Nancy Bannick, the Hawai‘i editor for Sunset Magazine in the 1960s-1970s, traveled the Islands and around the Pacific taking photographs of people, places and events with a particular focus on scenic, historic, cultural and natural resources. She was a charter member of Historic Hawai‘i Foundation and extremely active in the arts and cultural organizations in Honolulu.
The estate of Nancy Bannick donated a unique collection of photographs, slide transparencies and photo negatives with over 500 images of places and people in Hawai‘i and the Pacific Islands to HHF in 2008. At the time, the executors first offered the images to local archives, but none of the public archives were in a position to receive the collection. Historic Hawai‘i Foundation agreed to accept the files that would otherwise have been discarded.
HHF recently donated the collection to the Hawai‘i State Archives.
“Although HHF has some capacity to care for archival collections, it is not the organization’s core competency or purpose,” said Kiersten Faulkner, HHF executive director. “We decided to accept the images as important records that would otherwise be lost, with the intention to transfer them to an appropriate long-term caretaker when one could be identified. We are pleased that State Archives is now in a position to accept the donation.”
Bannick served as an inspirational role model to volunteers for over 50 years until her passing in February 2008. She was known for her steadfast fight to preserve Honolulu’s historic Chinatown, the Waikīkī War Memorial Natatorium and Kapi‘olani Park. Bannick was also a life-long champion of the arts in Hawai‘i, and was a dedicated member of the boards of directors for the Honolulu Symphony, Chamber Music Hawai‘i and Hawai‘i Public Radio.
During her lifetime, Bannick donated photographs and other items to the State Archives. After her passing, Bannick’s estate executors told Historic Hawai‘i Foundation that she wished the remaining images to be archived and made available for research, public education and advocacy for historic preservation.
HHF donation agreement with the Archives states that the collection will be integrated with the Archives’ existing Nancy Bannick Collection. After the accessioning process is complete, the materials will be made available to the public for research or other appropriate use. State Archives is in the process of conducting a thorough inventory and documentation of each item. The archivists also plan to digitize the slides and other images to help promote access and use.