Lantern slides

This lantern slide is among a larger collection that (possibly) belonged to Charles Foweraker, former Head of the School of Forestry and Lecturer in Biology, during his years teaching at Canterbury College (1921-1951). During this time, lantern slides were widely used in society (from entertainment to education) as they were relatively inexpensive and could project anything from hand-drawn illustrations to photographs. This proved particularly effective as a teaching method for subjects that relied heavily on visual aids. Fortunately for Canterbury College, or more specifically, the Department of Geography and School of Forestry, Foweraker was both an enthusiastic academic and skilled photographer. This allowed him to repurpose his many photographs from field work and research into lantern slides and use them as a teaching and learning resource for his students.

Foweraker’s dedication to his students’ education led to regular field trips across the South Island and an emphasis on field-based learning. This particular collection of lantern slides captures the region of Cass in Arthurs Pass during the early-twentieth century. This site is home to the University’s oldest field station, which also happens to have been the very first university field station in New Zealand. In 1914, the field station was opened to students and staff, complete with lodging and research facilities. In the 110 years since, Cass has seen students from botany to philosophy find value in the site. The region has also proven to be a captivating subject for artists (most notably, Rita Angus, who studied art at Canterbury College from 1921-1933).