Library Harks Back A Century To Hamilton's Heritage

A new exhibition at Hamilton Central Library takes visitors back a century to look at life in Hamilton in 1915.

Launched to coincide with year-long World War I commemorations, Hamilton During The Great War opens tomorrow (6 August), and features resources from the Hamilton City Libraries' extensive Heritage Collection.

Heritage Librarian Bryony Hawthorn says the information and exhibits examine the impact of The Great War on Hamilton and its community, activities which were intended to keep citizens busy, and then-topical issues such as charity appeals, new buildings in the city, and entertainment options.

The exhibition material includes newspaper articles and advertisements, historic photographs, ephemera and archives, painting a picture of the town in 1915.

Mrs Hawthorn says one particular item prescribes some very strict rules for teachers of the era.

"The rules were very restrictive – they couldn't wear brightly coloured clothing, female teachers couldn't marry during the term of their contract or 'keep company with men', or even worse, they couldn't be found loitering in ice cream parlours," Mrs Hawthorn says. "Female teachers also had to wear a minimum of two petticoats and had to scrub the classroom floor every week."

Mrs Hawthorn says the exhibition will be accompanied by a series of talks on various aspects of "the Home Front", with six guest speakers discussing a range of topics.

The talks will be held on Level 3 of the Central Library every Thursday from 12:20pm, from 6 August to 10 September

"We've included a diverse range of content and ephemera, so we're confident Hamilton During The Great War will have something of interest to everyone," Mrs Hawthorn says.

The exhibition runs until the end of October.


Photo courtesy of Hamilton City Council

www.hamiltonlibraries.co.nz

SPEAKERS:

Thursday, 6 August
Eris Parker: Talking about how money was raised for the war in Cambridge, interwoven with with the lives of the Waikato soldiers and their families.

Thursday, 13 August
Alexy Simmons: Looking at food and cooking, both at home and in the military training camps.

Thursday, 20 August
Lyn Williams: Discussing women on the Home Front, particularly as represented in the city's cemeteries.

Thursday, 27 August
Murray Frost: Talking about the commemoration of World War I through the naming of Hamilton’s streets.

Thursday, 3 September
Shelley North: Hosting a session on how to research World War I ancestors.

Thursday, 10 September
Bilgehan Berberoglu: Taking a brief look at the Turkish Home Front.