Case 22
- A.H. Reed Association
A.H. Reed. The story of a kauri park. Wellington: Reed, for the Alfred and Isabel and Marian Reed Trust, 1959.
This
copy of The story of a kauri park
contains extensive emendations and alterations in Reed’s hand, presumably in
preparation for a revised edition.
At the
end of the introduction, the date “1 Nov. 1974” is inscribed in Reed’s hand.
Reed was therefore ninety nine years of age when he made these emendations and
a new edition of this book may have been among his final projects. He died in
Dunedin on 15 January 1975.
A.H. Reed. The story of a kauri park. Wellington: Reed, for the Alfred and Isabel and Marian Reed Trust, 1959.
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A.W. Reed. Place names of Australia. Sydney: Reed, 1973.
In his
1969 autobiography, Reed wrote that association books “have always appealed to
me as radiating something of the personality of the writer, or person with whom
they have been associated.” This sentiment aptly describes the intimate humour
of A.W. Reed’s presentation inscriptions written in late-life to his uncle, Mr
Reed himself.
Alexander
Wyclif (‘Clif’) Reed (1908-1979) was still a youth when he was first employed
by his stern yet benevolent uncle in the Christmas holidays of 1923-24, working
for Alfred’s Sunday school supply business. In 1932, Clif joined his uncle to
form the company of A.H. & A.W. Reed Ltd., and subsequently opened the
Wellington branch. Clif took over as managing director of the business when
Alfred withdrew from active involvement and closed his Dunedin office in 1940.
There
are several inscriptions of similar character by Clif to Alf in the Reed
Collections.
Marion Lawrance. The working manual of a successful Sunday-school. New York: Fleming H. Revell Company, 1908.
This
Sunday school manual contains the presentation inscription of its author,
Marion Lawrance (1850-1924), a prolific writer of Sunday school publications
from Toledo, Ohio, to A.H. Reed, dated 1909. Reed was just 33 years of age at
the time of this gift and his publishing career was in its infancy.
Starting
out as a small-time supplier of imported Sunday school materials in Dunedin,
Reed boasted that his Sunday School Supplies Stores offered “everything for the
modern Sunday school.” Most Sunday school lesson
material available in shops at this time was imported from Britain, but Reed
considered America more progressive both in terms of teaching methods and class
materials. Reed maintained contact with several American publishers and
imported some of their wares.
Marion Lawrance. The working manual of a successful Sunday-school. New York: Fleming H. Revell Company, 1908.
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Rutherford Waddell. Rutherford Waddell, M.A., D.D., Minister of St. Andrew's Church, Dunedin 1879-1919. Dunedin: A.H. Reed, 1933.
This
copy of Rutherford Waddell’s memoirs was formerly held by the Isabel Reed
Memorial Lending Library at Trinity Methodist Church (now Fortune Theatre) in
Stuart Street. It includes a printed leaflet pasted on the inside front cover,
complete with ‘title’, ‘section’ and ‘number’ in Alfred Reed’s handwriting,
instructions for borrowing books, and two photographs of Isabel Reed.
The
books were for the use of Church members, and could be borrowed on a
self-regulating basis. This copy is a recent addition to the Reed Association
Collection, donated by Reed’s biographer Ian Dougherty.
Rutherford Waddell. Rutherford Waddell, M.A., D.D., Minister of St. Andrew's Church, Dunedin 1879-1919. Dunedin: A.H. Reed, 1933.
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