Papers of Ivan Lorin George Sutherland, 1897-1952, Moral Philosophy postgraduate, University of Glasgow, Scotland

Scope and Content

  • A bound volume of copy letters written by Ivan Sutherland during his time at Glasgow University 1921-1922.

Administrative / Biographical History

Ivan Lorin George Sutherland was born on 10th May 1897  in Masterton, New Zealand, the son of Robert who worked as a machinist. He attended Victoria University College Wellington in 1916, graduating B.A. in Economics and Mental and Moral Philosophy in 1919. He completed his M.A. in 1920, and was awarded the Jacob Joseph Scholarship, his thesis being The Nature of Human Personality and Its Bearings on Some Modern Problems . The subject was a requirement of the scholarship. He was also awarded a Post Graduate Travelling Fellowship in Arts, which offered him free passage to Europe.

The first leg of his trip brought him to the University of Glasgow, Scotland, in 1921 to complete a PhD within the department of Moral Philosophy, under the guidance of Sir Henry Jones. He took classes in (Hons) Moral Philosophy as well as (Hons) Political Philosophy. He remained at the University of Glasgow until September 1922 when he then transferred to continue as a research student at the University of London under Professor Hobhouse at Kings College. Ivan returned to New Zealand in December 1923, and completed his Doctoral Thesis, entitled A Critical Examination of Some Tendencies in Psychology in Relation to the Theory of Human Conduct in 1924. He graduated in absentia from Glasgow University on the 22 April 1924.

Ivan was appointed lecturer in Psychology and Philosophy at Victoria University College in Wellington. It was around this time that he also became involved in researching the relationship between Maori and Pakeha, and he struck up a close bond with Sir Apiranta Ngata and the tribe Ngati Porou. In 1935 Ivan published The Maori Situation . Wellington, New Zealand : Harry H Tombs Ltd  , 1935  . which outlined the Maori/Pakeha relations. It was in the year of 1937 that he was appointed Professor of Psychology and Philosophy at the University of Canterbury, Christchurch. In 1940 The Maori People Today . London and New York : Oxford University Press  , 1940  . was published with Ivan as editor. I

van's final piece of research was undertaken in 1951 when he set about documenting the education, housing, health and welfare of the Maori. This research was never concluded as he died on the 11th February 1952  . He was survived by his wife Nancy, whom he had married in May 1937, and his children Diony, Jan, Oliver, Wallace and Julia.

Arrangement

One bound volume.

Access Information

Open

Acquisition Information

Deposit : Diony Young (nee Sutherland), New York : 1996-2002 : ACCN 1492

Other Finding Aids

Digital level finding aid available in searchroom

Alternative Form Available

None known

Physical Characteristics and/or Technical Requirements

None which affect the use of this material

Conditions Governing Use

Applications for permission to quote should be sent to the Archivist.

Reproduction subject to usual conditions: educational use and condition of documents

Appraisal Information

This material has been appraised in line with standard GB 0248 procedures

Custodial History

Held with creator's family prior to deposit with GUAS

Accruals

None expected

Related Material

NZ 1412, University of Canterbury Library, Christchurch, New Zealand, Papers of Ivan Lorin George Sutherland. This collection includes correspondence, postcards, newspaper clippings, programmes of concerts, lectures and other events that Ivan Sutherland attended.

Also at the University of Glasgow Library is a copy of Ivan Sutherland's Doctoral Thesis: A critical examination of some current tendencies in the theory of human conduct

Location of Originals

All of the original letters that Ivan wrote while in the United Kingdom are kept in the Archives of the Library at the University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand.

Bibliography

No known publications

Additional Information

Description compiled in line with the following international standards: International Council on Archives,ISAD(G) Second Edition, September 1999 and National Council on Archives,Rules for the construction of personal, place and corporate names

Scotland is the location of all place names in the administrative/biographical history element, unless otherwise stated.

Fonds and lower level descriptions compiled by Elva McLean, Archives volunteer, 30 March 2006.

Geographical Names

Glasgow, Scotland