A.H. Reed and Marian Reed (compilers). Heaven's Morning Breaks: an Anthology of the Afterlife. Second edition. Wellington: A.H. & A.W. Reed, 1957.
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In 1962, Reed was asked to write an article on the work of the Reed Trust for the New Zealand Home Journal. In his article, Reed referred to Heaven’s morning breaks, and offered to send a copy on request to any bereaved person. Hundreds of copies had already been distributed free, but this article attracted more than 400 further requests. Reed made a similar offer during his Australian expedition in 1965. He wrote in his Autobiography: “I am confident that the distribution of Heaven’s morning breaks is one of the purposes for which my life was prolonged.”
Letter, A.H. Reed to Max Rogers, N.Z. Home Journal, Christchurch, 12 December 1962 re: free copies of Heaven’s morning breaks.
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Reed recorded several of his books onto tape for the blind. At age 92, he read his own Autobiography for the Talking Book service of the New Zealand Foundation for the Blind. In between the 14 hours of recording sessions over three days, he visited blind people in Foundation residences.
Photograph of A.H. Reed reading his Autobiography in recording studio for Foundation for the Blind, Auckland, 1968.
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Decades earlier, Alfred had habitually read books to his wife Isabel when her eyesight progressively deteriorated during the 1930s. The Reed Archive includes numerous letters of thanks sent to Reed in appreciation of his work for the visually impaired, especially his talking books.
Letter, Margaret Haigh, Mosgiel to A.H. Reed, 30 March 1969 re: his Autobiography talking book and Heaven’s morning breaks.
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Reed always remained thankful for what he viewed as his miraculous recovery from the leg injury he suffered in youth. For many years he would walk to the children’s ward at the Dunedin Public Hospital on Friday afternoons and to the home for the elderly at Parkside in Caversham on Sunday mornings to work as a volunteer.
Photograph of A.H. Reed volunteering at Children’s Ward of Dunedin Public Hospital, ca. 1953. Evening Star photo.
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Photograph of A.H. Reed reading stories to children at Presbyterian Bookroom, Dunedin (Evening Star, 20 May 1963).
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