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), Denmark, on 14 March 1873. His family emigrated to New Zealand in October 1874 and settled in

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 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 from 1919 to 1937. Andersen participated in the 1919–1923 Dominion Museum ethnological expeditions alongside Te Rangihīroa, Elsdon Best, James McDonald and Āpirana Ngata. 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