The historian John Beaglehole stands in front of his library of books on the occasion of being appointed a CMG (Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George) in the 1958 Queen's Birthday honours. Beaglehole had made his name as a historian of Pacific exploration and editor of James Cook's journals. But he had always played a wider role as an intellectual and critic of society. He worked closely with Internal Affairs Undersecretary Joe Heenan in overseeing the centennial publications, was an enthusiastic supporter of modern New Zealand art and spoke out in support of civil liberties on a number of occasions.