Thomas Morland Hocken and his Japanese Experience 1901-1904, Dr Donald Kerr, University of Otago

Thomas Morland Hocken was born in Stamford, Lincolnshire in 1836, the son of a Wesleyan minister. He attended the Newcastle upon Tyne School of Practical Science and then Ledwich Medical School, Dublin, becoming admitted to the Royal College of Surgeons in 1859. After time as a ship’s surgeon, he settled in Dunedin, where he lived until his death in 1910. His historical collection of books, pamphlets, newspapers, maps, paintings and manuscripts, is housed in the University of Otago library. During a visit to London in 1901, Hocken joined the Japan Society and, on that same trip, spent time in Japan.

Dr Donald Kerr is Special Collections Librarian at the University of Otago. Prior to his move to Dunedin, he worked in the Sir George Grey Collection at Auckland City Libraries. He is passionate about books and enjoys long term projects in book history, especially the history of collecting and the formation of private libraries. In 2006, he published Amassing Treasures for All Times: Sir George Grey, Colonial Bookman and Collector (Otago University/Oak Knoll, 2006), and The Smell of Powder. A History of Duelling in New Zealand (Random, 2006). He is currently working on bio-bibliographical study of Dr Hocken as a book collector.

 

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