Arthur McKee: Pioneer, Entrepreneur, Man of Vision

Jan Studholme is a granddaughter of Arthur McKee, and although she never knew him, she was always fascinated by his varied careers. These took him from being a journalist in Liverpool, England, to becoming a printer and publisher in Wellington, New Zealand, and ultimately, an orchard pioneer in Tasman-Moutere in Nelson.

Thanks to her maternal grandmother, Jan developed a keen interest in history, which led to a BA in history and since then, an all-consuming passion for the subject. This century, a cousin shared her collection of family memorabilia with the wider family, which has provided the basis for Arthur McKee: Pioneer, Entrepreneur, Man of Vision.

Using quotes from letters Arthur or his sons wrote have brought alive his character, those of his children, and the times in which they lived. This book has been written with the wider McKee family in mind, as Jan realises that its younger members have little idea how they are related or of the actual achievements of their grandfather, great-grandfather or great-great-grandfather Arthur.

Given his very humble early years and his family’s poverty, Arthur's achievements are indeed remarkable.