User:Galtm

Rollo Arnold
Rollo Davis Arnold (24 Jan 1926- 24 Nov 1998) was a leading New Zealand historian, known for his work on social history, educational history and the history of migration to New Zealand in the nineteenth century. He was Professor of Education at Victoria University of Wellington.

Born in Richmond, Nelson, Arnold was brought up in Korere, a small settlement between Nelson and Murchison. Its remoteness meant he attended a one-roomed primary school and his secondary schooling was done by mail through the New Zealand Correspondence school. He attended Christchurch Teachers’ College in 1943-44, and graduated with a MA (in English) from Canterbury University in 1949 and an MA (in history) from Melbourne University in 1953. He worked as a secondary teacher before being appointed lecturer at Palmerston North Teachers’ College. During this time he authored two children’s book, Bracken Block and The Freedom of Ariki.

In 1965 Arnold was appointed Senior Lecturer at Victoria University and he became Professor of Education in 1977. He was made Emeritus Professor on his retirement in 1987.

Arnold's research on nineteenth century social and educational history resulted in many academic articles and three books, published by Victoria University Press, which have become classics: The Farthest Promised Land (on migration to New Zealand), New Zealand’s Burning  (on early New Zealand social history) and Settler Kaponga  (the process of settlement in New Zealand as seen through the experience of one community, Kaponga in Taranaki.) He also extensively outside of the academic community, notably in genealogy and regional history society magazines, because of the demand for information on the origins of New Zealand’s migrants.

In 1955, Arnold married Betty (Elizabeth) Burrows, who assisted him in his historical research, as is noted on his final book. They had three daughters and one son.

In addition to his historical research, Arnold played a leading role in the Presbyterian Church of New Zealand, including leading the petition by the New Zealand Association of Presbyterian Layman in the aftermath of the Geering heresy trial and being a member of the Doctrine Committee for many years.