Hocken Collections, University of Otago

About Hocken Collections, University of Otago

The Hocken collects widely in relation to the history and culture of New Zealand, the Pacific and Antarctica, with a special emphasis on the Otago and Southland regions of New Zealand.

The archives and manuscripts collections include the papers of Samuel Marsden and other early missionaries, Edward Shortland, James Hector, Herries Beattie, Charles Brasch, Janet Frame, James K. Baxter, Hone Tuwhare, Roger Hall, Colin McCahon and other writers and artists, the Royal NZ Plunket Society, the NZ Alpine Club, the Anglican and Methodist Churches of Otago and Southland, the Union Steam Ship Company, National Mortgage & Agency Company of New Zealand Ltd, the archives of the University of Otago, J.T. Paul, William Downie Stewart, Michael Cullen and other politicians, soldiers papers, many Otago schools, Otago sporting organisations, some Otago local authorities.

As well as the archives and manuscripts collections, the Hocken collects books, ephemera, posters, newspapers, journals, music, maps, photographs, paintings, drawings and film. In date, they range from the seventeenth century to the present day.

Please note that although we have records for only a small number of collections available through the Community Archive, we hold over 6,000 collections amounting to over 10,000 linear metres of archives and manuscripts. For more detailed description of our holdings we suggest that you search our online catalogue, Hakena, at http://hakena.otago.ac.nz.