This week's photographs from our mystery Album 224 feature gorgeous portraits of children. To find out more about how we acquired this collection of images please read the blog post from last week.

For this first photograph we don't have any clues except for a lovely smiling face.

Portrait of a boy, date unknown.

Another lovely image for you, a young lad with very stylish hair! Perhaps he is posing with his younger sister?



Eden George cabinet card, Christchurch, date unknown.

A cute babe with sun-kissed arms seated on a fur skin. On the reverse side of this tot's portrait someone has written 'Aunt Libby', not much of a clue but it may have meaning for some one's family?

Photographer: Packer &  Co., date unknown.

'Sir George Grey Special Collections, Auckland Libraries, 4-RIC332' Showing the grave and tombstone of Christina McGregor, her daughters Christina McGregor and Elizabeth McGregor, and Alexander McGregor in Presbyterian section of Symonds Street Cemetery. The inscription reads: Erected in memory of Christina, the beloved wife of Donald McGregor who died 11 February 1891 aged 38 years. Also their children Christina died 7th January 1880 aged 9 months and Elizabeth who died 17th March 1887 aged 7 months. Also Alexander McGregor, late of Caithness, Scotland, died 3rd January 1866 aged 47 years. Auckland Region (N.Z.)

Remember the Jennings Family Tree mystery last year? Well, another mystery has come our way at the Central Auckland Research Centre!

A photograph album was handed into a librarian in Pukekohe, it was found in someone’s flat and rescued before it was put into a skip. It was given to the family history team for identification and preservation.  The album is now kept in Sir George Grey Special Collections and is identified as Album #224. 


Cover of the photograph album.

 The album is a collection of professional photographs, circa 1870 and  taken at various studios throughout the world including New Zealand, Barcelona, San Francisco and several in the UK. Interestingly, apart from the photographers names, the only names that seem to be associated with the album are:

                                                    Mr and Mrs Walter Johnson
                                                      Mildred Dunn
                                                       Mrs Curlett
                                                       Aunt Libby

Since August is family history month and we are celebrating families, this seemed to be a great opportunity to share images from this album. We hope that you might be able to help us identify some of the individuals in these portraits.


Loose newspaper clipping included in the album, Mr & Mrs Walter Johnson celebrating their golden wedding anniversary, date and newspaper unknown.




Portrait of Mildred Dunn, aged 3 years. On the reverse side of this image is written the name 'Mrs Curlett', Date and photographer unknown.

If you are able to help us identify these family portraits please post a comment on the Kintalk blog or email us at Library.Centralheritage@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz

Selected photographs from this album with be posted as a blog mini series 'Friday's Faces from the Past' throughout the month of August.

Regards