This plan outlines the specific strengths and current collecting priorities for the Archives and Manuscripts collection held by Auckland Council Libraries.

About the collection

Definitions

• Manuscript: All of the papers in any format which together make up a personal or family collection.
• Archive: All of the records in any format created by an organisation, society, business or group in the course of its activity, selected for permanent retention on the basis of their historical, evidentiary or research value.
• Realia: Physical objects and material from everyday life (e.g. clothing, plaques, utensils, sports cups).
• Documentary heritage: Recorded history in any format, from papyrus scrolls and clay tablets to film, sound recordings and digital files.
  

History and formation

The Archives and Manuscripts collection has a complex history, incorporating the foundational collection of 19th century manuscripts and letters donated by Sir George Grey and all donations and purchases since that time. These include the following key additions:

• The archives and manuscripts of the Old Colonists’ Museum after its disestablishment in 1969.
  
• The community archives of the former Waitākere, North Shore, Franklin and Manukau Libraries after local body amalgamation in 2010 established the present Auckland Council.
  

Geographic coverage

The geographic scope of collecting is Tāmaki Makaurau / Auckland. This is defined by the current Auckland Council boundaries, from Rodney to Franklin. For 19th century material the geographic scope uses the former Auckland Provincial boundaries, from Northland to Taupō.

Formats

Acquisitions can include a range of analogue and digital formats besides text-based documents, including some photographic and audiovisual material. These formats may remain with the original archive or manuscript or be accessioned into the Photographs or Oral History and Sound collections. This is determined in consultation with the relevant curators. Currently, the Archive and Manuscript collection is primarily paper-based with some digital content, but this is expected to change rapidly as more predominantly digital acquisitions are received.

Reproductions are only accepted if they are an integral part of an archive or manuscript.

Collection strengths

• 19th century manuscripts and correspondence in te reo Māori: includes waiata, whakapapa, histories, vocabularies, grammars, legends and religious material. Builds on the Grey Collection Māori Manuscripts and Ngā Reta Maori.
• 19th century political, social and economic history of Tāmaki Makaurau and the Auckland province: includes missionary, commercial and scientific activity, land transactions and early governance. Builds on the Grey New Zealand Manuscripts and New Zealand Letters.
• Auckland writers.
• Theatre and dance in Auckland.
• Sports and leisure in Auckland.
• Social justice and environmental action groups in Auckland.
• Iconic Auckland-based companies, entrepreneurs and local businesses.
• Records of Christian churches in Auckland.
• Personal papers of Aucklanders and their families.

Collecting priorities

Ongoing priorities

Acquisitions supporting our areas of strength:

• 19th century manuscripts in te reo Māori relating to northern Aotearoa / New Zealand (Northland to Taupō).
  
• 19th century political, social, and economic history of northern Aotearoa / New Zealand (Northland to Taupō), with a focus on school curriculum subjects as they relate to Tāmaki Makaurau.
  
• Māori response to European arrival and settlement.
  
• Māori economy and trade networks.
  
• Colonial power in the Pacific (including NZ in Samoa).
  
• Auckland-based social justice and environmental action groups.
  
• Auckland writers, with a focus on under-represented communities and emerging authors.
  
• Theatre and dance in Auckland, with a focus on costume and set design, Kapa Haka and Pasifika performance groups.

Emerging priorities

Acquisitions covering gaps and/or providing balance to the collection:

• Pasifika and migrant communities and organisations in Auckland.
  
• LGBTQIA+ communities and organisations in Auckland.
  
• Broadcast media - TV, radio, streaming services, Māori TV.
  
• Groups representing alternative faith-based perspectives to mainstream Christianity.
  
• Publishing and private presses.
  
• Rural communities in Tāmaki Makaurau.
  

Selectively collected

Subject areas that are well-represented in the collection are considered on an individual basis. This includes:

• Records of iconic companies, entrepreneurs and local businesses.
  
• Administrative records of disestablished service and social clubs.
  
• Administrative records of sports and leisure clubs.
  
• Administrative records of private schools and hospitals.
  
• Presbyterian church records (there is no central denominational archive for these).
  
• Women's groups.

Stop collecting

These are areas in which we may have previously collected, but are no longer collecting:

• Probus and U3A records (still active, already well represented in the collection).
  
• Church records of Anglican, Catholic and Methodist denominations.
  
• Donations consisting primarily/exclusively of photocopied material and/or loose clippings.
  
• Records and papers where copyright and/or privacy restrictions significantly limit research access (for example, theatre production files).

Exclusions

Subject exclusions

Acquisition considers the collection policies of other national and Auckland-based collecting institutions and referrals are made as appropriate:

Format exclusions

These formats are not collected:

• Copies of original material held in other institutions or elsewhere in Auckland Libraries.
  
• Editions of newspapers already held in Heritage Collections serials.
  
• Newspaper clippings (unless accepted by the curator as an integral part of a larger documentary archive).
  
• Realia (unless accepted by the curator as an integral part of a larger documentary archive).
  
• Active records of an organisation, including financial records from the last seven years (as they must be legally retained by the organisation).
  
• Silver nitrate film (presents a fire hazard; needs specialist handling and management).
  
• Local history material with no provenance, attribution or referencing of sources.
  

Want to discuss a research query or donation?

Specialist staff are available to assist you with research questions or potential donation of materials. 

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