A Glimpse into the Past

When Barbara reached out hoping to learn more about her grandmother Maggie, who had lived at PSO’s Grants Braes/Glendinning Homes in the early 1900s, we weren’t sure we’d find anything. Many records were sadly destroyed by previous staff and are now lost. One of the surviving items is a diary kept by Sister Mary McQueen. The diary covers the years 1907 – 1922, and much to our delight, we uncovered a wealth of detail – school achievements, daily life, and even a photo believed to be Maggie – giving a beautiful insight into Maggie, a kind, caring and academic girl who was cherished by her friends and the Sisters at the home. What we could provide has given Barbara, and her family, new information about their history that was previously unknown to them.

See below for Barbara’s story which she has kindly agreed to share

My name is Barbara Williamson, and my journey into ancestry began with a simple yet profound question from my grandson. For a school project, he needed information spanning five generations back. While I could easily trace my mother’s lineage, I had to admit that I knew little about my father’s family history.

Since retiring, I have made it my mission to dive into the histories of past generations, piecing together their stories for future generations. This journey led me to Presbyterian Support Otago and, ultimately, being able to complete the story of my grandmother, Maggie (Margaret Hill), and her mother, Alice Hill.

Alice passed away far too young, at 40, leaving behind three young children. Her eldest (12) and youngest (8) were both adopted after her passing, as their father had long been absent.
This left me with the lingering question: what happened to my grandmother, Maggie (then aged 10). Searching through records at the Dunedin Library, I discovered that in 1912, Maggie might be connected to the Glendinning Home.

I reached out to Presbyterian Support Otago and much to my amazement, they responded, sending me entries from Sister Mary McQueen’s diaries from 1907 to 1917. And there, in black and white, was the information I had so desperately sought about my grandmother, Maggie.

I took them up on their offer to see the diaries for myself, spending a couple of hours absorbing the handwritten accounts that provided clarity, insight, and—most importantly—relief. Among the valuable discoveries was a photograph, which I strongly believe depicts my grandmother.
This discovery underscores the profound value of historical documents. These fragile pieces of paper – wills, school records, diaries – hold the stories of real people and their history. Without them, the past can fade into obscurity, leaving unanswered questions and lost connections.

My search is far from over, but through every buried clue, I am uncovering a legacy that might otherwise have been forgotten. I hope my journey inspires others to dig into their own histories, to preserve the records of their ancestors, and to safeguard the memories that shape our collective past.

Banner image: Some of the 2000 visitors at the official opening of the Presbyterian childrens home at Grants Braes (Otago Witness 25 November 1908) 

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