St John’s Theological College class photographs
As part of our endeavour to showcase some of the incredible photographs which can be found in our archival collection, the St John’s Theological College class photographs have been added to Pūmotomoto.
The St John’s College class photographs were first taken around 1896. These were photographed in a studio with the usual painted backdrops of the 1890s. Classes were no more than about six students.
The next group of photographs from 1900 were taken with a College building as a backdrop and were mounted with an oak surround, a heavy oak frame, and names hand inscribed in white or gold. Students at St John’s from around 1950 to 1990 will remember these hanging in the corridors of the Selwyn Block.
Around 1960, the photographs became smaller, the frames thinner, but these too were hung in the corridors. In 1990, the Selwyn Block was demolished due to earthquake strengthening requirements and a change from hostel-style accommodation. The photographs went into storage in the archives of the John Kinder Theological Library where they remain.
All class photographs are held in the archives, including the current class photographs and the separate College photographs over the 2000s period.
You’ll also notice as you pursue the collection that some of the class photographs are missing. This is because during those years the College was not operating at that time (ie during World War Two).
View the entire St John’s Theological College Class Photographs collection on Pūmotomoto.