Merton, Marsh, Mahy and mountains

Special collections at Christchurch City Libraries

Over the years Christchurch City Libraries has developed some interesting collections of special interest – the Thomas Merton Collection, the Ngaio Marsh Collection, the Margaret Mahy Collection, the Newton Collection, the Butler Collection and the Peace Library.

These collections are of particular interest to scholars and researchers but they can also be viewed by library customers under particular conditions – usually they are available to read in the Research Room of the Aotearoa New Zealand Centre which offers special security to valuable and fragile materials.

A monk called Merton

Thomas Merton (1915 - 1968) was a Trappist monk, widely celebrated around the world for his writings on spirituality and living the monastic life. He never visited Christchurch but had a strong family connection to the place through his father, grandfather and great grandfather who all either taught or studied at Christ’s College. The collection began with donations of his work from two of his aunts, Agnes and Beatrice Merton, who lived in Christchurch. Merton was a prolific writer and the collection also includes pamphlets, biographies and critical works.

Margaret’s magic

Margaret Mahy, (1936 - ) the world renowned writer, has strong links with the library, as before she launched in to a full time writing career, she was the Children’s Librarian at the Central Library. The collection, named in her honour, is a reference collection of New Zealand children's books containing copies of most New Zealand children's books (excluding 'readers') published in the last two decades, as well as many older titles from the turn of the century through to the 1960s and 70s. Of course there is a comprehensive run of Margaret Mahy’s books in the collection including many translations into other languages, reflecting her world wide stature.

Dame a queen of crime

Ngaio Marsh (1895-1982) is one of the “Queens of Crime” from the heyday of traditional British crime writing in the 1940s and 50s. Born and raised in Christchurch, she remains popular with her books still in print. The Ngaio Marsh collection has books by and about Ngaio Marsh and includes translations of most of her works into other languages. The assembling of the collection began in 1959 and many titles were supplied by her agents, Hughes Massie & Co. (British) and Harold Ober Associates (American).

One for the climbers

The Southern Alps can be seen from many parts of Christchurch so it is appropriate that the library is home to the Newton Collection. The bequest of Canon Henry Edward Newton (1873-1961), it includes books, pamphlets and maps, mainly on mountaineering and travel in New Zealand. Canon Newton came from England to be vicar of Ross from 1901 to 1907 and climbed extensively in the Southern Alps then and on a visit in 1935. The collection is held in the Central Library's Aotearoa New Zealand Centre.

Butler’s gift

The Butler collection is a comprehensive collection of material by and about Samuel Butler (1835-1902). Samuel Butler came to Canterbury in 1859 and staked a claim to land at the headwaters of the Rangitata. Calling his station Mesopotamia, he spent three industrious years building up the property, before selling (and doubling his money) and returning to England. He became a successful writer and challenger of the Victorian establishment. His most famous works are Erewhon, Erewhon Revisited and The way of all flesh. The basis of the collection was the gift (or part of it) in 1887 by Butler to Sir Julius von Haast, asking him to place them in whatever public library he thought the most appropriate. O.T.J. Alpers and J.C. Andersen claimed that they later supplied missing titles, obtained from Butler before his death. Alpers added The way of all flesh after Butler's death.

Give peace a chance

The Peace Library is a relatively new collection which reflects the strength of the peace activist movement in Christchurch over many years. The collection of material about the Peace Movement in New Zealand is held in trust by Christchurch City Libraries for the Peace Foundation and the Women's International League for Peace. Archival material is held by the Macmillan Brown Library, University of Canterbury, and other material is held by the Canterbury Museum.

Viewing

All these collections can be found in the Christchurch City Libraries catalogue and viewed through the Aotearoa New Zealand Centre.