Massey University Archives

Massey University Archives (Māori: Ā Te Kunenga tukunga kōrero) is an academic archive and the official repository for the records of Massey University and its predecessor institutions, including Massey Agricultural College, Wellington Polytechnic, Palmerston North University College, and Palmerston North College of Education. The archives also house collections from university-affiliated institutions and include records relating to New Zealand individuals, businesses, and community, cultural, and professional organisations.^[1]

The establishment of the Massey University Archives dates to 1984 when a committee was appointed to establish a university archive by finding a suitable space, assembling and organising archival material and appointing an archivist. At the start of 1986 the university archives opened its doors to researchers.^[2]

This marked the culmination of a decades-long effort by the university library and the Academic Board of the university to establish an archive. The university's golden jubilee in 1977 served as a key motivator for consolidating its historical materials, improving access to them, and safeguarding against the risk of losing valuable records. As the jubilee approached, it became increasingly clear that an archive repository was essential for this purpose.^[3]

During its first couple of decades the archives was served by part-time and contract staff.^[4] The first full-time university archivist was appointed in 2006. In 2013 the first permanent archives assistant was appointed. A dairy records archivist was added to the staff of the university archives after the Dairy Records Archives became part of the university archives. In 2018 the first assistant archivist joined the staff.^[5][6] The university archives is administered by the Massey University Library.

The University Archives’ first home was a room in the basement of the Old Main Building, now called the Sir Geoffrey Peren Building. Adjacent rooms were added to the archives over time. In August 2012 the University Archives was moved across the campus to a purposefully equipped space in the Practical Teaching Complex. This space was officially opened by the university’s Vice-Chancellor Steve Maharey on 18 February 2013. It contains the Archives’ reading room, staff offices and storerooms.^[7][8]

The collections of the university archives comprise more than 2100 linear meters and are grouped in two parts, the institutional archive of the university and the collecting archive.^[5]

The institutional archives contains the archives of the university and its antecedent institutions and encompasses the period from the 1880s to the present.^[9] These collections cover:

• Massey University (1964–present)
• Massey University College of Manawatu (1963)
• Massey Agricultural College (1926-1962)
• Palmerston North University College (1960-1962)
• Palmerston North College of Education (1956-1996) , and
• Wellington Polytechnic (1886-1999)

In addition, it contains archival material with research value of affiliated bodies, such as the students’ associations and clubs, and staff, students, alumni and benefactors of the university.

The collecting archive, called the New Zealand Institutions (NZI) collection, covers the period from the 1840s to the present. It consists of archival material collected from New Zealand individuals, businesses and professional, cultural and community organisations. This material will generally have broad connections with Massey University and the subject areas it teaches and researches. The most substantial part of the NZI collection is the Dairy Records Archive, which is New Zealand’s most extensive collection of records relating to the dairy industry and farming sector.^[10]

Among the many and varied collections held by Massey University Archives are:

• Donkey and Mule Society of New Zealand
• Dr. Sir Alan Stewart Collection
• Federation des Alliances Françaises de Nouvelle-Zélande Incorporated
• Eric Warr Collection
• James Skerman Collection
• John Whitelock Collection
• L.C. (Len) Bayliss Collection
• Manawatu Co-operative Dairy Company Limited
• Massey University Drama Society
• Massey University Football Club
• Massey University Students’ Association (MUSA)
• Massey University Students’ Association Federation
• Mosen Dairy Farm Diaries
• New Zealand Rhododendron Association
• New Zealand Wheatgrowers’ Co-operative Association Limited
• New Zealand Wool Board
• Prof. Glynnis M. Cropp Collection
• Prof. Michael Roche Collection
• Prof. Sir Geoffrey S. Peren Collection
• Te Rehunga (place & district)
• Veterinary Services Council

The formats of physical and digital materials held include records, photographs, publications, films and other audiovisual formats, architectural drawings and site plans, and museum objects.^[11]

• Official website
• Tāmiro, online collections platform