Johannes Andersen (librarian)
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Johannes Carl Andersen (14 March 1873 – 19 June 1962) was a New Zealand clerk, poet, ethnologist, librarian, editor and historian. Andersen was born in Klakring (now
Hedensted Hedensted is a Danish town in Region Midtjylland and the seat of Hedensted Municipality. Its population, including its northern neighbouring town Løsning, is 13,458.Christchurch Christchurch (; ) is the largest city in the South Island and the List of cities in New Zealand, second-largest city by urban area population in New Zealand. Christchurch has an urban population of , and a metropolitan population of over hal ...
. In 1887 he began working at the
Department of Lands and Survey The Department of Lands and Survey was a government department in New Zealand that managed the administration of Crown land and its survey and mapping requirements. History Establishment The department was established in 1876 with the appointment ...
as a cadet draughtsman and then as a clerk. In May 1900 Andersen married teacher Kate McHaffie, who later became active in various community organisations in Wellington, including the New Zealand Women Writers' and Artists' Society. Andersen supported her endeavours, including by reviewing and endorsing the literary efforts of Society members. Andersen took a special interest in traditional
Māori culture Māori culture () is the customs, cultural practices, and beliefs of the Māori people of New Zealand. It originated from, and is still part of, Polynesians, Eastern Polynesian culture. Māori culture forms a distinctive part of Culture of New ...
and
mythology Myth is a genre of folklore consisting primarily of narratives that play a fundamental role in a society. For scholars, this is very different from the vernacular usage of the term "myth" that refers to a belief that is not true. Instead, the ...
. This saw him attempt to record and retell aspects of their culture. To the public, he was best known as the inaugural librarian of the
Alexander Turnbull Library The National Library of New Zealand () is charged with the obligation to "enrich the cultural and economic life of New Zealand and its interchanges with other nations" (National Library of New Zealand (Te Puna Mātauranga) Act 2003). Under the ...
from 1919 to 1937. Andersen participated in the
1919–1923 Dominion Museum ethnological expeditions The 1919–1923 Dominion Museum ethnological expeditions were a series of ethnological research expeditions encouraged and led by Āpirana Ngata and Te Rangihīroa, and undertaken between 1919 and 1923 with Elsdon Best, James McDonald and Joh ...
alongside Te Rangihīroa,
Elsdon Best Elsdon Best (30 June 1856 – 9 September 1931) was an ethnographer who made important contributions to the study of the Māori of New Zealand. Early years Elsdon Best was born 30 June 1856 at Tawa Flat, New Zealand, to William Best and the fo ...
, James McDonald and
Āpirana Ngata Sir Āpirana Turupa Ngata (3 July 1874 – 14 July 1950) was a prominent New Zealand statesman. He has often been described as the foremost Māori politician to have served in parliament in the mid-20th century, and is also known for his work in ...
. In the 1935 King's Birthday Honours, he was appointed a
Member of the Order of the British Empire The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry, rewarding valuable service in a wide range of useful activities. It comprises five classes of awards across both civil and military divisions, the most senior two o ...
.


References

1873 births 1962 deaths New Zealand librarians 20th-century New Zealand historians Danish emigrants to New Zealand New Zealand ethnologists 20th-century New Zealand male writers People from Hedensted Municipality New Zealand Members of the Order of the British Empire {{NewZealand-writer-stub