John Yaldwyn Explained

John Yaldwyn
Birth Name:John Cameron Yaldwyn
Birth Date:31 December 1929
Birth Place:Wellington, New Zealand
Death Place:Wellington, New Zealand
Field:Carcinology

John Cameron Yaldwyn (31 December 1929 – 9 October 2005) was a New Zealand carcinologist who made significant contributions to the study of New Zealand crustacea and was the director of the National Museum of New Zealand, leading that institution from 1980 to 1989, prior to its reformation as Te Papa.[1] [2] [3]

Early life and education

John Yaldwyn was born in Wellington to Flora Morison Yaldwyn and John Bradley Yaldwin. John Bradley Yaldwin was a barrister and chairman of the Local Government Commission.[4] [5] From an early age his interest in natural history was fostered by the local environment of eastern Wellington.[6]

From 1949 to 1958 Cameron studied zoology at Victoria University under the parasitologist and ichthyologist L. R. Richardson. His MSc and PhD theses on New Zealand shrimps and prawns were published in 1954 and 1959.

Career

In 1954 Baldwin was a member of the 1954 Chatham Islands expedition where he studied crustacea. He returned to the Dominion Museum as Assistant Director in 1969.[7] The Dominion museum was renamed the National Museum of New Zealand in 1973, and Yaldwyn became its Director in 1980.[8]

He retired as Museum Director in 1989.[9] However he continued working at Te Papa as an Honorary Research Associate until shortly before his death, managing to finish several projects that been started earlier in his career.

Notes and References

  1. Bartle . Sandy . May 2006 . John C. Yaldwyn 1929–2005 . Te Ara Journal . 31 . 1 . 54.
  2. Web site: Miskelly . Colin . 2016-07-11 . John Yaldwyn and the frog crab . 2024-04-29 . Te Papa’s Blog . en-NZ.
  3. 2005 . Obituary . Archaeology in New Zealand . 48 . 4 . 293–295.
  4. Web site: 1932 . John Bradley Yaldwyn . 16 July 2024 . DigitalNZ.
  5. Web site: Yaldwyn, John Bradley, 1900-1975 : Papers . Tiaki Alexander Turnbull Library.
  6. 1973 . Dr John C. Yaldwyn . AGMANZ News / The Art Galleries & Museums Association of New Zealand. . 4 . 2 . 33–34 . National Digital Heritage Archive.
  7. News: Dekker . Diana . 22 December 2005 . From marine biologist to museum director . The Dominion Post . 6 . 2nd.
  8. https://www.nzlii.org/nz/legis/hist_act/nagmawma19721972n11454/ National Art Gallery, Museum, and War Memorial Act 1972
  9. Bartle . Sandy . 2006 . John C. Yaldwyn 1929 - 2005 . Te Ara - Journal of Museums Aotearoa . 31 . 1 . 54 . National Digital Heritage Archive.