"Crosslink" May 1999
Learning Storage Lessons the Hard Way
By Yvonne Wilkie
We heard a year or two back that papers belonging to the Rev George Brown had been discovered in the basement of a home in Onehunga. The owners, when renovating, removed a partition in the basement and were confronted with hundreds of books and papers. The books they sold and the papers they retained.
In February this year, the papers arrived at the Archives at Knox College. Although I expected deterioration, what initially confronted me appeared to be nothing more than shredded paper and a fine powdery dust. However, clothed with a dust mask, gloves and a fine brush, I began to unearth clumps of documents that the silverfish and damp had not quite penetrated. In the end a fair representation of the collection has been retrieved and includes sermons, correspondence, financial documents, and school examinations ranging from 1860 to 1929. His sermons are carefully dated and the preaching place noted along with the psalms and hymns sung.
The Brown Papers
This collection will always remain delicate after the long years stored on a dirt floor and in more recent years wrapped in heavy double plastic. Careful archival preservation will be essential to prolong the collection's life. The silverfish, leaving their lace-like trails through the papers, and moisture, as a result of the plastic, are two of the chief causes of paper deterioration. If the collection had been left for another year or two, little of it would have been retrievable and the paper would have truly returned to dust.
The Historical Records Committee is grateful to the owners of the house in alerting us to this fascinating treasure of one of the Church's early Auckland ministers.
Pen Portrait of the Rev. George Brown M.A. (Aberdeen) :
George Brown and his wife arrived from Scotland on the “Jura” 15 January 1860. Immediately, the Auckland Presbytery appointed him as roving Minister for the urban areas of Auckland of Auckland from Waitemata to Manukau Harbours, with Onehunga the appointed centre. He was ordained there April 1860. October 1860 Onehunga with Whau and Manukau became a sanctioned charge and George Brown the recognised Minister. Contrary to the accepted procedures of Presbyterian order there was neither a formal call nor inductive service.
In 1870 he took part a part-time teaching position at the Auckland High School to supplement Parish income. Had returned to Parish by 1872; resigned in 1880 and went into full-time teaching, being at one time head teacher of Ellerslie Public School and assistant master at Auckland Grammar. He was an accomplished classical and Hebrew scholar. George Brown continued to assist with preaching around the Auckland region well into his retirement.
Moderator of Presbytery 1860/61; Presbytery Clerk 1863-c.1879; Assembly Clerk (Northern) 1862-1870.
Born 11 November 1830; Died 3 November 1930.
No Reproduction Without Written Permission
© PCANZ Archives.
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