Immortality for Black Sheep

Come and hear about ways you can connect and use the collections at the Library. Talks will be held on the 3rd Tuesday of every month until November 2019.

Find the black sheep in your family.

Did your ancestor ever come up against the police? You may be able to find a record of them in the Police Gazettes! Join archivist Trish McCormack for an overview of what you might find in the Police Gazettes and how to access them.

The Gazettes helped police in the late nineteenth century to track offenders. Digitised by Archives New Zealand, the Gazettes are now accessible worldwide and free of charge. Family researchers love to unearth the activities of a family black sheep. Some even find a photograph of the miscreant!

From charges of 'furious riding' to arson and murder, the crimes are many and varied. You'll find ship and wife deserters, to utterers and church desecrators.

About the speaker:
Trish McCormack is an archivist with Research Services at Archives New Zealand. Her job is to connect people with records - be it through the Wellington reading room, remote reference or via social media outlets.

A crime fiction writer in her spare time, she has a special interest in the Gazettes and other criminal records held by Archives New Zealand.