French, Thomas
Production date
1884-1942
Description
Thomas French was a dairy farmer from the Bell Block area. He was instrumental in the Bell Block Co-Operative Dairy Factory, for which he was an original shareholder, the Waitara West Road Board and the Bell Block Hall Committee. Tom’s passion in life was horticulture and botany. He was a well known orchid cultivator. He was presented to Queen Elizabeth II on her 1954 tour of New Zealand as the only surviving founder of the Bell Block Dairy Factory. He also provided her majesty with the orchids used in the posy and bouquet presented to her. Tom established the first citrus fruit orchid in Taranaki on his property in Bell Block. Tom’s ability as a horticulturalist earned him a fellowship of the Royal Institute of Horticulture in 1947.
This collection consists of 81 letters sent to Tom between the years 1884 and 1942. The letters consist of information about family matters, dairy farming, financial advice and information about orchids and citrus fruit. The collection also consists of an amount of photocopied material relating to Tom's life.
See full details
Object detail
Part 1
Letters.
1884 - 1 letter
1893 - 2 letters
1894 - 3 letters
1895 - 5 letters
1896 - 1 letter
1897 - 4 letters
1898 - 2 letters
1899 - 1 letter
1900 - 1 letter
1901 - 2 letters
1902 - 10 letters
1903 - 3 letters
1904 - 1 letter
1908 - 1 letter
1937 - 4 letters
1938 - 2 letters
1939 - 8 letters
1941 - 3 letters
1942 - 1 letter
Undated - 35 letters
Incomplete/missing
Part 2
Photocopies:
- 5 pages of newspaper clipping scrapbook, articles relating to Thomas French.
- French family tree.
- 2 photographs, Thomas French with orchids and French family homestead on farm in Bell Block.
- Certificate Royal New Zealand Institute of Horticulture, Thomas French.
- Certificate of Tile under Land Transfers Act, aerial plan of French farm.
Invitation Bell Block Public Hall Association Progressive Euchre Party, 25 February 1904.
Public comments
Be the first to comment on this object record.