Nelson Institute

The Nelson Literary & Scientific Institution was formed at a meeting of the Officers on board the "Whitby" on 17 May 1841, on their way to Nelson. The first premises were opened in September 1842 on part of town acre 445, Trafalgar Street (site occupied by Eelco's in 2002). Land in Hardy Street was granted for a site in Hardy Street in 1859. A new Institute building was opened in 1911 on the same site after the first building was destroyed by fire 6 years earlier. In 1965, the Nelson Institute was dissolved. The Nelson City Council took over all the assets of Nelson Public Library. The Nelson Provincial Museum Trust Board took over the running of the museum (1963).

The records are comprised of bank books, time and wages books, subscription ticket books, an annual holiday leave book, correspondence, receipts and account books. Also included are Cecil Nash's tobacco industry newspaper cuttings and a scrapbook of Nelson history articles.

Records