Series 3 - Donald McLean's Letter Books
Most of the letters in this series relate to McLean's earlier career. He kept the earliest letter book when he was Sub-Protector at Taranaki. Later letter books cover his other official roles, but also include some private letters.
A larger series of loose drafts and fragments of outwards letters comprises series 4.
There are 19 items in this series, of which 10 have been transcribed.
The letters in this series and series 4 are a mix of the very routine, and those of much greater historical significance. These two pages from the letter book McLean kept as Sub-Protector of Aborigines are an example. On one side is a letter asking for more office stationery. On the other is the first page of his report into Māori land ownership at Waitara in Taranaki. Controversy over this land was to eventually lead to war in 1861.
Draft letters, 23 November, 16 December 1844
Protector of Aborigines, Taranaki - Letter book
qMS-1193
Donald McLean papers
Manuscripts Collection
Alexander Turnbull Library
- Introduction
- Donald McLean, 1820-1877
- Timeline
- Scope and Contents
- Arrangement and Custodial History
- Series 1 - Letters written to Donald McLean (in English)
- Series 2 - Letters written to Donald McLean (in Māori)
- Series 3 - Donald McLean's Letter Books
- Series 4 - Drafts and fragments of letters written by Donald McLean
- Series 5 - Donald McLean's diaries and notebooks
- Series 6 - Telegrams to and from Donald McLean
- Series 7 - Donald McLean's official papers
- Series 8 - Maps
- Series 9 - Letters written to Donald McLean by family members
- Series 13 - Other papers
- Transcriptions and Translations