What do we collect?
Our collecting activities are primarily oriented towards supporting the research needs of University of Canterbury staff and students, but as part of this goal we also aim to preserve records of historical significance to the wider community.
The Macmillan Brown Library collections include art, documentary archives, photographs, architectural drawings, rare books, modern fine print and published collections. The published and print collections focus on Te Ao Māori, the Pacific and Aotearoa. The art and archival collections focus on materials about and from Canterbury Waitaha and West Coast Poutini regions.
What types of archival records are we interested in?
We want to preserve unique and original records that reflect the core activities and interests of the donor.
For an organisation, club or business the kinds of records we collect may include minute books, correspondence files, financial papers, reports, and classified and subject files.
For a person or a family, the kind of material in which we may be interested includes personal papers and correspondence, diaries and journals, family albums, original memoirs/scrapbooks, and manuscripts.
Please note that the following kinds of material are not normally placed in the archives: published works held in other repositories, multiple copies of a single item, or objects and memorabilia.
If you are in any doubt as to whether your papers are worthy of permanent preservation, please contact the Archivist.
Restrictions on sensitive material
If you have material that is sensitive or personal in nature, we are able to restrict access to it on your behalf. You may ask for written permission to be obtained from you or your descendants before a researcher can view an item or we can place an access ban on the material for a specified time.
Continuing access for donors
The Macmillan Brown Library acknowledges the special relationship Donors have to the records they give to our care. Donors will have ongoing permanent access to their papers during normal Macmillan Brown Library opening hours.
Bequests
If you are considering making a bequest, do talk with us first to ensure that your will is worded in a way that achieves exactly what you intended, and matches the needs of the University and its students.
For more assistance with Bequests, please contact:
University of Canterbury Foundation
Private Bag 4800
Christchurch, New Zealand
Telephone: +64 3 369 3839
Email: ucfoundation@canterbury.ac.nz
