More news for this week
Valuable Auckland treasures get fitting new title
Special Collections gets new name: Mayor of Auckland city, Hon.
John Banks browsing pieces from the Herman Schmidt exhibition, which forms
part of the Sir George Grey Special Collections.
From City Scene, published on 16 August, 2009.
Auckland City Libraries' special collections - a priceless
set of heritage items, books, manuscripts and maps - have received a new name.
The collections are now called the Sir George Grey Special
Collections: Ta Hori Kerei - Nga kohinga taonga whakahirahira.
The change of name acknowledges the contributions of Sir
Grey, one of the country's most important historical figures, who was twice
Governor of
New Zealand. The 1882 donation of his personal library to the city - a
collection of over 14,000 items - forms the basis of the special collections.
This gift was instrumental in the creation and development
of free public libraries in the city. Over time, the collections have expanded
with the addition
of carefully selected heritage items and gifts from other prominent collectors.
"Sir George Grey is one of the most significant figures in
the development of this city," says Mayor of Auckland city, Hon. John Banks
(pictured).
"Without his most generous contribution, previous
generations wouldn't have had the same access to public libraries, and our city
wouldn't have access to such precious treasures. The renaming acknowledges his
immense influence on the special collections - it is a most fitting tribute."
Sir George Grey: One of the most significant figures in the
development of Auckland city.
Photograph: Alexander Turnbull Library
In addition to the new name, there are steps under way to
improve how the collections are preserved, with an upgrade of the fire
suppression system that protects the works.
While the collections are moved out in preparation for the
installation they will not be available for viewing (from 9 October to 23
November), although online access to the databases and virtual exhibitions
will continue.
The last special collections exhibition - a celebration of
the life and work of
William Shakespeare - ran from March
to May and attracted over 10,000 visitors. The current exhibition, which details
the work of Auckland portrait photographer Herman Schmidt, is running at the
Central City Library until 27 September.
Pieces of history
Some of the key items in the
Sir George Grey Special Collections include:
- original books by Captain James Cook detailing his
journeys
- a collection of letters from Charles Darwin to Grey
- medieval "illuminated manuscripts" - rare, ornately
decorated documents - from the 12th century onwards
- a rare Shakespeare "first folio" - a 17th century
collection of his plays, the only one in New Zealand and one of only 228
remaining in the world
- the original hand-written manuscript of God Defend New
Zealand.
Historical treasures: The original hand-written manuscript of God
Defend New Zealand forms part of the newly renamed Sir George Grey Special
Collections.
