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Biography of Kenneth Bigwood

Kenneth V. Bigwood was born in Auckland, New Zealand on April 17, 1920. His first career was in taxidermy, and he began photographing birds after meeting his wife-to-be Jean, who also was interested in birds. He joined the photography team of the National Publicity Studios of Wellington, part of the National Library, soon after they married in 1944. In the 1940s they found another interest, bird song recording. In 1960, they published a record album collection titled A Collection of New Zealand Bird Songs, consisting of three 45-rpm records and a 40-page booklet containing the pictures of the birds recorded. In the 1950s they worked with the National Film Unit on a film titled Legend of Birds, located at offshore bird sanctuaries Little Barrier and Kapiti. During the same decade, they worked with Alfred M. Bailey, director of the Denver Museum of Natural History, now the Denver Museum of Nature & Science. Bailey travelled to Australia during that time on field excursions. In 1960 the Bigwoods left their government employment in Christchurch Parish to travel and photograph throughout New Zealand. In 1981, under work for the National Film Unit, they worked on the film The Birds of the Vernon, capturing photos of the birds at Vernon Lagoon, in Blenheim.

Bigwood died in 1992, his legacy as a wildlife photographer for New Zealand firmly established.

Arrangement of the Papers

This collection is arranged alphabetically by subject.

Scope and Contents of the Collection

This collection contains 1,069 prints, negatives, transparencies and glass plate negatives, in black and white and color, by the renowned New Zealand photographer Kenneth V. Bigwood. The Bigwood collection, taken from the 1940s until his death in 1992, includes photographs of many aspects of life in New Zealand. Bigwood was noted for work photographing the birds of New Zealand using a portable studio and lab in a recreational vehicle which he and his wife Jean drove all around the country. His work was primarily focused on a comprehensive study of New Zealand birds, but also includes scenes of city and rural life, outstanding natural features, sports, ranching and farming, wildlife, Maori life and photographs of museum artifacts and paintings. Many of these photographs were produced for publications, including New Zealand in Colour, New Zealand Maori in Colour, and New Guide to the Birds of the Birds of New Zealand and the Outlying Islands, available at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science Library.

Restrictions

Restrictions on Access

Collection open for research use.

Restrictions on Use

Copyright restrictions may apply. Use with permission of Archivist.

Preferred Citation

Kenneth and Jean Bigwood Photographs, Alfred M. Bailey Library & Archives, Denver Museum of Nature & Science

Acquisition Information

Gift from Mrs. Jean E. Bigwood

Index Terms

These records are indexed under the following headings in the catalog of the Alfred M. Bailey Library & Archives:

Bigwood, Jean.

Birds--New Zealand.

New Zealand--Pictorial works.

Photographers--New Zealand.

Detailed Description of the Collection

IA.BI97  
BIGWOOD COLLECTION   1947-1992

2 boxes