Month: February 2010

Tribute for Jacquie Baxter/ J. C. Sturm 1927 – 2009

wclstaff

Jacquie Baxter, also known as J.C. Sturm, was a poet and short story writer as well as a former staff member of Wellington City Libraries. Sadly, she passed away in December last year.

In memory of her enormous skill as a writer, her dedication to library service, and the lasting impression she left as a friend and colleague, we have set up a display in memory of her on the ground floor of the Central Library.

The display contains a tribute book and we encourage those who knew Jacquie, were touched by her work, or simply want to convey their condolences to her friends and family, to write a message in it.

If you cannot make it into the library to write in the book then you are most welcome to write a message as a comment on this blog post and library staff will make sure it is transcribed into the memorial book on your behalf.

You can read more about Jacquie’s life and achievements in our obituary for her or at the website of the New Zealand Book Council here .

Jacqueline (Jacquie) Baxter (J.C. Sturm)

Fiona

He maimai aroha : a lament for Jacquie Baxter

We were saddened to hear of the recent death of our colleague, and rangatira.

Although Jacquie was a groundbreaking Māori academic student, and the first Māori woman to attain a Master’s degree from the University of New Zealand (at Victoria University) and her poetry also won national and international acclaim, yet library users will remember her as the librarian who managed the NZ collection at Wellington City Libraries for well over twenty years until 1992. We remember her quiet advocacy for Māori customers, extensive knowledge of NZ published works, and passion for excellence in librarianship.

Read more information :

Oxford companion to New Zealand literature article

Pioneering Maori writer, by Jeffrey Paparoa Holman (Use your library card to log in)

Kapiti Independent News article

Opunake Thrush

Auckland University – New Zealand Literature file – J C Sturm

New Zealand national character as exemplified by three New Zealand novelists : thesis presented in partial requirement for the degree of M.A., University of New Zealand, by Jacqueline Cecilia Baxter. (1952)