Canterbury Historical Association Annual Lecture Series

The Barker Collection contains over 4000 letters, photographs and personal artefacts related to the Barker family. This Collection is especially well-known for the photographs by Dr Alfred Charles Barker of early Christchurch. Human History Curator Dr Paulien Martens explores this collection which provides an intimate insight into the development of colonial Christchurch and its people.

Ngāi Tahu occupation of the area that is now Christchurch stretches back hundreds of years, but only recently has Ngāi Tahu been able to reaffirm its footprint in the city. Ngāi Tahu had a series of kainga/villages and mahinga kai/food gathering sites stretched around and within the current Christchurch region. Once the city began to be established following Kemp’s Deed in 1848,

Ngāi Tahu began to be excluded from the life of the developing urban centre. Despite provisioning and feeding these early settlers, once Christchurch and the Canterbury region settlers began to be self-sustaining it was made clear to Ngāi Tahu that they were not welcome. This talk will explore some of the early history of interactions between Ngāi Tahu and the city of Christchurch through to the mid-twentieth century.

We think we know about the renaissance, but this talk offers a fresh perspective by looking at the period through deaf eyes. Rosamund Oates explores the lives of deaf people in early modern Europe (1450-1750), showing the importance of sign language in churches, courts and in families. She will then tell some little-known stories of deaf artists in the renaissance – with examples from the Sistine Chapel to the Dutch Golden Age – to ask what the experiences of deaf people can tell us about renaissance society.

Dr Rosamund Oates is an Associate Professor of History at Manchester Metropolitan University in the UK, where her research has been supported by the British Academy and the Leverhulme Trust. She is currently in Christchurch as a Canterbury Fellow with the department of History at the University of Canterbury. She has published widely on deafness and early modern religious cultures, appeared on Radio 4, and runs the Cultures of Disability research cluster.

Imagine the massive challenges moving Canterbury Museum’s 2.3 million historic taonga (treasures) from storerooms across 5 levels using 1 lift, while still running working exhibitions! The planning and execution needed to move from the Rolleston Ave site to a temporary storehouse was an immense undertaking. Sarah Murray (Deputy Director and Head of Collections and Research) was part of it and shares her experiences on this month’s Canterbury Historical Association programme, plus insights into what’s coming up for the public of Canterbury.

Sarah is part of the four-person Executive Leadership Team at Canterbury Museum and is both Deputy Director and Head of Collections and Research. She has strategic responsibility for the curatorial, conservation, outreach, inventory and registration teams and the Museum’s volunteers. Sarah has been with the Museum since 2007 and is the author of several books and journal articles as well as an Adjunct Fellow in History at the University of Canterbury.

Conservator Lizzie Meek highlights some of the challenges and solutions involved in preserving the building and objects left behind by heroic-era expeditions tp the Ross Sea region.

Working with teams of international heritage professionals, Meeks, along with Al Fastier and Zack Bennett have managed complex projects through logistical and budget challenges. Lizzie manages the artefact conservation programme for a combined collection of over 20,000 artefacts in the five historic Antarctic expedition bases of Scott, Shakelton, Borchgrevink and Hillary. under the care of Antarctic Heritage Trust.

Explore more about the work of the Trust here: https://nzaht.org/

Independent scholar Evelyn McIver-Keeley has a love of history, and an interest in the role of women and genealogy.

She shares her lecture on her biography With Grace: Her Story and place in Campbell History 1642-1856 which was published in 2023. A story of her ancestor Grace in a time of clan clashes, religious struggles, and the resilient women bound to adventurous and entrepreneurial men.

An annual programme of lectures delivered by Canterbury academics, senior research students, and visiting scholars

In this lecture Patrick Devlieger discusses the Belgian colonization of the Congo and his extensive research on physical disabilities in that country.

Dr John Wilson, MNZM explores the relationship between Canterbury University and NZ nationalism.

This is the final lecture in this current series delivered by Canterbury academics, senior research students, and visiting scholars.

Since nineteenth-century explorers first planted flags in Antarctica, an appetite for their use has never waned. Historically on the continent, flags have been associated with asserting notions of sovereignty and claims on the territory. In more recent times new Antarctic flag designs have symbolised supra-national connection and unity. Through an exploration of historical and contemporary flags and artworks this talk charts some of the poignant and political meanings and readings woven into the fabric of Antarctic flags.