Documentary heritage
Special Collections holds a wealth of documentary heritage material, including rare books, manuscripts, archives and more.
These holdings have been acquired by the library through generous donations and bequests, and purchase and transfer, since the University was established in 1883.
Manuscripts and archives
Search across all archives or through the individual repositories below.
Special Collections Manuscripts and Archives
Extensive archival collections including literary papers, records of activist groups and political parties, and University-related material such as personal papers of academics and alumni, and records of student clubs and societies.
Western Pacific Archives
The internationally significant Western Pacific Archives contains official British colonial records for the region.
It covers the period 1877-1978 and includes records relating to Tonga, Vanuatu, Solomon Islands, Tuvalu and Kiribati.
Architecture Archive
Drawings and records of prominent architects, particularly for the Auckland region, and material relating to the national development of town planning.
Supplemented by the Sheppard Collection of clippings relating to architects who practised in Aotearoa; and the Measured Drawings Collection, mostly of New Zealand buildings, by University of Auckland architecture students.
Fine Arts Archives
Fine Arts archives relating mainly to Elam School of Fine Arts students and staff, and the wider Auckland art scene over many decades.
These are supported by a large ephemera collection of artist and gallery files.
Published collections
Explore the named and general collections of rare books and other published items.
New Zealand Glass Case and New Zealand Pamphlets
Aotearoa and Pacific-related works from the 18th century onwards, with strengths in Māori and Pacific material, literature, fine arts, architecture, politics, University history, and more.
Te Kohinga o Tūtahi Tonu
Ngā kōrero e pā ana ki te whakarauoratanga i te reo Māori me te mātauranga Māori mai i te 1970 ki te 2000.
Books, reports and classroom resources relating to Māori language revitalisation and Māori education, 1970-2000.
Some of the collection is available online. View these items.
Artists’ Books and NZ Illustrators Collection
Artists’ Books, including many made by Elam School of Fine Arts alumni and staff.
The NZ Illustrators Collection contains works from the 1890s-1990s illustrated by New Zealand artists, and was originally formed by bookseller Rowan Gibbs.
Glass Case
Rare books and fine printing from the 15th century onwards covering diverse subjects and in multiple languages.
Includes formed collections of works by Thomas Hardy and William Butler Yeats.
Hugh Price and Betty Gilderdale Collections
The Hugh Price Collection of historic school textbooks and readers were donated in 2001 by publisher Hugh Price.
The Gilderdale Collection features local children's books largely from the 1970s-1990s, donated in 2000 by educator and author Betty Gilderdale.
Architecture Historical and Folio Collections
The Historical Collection contains architecture monographs from the 17th to 20th centuries.
The Folio Collection of large format and mostly 19th century volumes canvases key styles, notable buildings and technical documentation.
Music Glass Case and AV Collection
The Music Glass Case contains mainly pre-1850 scores and books, more modern rare and first edition scores, and facsimiles, plus local song sheets, ca. 1920s-1960s.
Music AV material includes 78s, vinyl and CDs of local and international works.
Asian Languages Collection
Chinese old and rare books from the 17th-20th centuries, spanning philosophy, history, religions, literature, drama, and more.
Also rare Japanese titles.
Philson Historical Collection
Rare books published before 1900 covering medical science and practice, including anatomy, gynaecology, physiology, psychology, pharmacology and surgery.
The post-1900 Philson Historical Collection is held by Te Herenga Hauora | Philson Library.
Paterson Collection
Books and journals on biblical studies, classics and ancient history, bequeathed in 1933 by Classics Professor Alfred C. Paterson.
Forder collection
Mainly 19th and 20th century mathematical texts donated in 1974 by Mathematics Professor Henry G. Forder.
Marylyn Mayo Rare Book Room
The Marylyn Mayo Rare Book Room in Te Herenga Ture | Davis Law Library features two rooms of rare and historical books, including a substantial collection of Nominate Reporters. A reading room is attached, which contains facsimile reprints of legal classics. The collection also houses publications by members of the Faculty of Law, along with the archive collections of Peter Mahon and Martyn Finlay.
Search the Catalogue and contact Te Herenga Ture | Davis Law Library
Microtexts
Filmed copies of newspapers, archives and other material. Key resources include Māori Land Court Minute Books and the Pacific Manuscripts Bureau series. For use in the Microtexts room.