Turnbull@101

A DigitalNZ Story by Mark Beatty

Alexander Turnbull – Wellington merchant, yachtsman, golfer, collector, confirmed bachelor and handsome dandy – bequeathed his library to the nation in 1918. Two years later, in 1920, the doors of the library opened for the first time to the public.

Turnbull centenary

Image: Kinsey, William Henry Scott 1860-1931 :Photograph of Alexander Horsburgh Turnbull

Kinsey, William Henry Scott 1860-1931 :Photograph of Alexander Horsburgh Turnbull

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Alexander Turnbull's Library (1972)

Alexander Turnbull's Library (1972)

Archives New Zealand Te Rua Mahara o te Kāwanatanga

Image: Alexander Turnbull Library, Bowen Street, Wellington

Alexander Turnbull Library, Bowen Street, Wellington

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Alexander Turnbull's bookplates

Alexander Turnbull's bookplates

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Image: Thomas Turnbull & Son :Residence Bowen Street for A H Turnbull Esq[uir]e. February 8th 1916

Thomas Turnbull & Son :Residence Bowen Street for A H Turnbull Esq[uir]e. February 8th 1916

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: [Thomas Turnbull & Son :Residence Bowen Street for A H Turnbull Esq[uir]e. February 1916. Elevation only in pencil & pale watercolour]

[Thomas Turnbull & Son :Residence Bowen Street for A H Turnbull Esq[uir]e. February 1916. Elevation only in pencil & pale watercolour]

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Thomas Turnbull & Son :Residence Bowen Street for A H Turnbull Esq[uir]e. [Not as built, 1915?]

Thomas Turnbull & Son :Residence Bowen Street for A H Turnbull Esq[uir]e. [Not as built, 1915?]

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Thomas Turnbull & Son :Residence Bowen Street for A H Turnbull Esq[uir]e. February 8th 1916

Thomas Turnbull & Son :Residence Bowen Street for A H Turnbull Esq[uir]e. February 8th 1916

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Alexander Turnbull Library on Bowen Street, Wellington

Alexander Turnbull Library on Bowen Street, Wellington

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Alexander Turnbull Library stairway, Bowen Street, Wellington

Alexander Turnbull Library stairway, Bowen Street, Wellington

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Alexander Turnbull Library hallway, Bowen Street, Wellington

Alexander Turnbull Library hallway, Bowen Street, Wellington

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Reading room of the Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington

Reading room of the Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Alexander Turnbull Library, from Lambton Quay, Wellington

Alexander Turnbull Library, from Lambton Quay, Wellington

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Staff of the Alexander Turnbull Library moving the book collection out of the Bowen Street building for the restrengthening in 1955-1957

Staff of the Alexander Turnbull Library moving the book collection out of the Bowen Street building for the restrengthening in 1955-1957

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Structural strengthening of the Alexander Turnbull Library, with Bowen Hospital in the foreground

Structural strengthening of the Alexander Turnbull Library, with Bowen Hospital in the foreground

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Staff of the Alexander Turnbull Library moving the book collection out of the Bowen Street building for the restrengthening of 1955-1957

Staff of the Alexander Turnbull Library moving the book collection out of the Bowen Street building for the restrengthening of 1955-1957

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Pacific stack room, and staff, Alexander Turnbull Library, Bowen Street, Wellington

Pacific stack room, and staff, Alexander Turnbull Library, Bowen Street, Wellington

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: View from New Zealand Dairy Board building showing the start of The Terrace with Bowen Hospital, Alexander Turnbull Library and old Government House

View from New Zealand Dairy Board building showing the start of The Terrace with Bowen Hospital, Alexander Turnbull Library and old Government House

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Tony Murray-Oliver with an unidentified man looking at a book with other books for the Alexander Turnbull Library laid out on the floor, Wellington

Tony Murray-Oliver with an unidentified man looking at a book with other books for the Alexander Turnbull Library laid out on the floor, Wellington

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Alexander Horsburgh Turnbull and unknown man on the deck of his yacht

Alexander Horsburgh Turnbull and unknown man on the deck of his yacht

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Manuscripts curator, Glen Barclay, Professor Ian Gordon and Chief Librarian, Mr C R H Taylor, looking at the journals of Katherine Mansfield, which have just arrived at the Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington

Manuscripts curator, Glen Barclay, Professor Ian Gordon and Chief Librarian, Mr C R H Taylor, looking at the journals of Katherine Mansfield, which...

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Binding by Zaehnsdorf, 1907

Binding by Zaehnsdorf, 1907

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Alexander Turnbull Library exhibition

Alexander Turnbull Library exhibition

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Group, including Alexander Horsburgh Turnbull

Group, including Alexander Horsburgh Turnbull

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Mr Kebbell and Alexander Turnbull, on board Turnbull's yacht Rona

Mr Kebbell and Alexander Turnbull, on board Turnbull's yacht Rona

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Reading room interior, Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington

Reading room interior, Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Removals staff moving books from Alexander Turnbull Library

Removals staff moving books from Alexander Turnbull Library

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Creator unknown: Photograph of Alexander Turnbull's yacht Rona

Creator unknown: Photograph of Alexander Turnbull's yacht Rona

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Alexander Horsburgh Turnbull and others, aboard Turnbull's yacht "Iorangi", by an unidentified photographer

Alexander Horsburgh Turnbull and others, aboard Turnbull's yacht "Iorangi", by an unidentified photographer

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Illuminated manuscript books on display at the Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington

Illuminated manuscript books on display at the Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: 25th anniversary celebrations of the Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington

25th anniversary celebrations of the Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Group photograph taken at the opening of the Alexander Turnbull Library

Group photograph taken at the opening of the Alexander Turnbull Library

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Alexander Horsburgh Turnbull - Photograph taken by Van der Weyde

Alexander Horsburgh Turnbull - Photograph taken by Van der Weyde

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Folio of Shakespeare's books, on display at Alexander Turnbull Library, Bowen Street, Wellington

Folio of Shakespeare's books, on display at Alexander Turnbull Library, Bowen Street, Wellington

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Clouston, Robert Stewart, 1857-1911 :[Alexander Horsburgh Turnbull] 16 9 [19]09

Clouston, Robert Stewart, 1857-1911 :[Alexander Horsburgh Turnbull] 16 9 [19]09

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Trick photograph of Alexander Horsburgh Turnbull sitting at a table

Trick photograph of Alexander Horsburgh Turnbull sitting at a table

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Robert Thorburn Turnbull, E F Hadfield and Alexander Horsburgh Turnbull, at the Turnbull home fronting on to The Terrace and Bowen Street, Wellington

Robert Thorburn Turnbull, E F Hadfield and Alexander Horsburgh Turnbull, at the Turnbull home fronting on to The Terrace and Bowen Street, Wellington

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: [Johnson, Graham], fl 1896-1909 :Ex libris Alexander H Turnbull. Fortuna favet audaci [Heraldic bookplate] GJ. 1912

[Johnson, Graham], fl 1896-1909 :Ex libris Alexander H Turnbull. Fortuna favet audaci [Heraldic bookplate] GJ. 1912

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Artist unknown :Fortuna favet audaci. Alexander H. Turnbull. [Heraldic bookplate. ca 1890-1930]

Artist unknown :Fortuna favet audaci. Alexander H. Turnbull. [Heraldic bookplate. ca 1890-1930]

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Artist unknown :From the collection of Alexander Horsburgh Turnbull, Wellington New Zealand / Te Rau Press. [ca 1910].

Artist unknown :From the collection of Alexander Horsburgh Turnbull, Wellington New Zealand / Te Rau Press. [ca 1910].

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Mantell, Walter Baldock Durrant, 1820-1895 :[Inside front cover of sketchbook] Walter Mantell (stolen) from John George Cooke, TeHua, Taranaki, January 1847. [Bookplates of] Walter Mantell, Alexander Turnbull Library [1851-1852]

Mantell, Walter Baldock Durrant, 1820-1895 :[Inside front cover of sketchbook] Walter Mantell (stolen) from John George Cooke, TeHua, Taranaki, Jan...

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: [New Zealand Government Printer] :Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, N.Z. ; Dieu et mon droit ; fortuna favet audaci. [ ca 1920]

[New Zealand Government Printer] :Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, N.Z. ; Dieu et mon droit ; fortuna favet audaci. [ ca 1920]

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Staff of Alexander Turnbull Library at the farewell to Chief Librarian A G Bagnall

Staff of Alexander Turnbull Library at the farewell to Chief Librarian A G Bagnall

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Tomlinson, Francis Ernest, 1864-1944: Members and staff of W & G Turnbull and Company including Alexander Turnbull

Tomlinson, Francis Ernest, 1864-1944: Members and staff of W & G Turnbull and Company including Alexander Turnbull

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Alexander Horsburgh Turnbull in his uniform as honorary vice-consular representative for Spain

Alexander Horsburgh Turnbull in his uniform as honorary vice-consular representative for Spain

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Alexander Turnbull Library MSR05 (Boethius, works, including De Musica) illuminated page with dragon, 'Book handwritten by monks 800 years ago'

Alexander Turnbull Library MSR05 (Boethius, works, including De Musica) illuminated page with dragon, 'Book handwritten by monks 800 years ago'

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image

Display of illuminated manuscripts, with the item at the back being Boethius' Consolatio Philosphiae (Consolation of Philosophy) from the Alexander...

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Horsburgh, John A, 1835-1924 :[Portrait of Walter Turnbull] Edin.r 1880

Horsburgh, John A, 1835-1924 :[Portrait of Walter Turnbull] Edin.r 1880

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Horsburgh, John A, 1835-1924 :[Alexandrina Turnbull] Edin.r May 1880

Horsburgh, John A, 1835-1924 :[Alexandrina Turnbull] Edin.r May 1880

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: The Turnbull family grave, plot 98.L, Sydney Street Cemetery.

The Turnbull family grave, plot 98.L, Sydney Street Cemetery.

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Letter from Quaritch to Turnbull

Letter from Quaritch to Turnbull

Alexander Turnbull Library

Newspaper

DEATH OF MR. R. TURNBULL, M.H.R. (Evening Post, 18 July 1890)

National Library of New Zealand

Image: THE TURNBULL LIBRARY. (Taranaki Daily News 29-6-1920)

THE TURNBULL LIBRARY. (Taranaki Daily News 29-6-1920)

National Library of New Zealand

Newspaper

A NATIONAL LOSS (Evening Post, 29 June 1918)

National Library of New Zealand

Newspaper

TURNBULL LIBRARY (Evening Post, 29 June 1920)

National Library of New Zealand

Image: Probate of Turnbull

Probate of Turnbull

Archives New Zealand Te Rua Mahara o te Kāwanatanga

Newspaper

THE TURNBULL LIBRARY. (NZ Truth, 04 October 1924)

National Library of New Zealand

Newspaper

TURNBULL LIBRARY (Evening Post, 07 November 1936)

National Library of New Zealand

Newspaper

MANTELL LIBRARY (Evening Post, 02 May 1927)

National Library of New Zealand

Newspaper

GIFT TO TURNBULE LIBRARY (Evening Post, 20 August 1931)

National Library of New Zealand

Image: Interior of the billiard room at the house called Elibank, fronting on to Bowen Street and The Terrace, Wellington

Interior of the billiard room at the house called Elibank, fronting on to Bowen Street and The Terrace, Wellington

Alexander Turnbull Library