Historic documentary artefacts such as diaries and letters are often packed with interesting information, that is often anecdotal and offers unique perspectives on events, time periods, and people’s lives. A diary for example will often contain a record of daily interactions between the writer and their close friends and family; it’s the kind of personal... Continue Reading →
While the vast majority of our armed forces during the Second World War would have done their best to uphold good standards of discipline, honour, and respect, it’s also fair to assume that many of our country’s young fighting men were desperate to let loose and temporarily escape their heavy responsibilities whenever possible. The phenomenon... Continue Reading →
According to the 2020 Ashburton District community profile, in 2013 there were 13,690 dwellings in our district, a figure which does not include shops, businesses, or industrial properties. With that in mind, here is an important question: who is, or was responsible for painting the thousands of buildings around our District? There are many different... Continue Reading →
A few decades ago, I pasted a copy of a ‘Rosie the Riveter’ poster, into one of my history class notebooks. This poster was considered to be a symbol of women’s empowerment in the workforce during World War 2 in the United States. Rosie, in her denim overalls, red kerchief, rouge lips, and stern stare,... Continue Reading →
Ashburton Museum Blog 