John Patrick Hennelly papers and photographs, ca.1907-1938

fonds

ca.1907-1938

Textual Records, Graphic Materials, Photographs, Objects

944757

Biographical notes based on information provided to the Field Librarian by the donor, John Hennelly, son of John Patrick Hennelly, in February 1983:
John Patrick Hennelly was Resident Magistrate in Papua, 24 December 1906-1913, and later a Customs Officer at Fremantle, W.A. He had blackwater fever twice and survived. He was a keen photographer but had difficulty getting cold water for developing. His camera took postcard size prints. Papuans pronounced Hennelly as Hilai, but usually addressed Hennelly as Taubada and Mrs Hennelly as Sinebada. The missionary Rev. Reginald Bartlett was Hennelly’s best friend. Mrs Hennelly was a nurse and later president of the Women’s Service Guild in Swanbourne, W.A. She was an honorary medical officer while in Papua. Her son claimed she was the first British white woman to cross the border between papua and German New Guinea. The Papuan experience was evidently profound. The Hennelly’s W.A. house was named Soma-Kerema, after two of their stations. (information on ML file).

In 1991 John Hennelly presented to the Library further biographical notes concerning his parents; these form part of MLMSS 4124.

SERIES 01: John Patrick Hennelly papers, ca.1907-1938
MLMSS 4124

SERIES 02: Photographs relating to John Patrick Hennelly, ca.1907-1938
PXE 1050

SERIES 03: Bottle of petroleum oil from Vailala, Papua, 1911
R 1065