What have we done already?
The Canterbury History Foundation has:
- Established the Canterbury Community Historian Award
- Supported the on-line Christchurch history database (see University of Canterbury’s website)
- Made grants to local historians for pre-publication expenses
- Presented the A C Rhodes Memorial Medal for exceptional service in promoting history in the community
- Enlarged a scholarship fund to assist post-graduate study overseas
- Hosted the annual free Jim Gardner Lectures which honour this noted local historian
- Held public lectures to mark historic events
- Financed a CD-ROM to supply archived illustrations for school history projects
- Provided prize money for secondary school history competitions
- Supported oral history through the Origins of New Zealand English project
- Organised social events as an enjoyable way to bring together members and others interested in history
- Established a memorial plaque to Christchurch victims of the 1918 Infleunza pandemic
What would we like to do?
With sufficient financial support, the Canterbury Historical Foundation could:
- Create a capital fund to maintain the Canterbury Community Historian grant
- Enlarge a capital reserve to generate enough income each year to provide Post-graduate Travel Awards for University of Canterbury PhD thesis students needing to travel outside New Zealand for research: any such grants are on the recommendation of the School of History
- Fund research and editing assistance for amateur historians
- Raise a capital fund to assist publication
- Help libraries and museums to improve their collections of historical material
You can help by becoming a member yourself, by encouraging others to become members, and by donations – subscriptions and donations are tax-deductible.
Why does history matter?
History matters because history
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- Improves understanding of other societies and cultures
- Fosters intellectual skills needed by a modern economy and society
- Improves our understanding of who we are
- Makes more sense of the present by placing it in the context of the past
- Strengthens community and regional identity
- Raises appreciation of our heritage