John Robert Hanna (abt. 1850 - abt. 1915)

Born about 1850 in Ireland

Husband of Alice Elizabeth (Williamson) Hanna — married 1879 in New Zealand

Descendants

Died about 1915 at about age 65 in New Zealand

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Biography

John was born about 1850.^[1] He passed away about 1915 aged 65 years old.

Mentioned in The Cyclopedia of New Zealand (1902) Hanna, John Robert, Photographer, Queen Street, Auckland. Telephone 351. Mr. Hanna was born in Ireland, and arrived in New Zealand thirty-five years ago. He began work in his profession with Mr. R. H. Bartlett, of Auckland, whose business he subsequently managed for some time. For ten years after leaving Mr. Bartlett he was a member of the firm of Messrs Hemus and Hanna, and managed the business. In 1885 the firm was dissolved by mutual consent, and Mr. Hanna bought the business which was established by the late Mr. Crombie in 1855, and is the oldest in Auckland. The building is of brick, three stories in height, and has about 2500 square feet of floor space. A handsome vestibule, adorned with choice specimens of photographie art, leads to the reception room on the first floor. The studio, 16 feet by 40 feet, was built from Mr. Hanna's own designs, and is admirably adapted for the purpose. The light is excellent, as the studio is glazed on both sides to within a few inches of the floor, and the appointments are elegant, the background scenery having been specially imported. Mr. Hanna's work is noted for excellence in quality, tone, and finish, and at the American Photographic Artists' Convention, in Washington, he secured a bronze medal in the foreign section. The “Photogram,” of May, 1894, devoted three pages to Mr. Hanna, his studio, and his work, in consequence of a packet of his photograms having been received in London. These were so beautiful that they were shown to the Photographic Club, and to the London and Provincial Photographic Association. The verdict was that no man in Britain was doing better all round portraiture, and Mr. Thomas Fall, the president of the Association, wrote to say that he had never seen such lovely work. Mr. Hanna employs seven assistants, his portraits go all over the world, and he recently completed for a London gentleman an order for 300. His trade mark is an autograph “Hanna.” There used to be on view in the vestibule of Mr. Hanna's studio a very fine shield, which contained the portraits of over 160 Aucklanders, deemed worthy of portraiture in connection with the district's jubilee in 1892. It is now in the Free Library, and will repay inspection as a specimen of fine photographic art, and as a collection of colonial and provincial worthies. Mr. Hanna has been thirty-five years in Auckland, and as a Freemason he is Provincial Grand Secretary for New Zealand under the Irish Constitution.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 0, 13 April 1915 The death is reported from Auckland, at the age of 66, of Mr J. R. Hanna, formerly a well-known photographer of that city, and member of the once well-known firm of Hemus and Hanna. The deceased gentleman, who was a prominent Freemason, wasa brother of Mr S. D. Hanna, wellknown in engineering circles, Mr A. Hanna, solicitor, and Mr J. C. Hanna. of the New Zealand Insurance Company's staff.

Sources

1. ↑ based on age at death

• Death - Births, Deaths & Marriages New Zealand Death cert 1915/2523
  • Name John Robert Hanna
  • Age at death 65Y