Library & Archives

The Library is home to rare books, manuscripts, diaries, photographs, maps, newspapers and archives.

Sir Donald Maclean's complete collection of ethnology, social history and valuable archives documenting Napier's early history was gifted to the newly-built Napier Art Gallery & Museum in 1936.

These very valuable historical documents and papers were, and continue to be, of primary importance to the Hawke's Bay region and were the foundation for the archival collection.

The Library's holdings of archives, manuscripts, texts, maps and photographs grew rapidly since that first donation in 1936. Further personal collections of books and archival material were donated by the Carnegie Corporation, J D Ormond, Dr Harold Berry and Wiremu Prentice among many others. The library and archival collection was further strengthened in 1946 with the acquisition of an 800 book collection belonging to Russell Duncan, a renowned Napier historian.

The archival collection has long been recognised as being of national importance, containing such wonderful taonga as Te Kooti's Prayer Book, the renowned daguerrotype of William Colenso photographed in 1858, and the Colenso ambrotype taken in 1860.

Berry Historical Library - Now Closed to the Public

In order to prepare our collections for the redevelopment the library will be closed to the public from Monday 28 June 2010 and will not be able to respond to enquiries.

There will also be a moratorium on donations to the archive and collection until April 2011.

We thank you for your understanding.

For more information: E-mail Gail Pope