is held in the Register Room)

Hawkes Bay Education Board

• Teacher Salary Cards (Primary) Two sequences: 1910s-1960s & 1940s-1980s (Each sequence alphabetical, including date of birth, qualifications, marital status, some financial details, service details.) [ABDJ W3568 (Boxes 175-179 & 179-191)]
• Teacher Salary Cards (Secondary, Napier schools only) 1950s-1970s (Alphabetical, including date of birth, qualifications, marital status, some financial details, service details.) [ABDJ W3568 (Box 192)]
• Appointments & Resignations - Reports to Board, Appointments Committee etc 1981-1989 [ABDJ W3568 10/31 (Boxes 129-130)]
• Minute Books 1880-1906, 1920-1923, 1927-1988 [ABDJ W3568 (Boxes 58-84)] (Minutes of board meetings may include details of teacher appointments, but there is often no indexing. A search for a teacher in the unindexed minute books is much easier if the appointment/commencement date is known.)

Nelson Education Board

• Teacher Salary Registers 1877-1909, 1916-1921, 14 volumes [ABDW W3572 (Boxes 13-14)] (No name index. Each volume variously organised, with information usually entered by school, date, grade. Salary, location and dates of employment included with teacher name.)
• Register of Teachers 1907-1919  [ABDW W3572 (Box 8)]
• Appointments and Resignations 1916-1922 (Various records). Alphabetical by school; correspondence between teachers, principals and Board concerning appointments and resignations. [ABDW W3572 (Boxes 150, 212-216)]
• Teacher Grading Cards c1930-1980s (four separate series) (Alphabetical, giving date of birth, qualifications, training and service details. [ABDW W3572 (Boxes 144-146)]
• Teacher Personal Reports Book 1-5 1959-1989 (Volumes indexed by teacher name. Entries include school, personal and professional qualifications, assessment) [ABDW W3572 (Box 143)]
• Registers - Trained Teachers Certificates 1974-1989 and Diploma in Teaching 1974-1986 [ABDW W3572 (Box 35)]
• Minute Books 1856-1989 (22 volumes) [ABDW W3572 (Boxes 26-34b)] (Minutes of board meetings may include details of teacher appointments, but there is often no indexing. A search for a teacher in the unindexed minute books is much easier if the appointment/commencement date is known.)

Taranaki Education Board

• Lists of Board members, Teachers and Assistants c1884-1905 (Three files, lists arranged by name of school. Little individual detail apart from names; sometimes residential addresses, some Inspectors Reports.) [ABDU W3570 18/1a, 18/2a (Box 124)]
• Teacher Salaries ‘January-December 1909’ [ABDU W3570 21/6a (Box 135)] ‘A typical teacher’s paylist, February 1925' [ABDU W3570 21/6 (Box 135)]
• Primary Teacher Record Cards 1921-1979 (Alphabetical in various bundles, including date of birth, qualification, service details.) [ABDU W3570 21 (Boxes 354-355)]
• Teacher Selection, Staffing, Professional Files 1915-1958, 1975-1980, 1984-1989 (Appointment and transfer of primary teachers. One file per school, staffing correspondence between school and Board, including some personal information on staff.) [ABDU W3570 (Boxes 59-61)]
• Personal Files of Board Members 1950-1989 (Includes five who were also teachers.) [ABDU W3570 21 (Box 168)]
• Registers of (teacher) appointments and resignations c1967-1986 [ABDU W3570 21 (Box 135)]
• Registers of appointment and transfer of primary teachers, 3 volumes, 1983-1985, 1986-1988, 1988-1989. [ABDU W3570 21 13/1/1 (Box 244)]
• List of Teachers employed by the Taranaki Education Board 1976-1988 (Arranged by term and schools in alphabetical order. No personal information.) [ABDU W3570 21/1a (Box 173)]
• Minute Books 1861-1989, some indexed [ABDU W3570 (Boxes 35-54)] (Minutes of board meetings may include details of teacher appointments, but not all are indexed.  A search for a teacher in the unindexed minute books is much easier if the appointment/commencement date is known.)

Wanganui Education Board

• Teacher Salary Registers 1914-1917, 1920-1934, 1960-1965, 14 volumes [ABDV W3571 (Boxes 1-8, 10-15)]
• Pupil-Teacher Salaries Register 1889-1894 [ABDV W3571 (Box 30)]
• Registers of Salaries (Cash Books) 1878-1888, 1899-1906, 7 volumes [ABDV W3571 (Boxes 29-30)]
• Minute Books 1897-1988 [ABDV W3571 (Boxes 98-128)] (Minutes of board meetings may include details of teacher appointments, but there is often no indexing. A search for a teacher in the unindexed minute books is much easier if the appointment/commencement date is known.)

Wellington Education Board

• Teacher Salary Cards 1890s-1970s (Alphabetical. Details include school, appointments.) [ABDM W3569 (Boxes 531-546)]
• Teacher Service Record Cards 1910s-1940s (Alphabetical. Little information. Details include school, sometimes country of origin and maiden name) [ABDM W3569 (Box 547)]
• Individual School Staffing Files 1921-1980s (By school name, sometimes in more than one series, often incomplete.) [ABDM W3569 (Boxes 346-399)]
• Appointment Register March 1958 to October 1969 (chronological) [ABDM W3569 (Box 80)]
• Teacher Earning Cards 1966-1967 (Alphabetical, giving salary and dates of increases.) [ABDM W3569 (Box 548)]
• Discipline Cases c1960s-1970s Alphabetical, containing correspondence, reports, etc. [ABDM W3569 (Box 527)]
• Minute Books 1872-1989 [ABDM W3569 (Boxes 1-60)] (Minutes of board meetings may include details of teacher appointments, but indexing is incomplete. A search for a teacher in the unindexed minute books is much easier if the appointment/commencement date is known.)
• Indexes to Minute Books 1891-1896, 1913-1937 [ABDM W3569 (Boxes 61-62)]

Christchurch Office:
Canterbury Provincial Gazette 1876 Education Board Report includes an alphabetical list of teachers with names of schools.
 

Department of Education, Southern Regional Office General education records since about 1920. Files include matters such as Teacher Staffing and Salaries, and Staffing Appointments. [CH5, CH11, CH45, CH46, CH90, CH102, CH141, CH181] (CH)

Canterbury Education Board

• Salary Cards c1920-1976 [CAMJ CH278] (CH)
• Salary Registers (South Canterbury) 1883-1916 [CAMJ CH207/1-15] (CH)
• Salary Registers (North Canterbury) 1908-1915 [CAMJ CH207/16-17] (CH)
• Salary Registers (Canterbury) 1935-1959 [CAMJ CH207/18-47] (CH)
• Teachers Register (South Canterbury 1876-1905) [CAMJ CH207/48] (CH)
• Teachers Registers 1943, 1951, 1953, 1960 [CAMJ CH676/1-4] (CH)

Westland Education Board

• Teachers Register (indexed by name) 1885-1916 [CH207/52] (CH)
• Teachers Salary register 1904-1905 [CH284] (CH)
• Register of Salary Levels 1930-1936 [CH284] (CH)

Note: Some Canterbury Education Board salary registers c1878-1934 are held in the Canterbury Museum, Christchurch.

Dunedin Office:

Campbell Park School (Otekaieke, Waitaki Valley)

• Staff Records c1910-1987 [CAJG D16] (DN)

Southland Education Board

• Teacher Salary Cards c1910-1950(Alphabetical, with qualifications, date of birth, marital status, service details, school, salary, etc.)
  [CATD D25] (DN)
   
  Note:
• Otago Education Board records are held in the Hocken Library, Dunedin.
• Southland Education Board records are held in the Invercargill Public Library, Invercargill.

 

Teacher Records - Secondary

Archives New Zealand holds comparatively few records of secondary school teachers.

• Teachers Personal Files c1947-1989 (Ministry of Education) [ABEP 7127] Archives New Zealand holds a sample only of personal files from throughout New Zealand, a total of about 2900 files. An alphabetical list of those for whom files exist is held at Archives New Zealand Wellington. Most teacher files were destroyed.
• Central Regional Office Teachers Salary Cards 1930s-1970s (Education Dept) [ABFI W3556 (Boxes 21-54)] Restricted to central New Zealand, many of these cards record Primary & Kindergarten teachers, but some secondary teachers are included. Roughly alphabetical, giving date of birth, qualifications, service details, school, classes taught, position, grade, salary.
• Some records of secondary teachers for the period after 1960 are to be found in Education Board records. If such records exist, they will be held regionally by Archives New Zealand.
• See also ‘Teacher Lists – Gazettes’ page 8.

 
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UNIVERSITIES

Archives New Zealand in Wellington holds records of the University of New Zealand and of the University Grants Committee. Many of these records deal with policy matters, administration and buildings but there are significant groups of material which refer to students and staff. Access to many of these is restricted.

University of New Zealand

University Development

The University of Otago was founded in 1869 and began teaching in 1871. By then central government was involved in university education. The New Zealand University Act 1870 envisaged the University of New Zealand being a governing and examining body, with teaching being done in regional institutions. The University of Otago would not affiliate with the national body until the Canterbury College sought to do so in 1873.

The New Zealand University Act 1874 confirmed that the University of New Zealand was to examine but not teach, and this was confirmed by a Royal Commission in 1879 which also recommended that there be four colleges teaching for university examination in New Zealand. After 1882, examinations were usually set and assessed overseas, mainly in Britain.

• The Auckland University College Act 1882 authorised that institution but it did not begin operating until 1893.
• The Victoria University College Act 1897 set up the fourth college and it affiliated to the University of New Zealand in 1899.

Authority to grant vocational degrees came with the University Degrees Act 1904, though some specialist ‘schools’, such as medicine (Otago from 1875) and engineering (Canterbury from 1885), had by then existed for many years. Adjustments continued to be made to the administration of the University of New Zealand.

• The New Zealand University Amendment Act 1914, and a Commission in 1925 which led to the New Zealand University Amendment Act 1926, were significant for university development.
• There was a general trend towards stressing teaching more in relation to examinations, and towards empowering the constituent colleges to set their own courses, standards and examinations.

The federal structure continued until the Universities Act 1961 made many of the constituent bodies into self-governing universities. A University Grants Committee was established in 1961 as a central agency to administer the universities.

University Records

Records from both the University of New Zealand and the University Grants Committee are held at Archives New Zealand in Wellington. Access to many records is restricted. Records of interest to family historians are:

• Correspondence files, include references to students and staff, degrees and examiners. [UNZ 10]
• Registers of Inwards Letters 1870-1910 (above) [UNZ 12/1-4]
• Degree records in bound volumes 1902-1961 [AAMJ W3119 (Boxes 155-215)]
• Law degree and Law professional results 1879-1937 [AAMJ W3119 (Boxes 225-235)]
• Matriculation and University Entrance records 1872-1963 [AAMJ W3119 (Boxes 259-326)]
• Other degree and diploma results (overall range 1878-1956; most before 1926) [AAMJ W3119 (Boxes 236-257)]
• Professional Accountancy: examination results 1923-1969; student record cards (alphabetical) [AAMJ W3119 (Boxes 384-445)]
• Records and registers (various) of medical & dental students 1883-1953 [AAMJ W3119 (Boxes 216-224)]
• Registers of entries for November examinations 1899-1901 [UNZ 24/1-3]
• Registers of student records 1872-1905 (Index volume 24) [UNZ 20/1-24]
• Register of undergraduates 1872-1895 [AAMJ W3119 (Box 258)]
• Scholarship results 1878-1913 [AAMJ W3119 (Boxes 373-378)]
• Student Record Cards A-Z, 1910s-1950s [AAMJ W3119 (Boxes 1-154)]
• University Entrance and University Bursaries results 1969-1982. Some are alphabetical computer lists; others are the lists, organised by school name, prepared for distribution to the Press [AAMJ W3119 (Boxes 328-372)]
• ‘War Concession’ correspondence 1919-1926, 1939-1958 (organised alphabetically by surname) [UNZ 11]

There are also Department of Education general files on Universities. [E subseries 27 & 42 (files may be in E 1, E 2 or E 3)]

Access

 
Access to personal student information, such as record cards and examination results, is restricted until 70 years after the last entry. Access permission is obtained from:
Angela Warren
Manager, Academic Policy
New Zealand Vice-Chancellors’ Committee
PO Box 11915 WELLINGTON 6034
Phone: 04 381 8505
Fax: 04 381 8501
Website: www.nzvcc.ac.nz
 

 
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