Jim Wilson

James Oakley Wilson (16 February 1915 – 17 November 2001) was a New Zealand public servant who was a librarian. He was chief librarian of the General Assembly Library from 1955 to 1971, and deputy national librarian from 1971 to 1972. During World War Two, he was a decorated lieutenant, awarded a Distinguished Service Cross for directing the attack from that sank Italian submarine Leonardo da Vinci.

Early life Wilson was born in Wellington on 16 February 1915. His parents were Charles Stuart Wilson and Florence Emily Wilson . He attended Berhampore School and Wellington College. He graduated from Victoria University College in 1951 with a Master of Commerce degree.

Early career

After leaving school, Wilson was employed by Wellington Public Library for two years as assistant librarian. He then took a role with the General Assembly Library, where he remained from 1934 to 1941.

War service Wilson was a member of the Royal New Zealand Naval Volunteer Reserve. He joined in July 1941, and was on loan to the Royal Navy from 1941 to 1946 with the eventual rank of lieutenant. The Italian submarine Leonardo da Vinci was intercepted by the destroyer and the frigate on 23 May 1943. The submarine was subjected to an intense depth charge attack and sunk. Wilson directed the attack on HMS Ness and later that year was awarded a Distinguished Service Cross for his role in the attack. After his navy service, Wilson rejoined the General Assembly Library, initially as chief of the reference section. When the chief parliamentary librarian, Guy Scholefield, retired in March 1948, this triggered a series of promotions and Wilson became assistant chief librarian.

Scholefield's successor, William Wauchop, retired at the end of 1954. Wilson was the chief parliamentary librarian, either from late 1954

A March 2000 oral history interview with Wilson, part of the General Assembly Library oral history project, is held by the National Library of New Zealand.

Memberships In 1934, Wilson became an associate of the Library Association (UK). He was elected fellow of the New Zealand Library Association in 1971. He was on the council of the New Zealand Library Association from 1958 to 1972, including serving as its president in 1971–72. He was an executive member of the New Zealand Book Council from 1972 to 1988, and president from 1981 to 1984. From 1990, he was on the executive of the Government Superannuitants' Association. In 1960, Wilson published A finding list of British parliamentary papers relating to New Zealand, 1817–1900.

Family and death Wilson was married twice. In 1946, he married Joan Whittaker, who was a doctor in the British Army. They had three daughters. His wife died in 1961 from cancer. In 1975, he married Joyce Reynolds, the Hutt City librarian.

Wilson died on 17 November 2001 in Wellington.