Maurice Allward's collection

The following note from Herb Ford appeared on Friends of Pitcairn on 13th March, 2013:


"It is with joyful heart but tearful eye that I tell you we have just received here at the Pitcairn Islands Study Center six large boxes containing the last part of the wonderful Bounty/Pitcairn Collection of the late Maurice Allward.  The gift of Maurice’s collection to the Study Center comes from Joy Allward, Maurice’s beloved wife.

"There are many rarities among the many items received, but two are especially noteworthy:  One is several  locks of hair, said to be from seven of the Bounty mutineers (and Maurice - once he had obtained this rare find – went to great length to try to authenticate it).  The other is the authenticated  original draft of John Adams’ prayer.

"One of my favorite items in Mrs. Allward’s gift is a scale made of two coconut halves.  It is a scale quite possibly similar to the little scale Bligh used to weigh out rations to the loyalists with him during that long voyage of Bounty’s launch across those thousands of miles of the Pacific Ocean after the mutiny.

"It is my understand that two members of the Pitcairn Islands Study Group, United Kingdom Chapter – John O'Conner and Roger Bedingfield – assisted Mrs. Allward in the careful packing of all the items in the boxes, and it was a careful packing they did too – no major damage of any kind on arrival; I am most grateful to these two gentlemen for their help.

"So the worth, the value of the Pitcairn Islands Study Center to all its future users has increased significantly through this addition of the large, diverse Maurice Allward Bounty/Pitcairn Collection.  For this gift we say a heartfelt “Thank you” to Mrs. Allward, and to the memory of the great good friend of Pitcairn Island, Maurice Allward!  

"An added note may be of interest to some:  On March 21, Dr. Tillman Nechtman of Skidmore College in New York, will address the faculty of Pacific Union College, on the research value he finds in the Pitcairn Islands Study Center, and the need for faculty enrichment through research – personal enrichment, institutional enrichment, and the enrichment of society.  Dr. Nechtman was one of the speakers at the 2012 Bounty-Pitcairn Conference last August, and his bent toward research made him a natural choice to speak at this faculty meeting which will highlight the value of the Pitcairn Islands Study Center to Pacific Union College and to researchers everywhere.

Fair winds to all.
Herb
Pitcairnstudycenter.org"