XML EAD edition
Former NRAM Reference Y40
A citation of manuscript material should contain in the following order: The full name of the library The name of the collection The item or series reference
e.g. J C Beaglehole Room, Victoria University of Wellington Library, Papers of Alistair Te Ariki Campbell, Item reference cama00085.
Alistair Te Ariki Campbell was born in the Cook Islands, the son of New Zealander Jock Campbell and Teu (nee Bosini) of Penrhyn. Following the untimely deaths of his parents, he and his siblings were sent to their father's family in New Zealand and eventually to an orphanage in Dunedin. He was educated at Otago Boys' High School and then at Victoria University College, graduating B.A. in 1953; he then attended Wellington Teachers' College. As a student in Wellington he boarded at Weir House and wrote for various student publications.
Alistair Campbell lived and worked in Wellington thereafter, including as an Editor for the Department of Education's
Alistair Te Ariki Campbell's published work includes seventeen collections of poems, four novels, two plays, a children's story, and an autobiography. His poetry has been set to music a number of times. He has published with a number of presses including Pegasus, Reed, Pemmican, Hazard, Oxford University Press, HeadworX, and his own Te Kotare Press, which he set up c1980.
Among his many friends are poets from the 1950s 'Wellington Group', and among his many awards are those of Writer's Fellow at Victoria University in 1992, and an Honorary Doctor of Literature degree (D.Litt.) from Victoria University of Wellington in 1999. He won the NZ Book Award for Poetry in 1982 with his 'Collected Poems'. In 2005, he was awarded both an ONZM in the New Years Honours list, and the Prime Minister's Award for Literary Achievement in Poetry.
His literary archives have been collected by Victoria University since 1993, and are held as taonga in the Library's J. C. Beaglehole Room. Most of his archives for the period prior to 1993 are held at the Alexander Turnbull Library.
Commentaries on Campbell's poetry are included in 'The Oxford Companion to New Zealand Literature' ed. Roger Robinson and Nelson Wattie, (1998) which is online at http://www.bookcouncil.org.nz/writers/campbella.html, and on the New Zealand Book Council website at http://www.bookcouncil.org.nz/writers/campbella.html.
Alistair Te Ariki Campbell's most recent book,
All text and images are copyright to Victoria University of Wellington. Enquiries for re-use should be made in the first instance to the J C Beaglehole Room, VUW Library.
The donor has stipulated that, until 2015 or his death, the collection may only be used by approved researchers. Researchers should contact the University Librarian in the first instance.
Once access has been approved, the J C Beaglehole Room welcomes all researchers to use its collections. Rules and procedures will be explained by Library staff.
The papers held by Victoria University of Wellington Library consist of literary archives selected and sent to the Library by Alistair Te Ariki Campbell since 1993, when the Victoria University of Wellington Foundation and Mr Mike Robson of Independent Newspapers Ltd. established a New Zealand Literary Archive collection whereby noted authors with strong connections to the University would deposit their papers with the Library each year. The Library took over the funding for this collection in 2001. Although the project began in 1993, some earlier material has been included in the annual transfers.
The Library aims to maintain a comprehensive collection of published works by and about Campbell, and a summary bibliography with callmarks is included in this finding aid.
Researchers should note that another major collection of Alistair Te Ariki Campbell's papers is held at the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand. This collection includes literary archives, records relating to work with the New Zealand Council for Educational Research and personal papers, from c1948-2002. A finding aid to this collection is available online via the website at http://tapuhi.natlib.govt.nz.
A recording of Campbell reading 'Gallipoli Peninsula' is online at http://www.nzepc.auckland.ac.nz/features/taonga/campbell.asp.
This collection has been built by accruals of at least one and sometimes several envelopes or boxes per year. The items have been selected and labelled by Alistair Te Ariki Campbell. Usually the label consists of the title of a work and an indication of the type of record, but there are also some subject headings.
Therefore, each item has been listed described in the chronological order in which they were sent by the author.
Further identification of series of records and indexing will be undertaken as resources permit.
These archives consist chiefly of drafts of written works in their progress through the publication process. There is a small amount of correspondence, which has been kept with the relevant records.
Drafts for 'The frigate bird' (novel). An accompanying leaflet concerns the Commonwealth Writers Prize (the novel was shortlisted). The author has noted that other drafts were lodged with the Alexander Turnbull Library.
This was one of eight envelopes received in August 1993.
Fair copy has annotations by Meg Campbell.
This was one of eight envelopes received in August 1993.
This was one of eight envelopes received in August 1993.
This was one of eight envelopes received in August 1993.
This was one of eight envelopes received in August 1993.
This was one of eight envelopes received in August 1993.
This was one of eight envelopes received in August 1993.
Includes correspondence to Hazard Press. This was one of four envelopes received in October 1993.
This was one of four envelopes received in October 1993.
Includes correspondence from publisher (Reed International) and from Godwit Press - Andrew Campbell). This was one of four envelopes received in October 1993.
Drafts, printer's proof with revisions, note on sales and gifts.
This was one of four envelopes received in October 1993.
This was one of five envelopes deposited in March 1994.
Proof copy. This was one of five envelopes deposited in March 1994.
Title page note: "First produced and broadcast by the NZBC in 1964." This was one of five envelopes received in March 1994.
Three drafts, fair copies, printer's copy.
This is one of five items received in September 1994.
Copy of published book, with copious pencil annotations. This is one of five items received in September 1994.
This is one of five items received in September 1994.
This is one of five items received in September 1994.
This item consists chiefly of notes by Alistair Te Ariki Campbell for talks about his writing. Those notes titles have been listed below, but there are also a few untitled scraps of paper.
Includes: typescript 'When the going was good, Christmas & New Year, 1949-1950'; speech notes for Dunedin; speech to launch Irene Adcock's 'The Inside Outside Room'; 'A personal note'; 'A note on the Wellington Group'; 'Pacific writing'; [notes for radio interview?]; notes re Margaret; Study of a poem - Kapiti; Prosody; notes on haiku; talk to Stage I students 20 March 1992; talk to Whitireia Group; notes for Tia book launch 25 March 1993; speech for my book launching 13 November 1984; postcard to family 8 July 1971.
This is one of five items received in September 1994.
This is one of five items received in April 1995.
Titled Tongareva : Collected Poems.
This item is one of five deposited in April 1995.
65 pp. typescript. Also, letter dated 29 April 1987 concerning the play, from Phillip Mann, Drama Studies, Victoria University of Wellington.
This is one of five items received in July 1995.
The Last Dance. + A Radio Play. (11 p.) Chapter 21 Interlude (pp.215-225). In the mountains (9 pp.) A Childhood in the Islands. (10 p.) 'adapted by the author from his memoir 'Island to Island', Whitcoulls, Christchurch, 1984'). The Purple Lady & Other Stories, including: The Urological Ward (7 p.), The Purple Lady (11 p.), An Easter in Omoka (9 p.), A motel in Avarua (8 p.), The Labyrinth (11 p.), The beach house (14 p.), A house of children (12 p.), In the mountains (9 p.), Tarquin's ravishing strides (9 p.), Gunfight at the OK Corral (9 p.), A House of children (12 p. and copy of letter to Sunday-Times), The Beach house 14 p.), Welcome home (7 p. two copies), A house of children (12 p.), letter to Porirua Museum dated 15 Sept. 1987, The beach house (14 p. with manuscript annotations), letters to Metro magazine dated 27 Oct 1987 and 11 Nov 1987, The Beach House (14 p.), letter from Metro magazine dated 2 November 1987.
This is one of five items received in July 1995.
Drafts of poems, some typescript with manuscript annotations, chiefly unpaginated. Includes cover page proof for 'Stone rain : the Polynesian poems', Te Kotare Press, Pukerua Bay, 1986.
This item is one of five deposited in July 1995.
Includes poster for 'The Poetry Society presents the poetry of Charles Brash .... signed ata Campbell with pencil annotation 'about 1970?', One page annotated 1962.
This item is one of seven deposited in May 1996.
Includes 'That Thing', White Circles', etc. Also 'Death and the Tagua: a dream' annotated 'Early draft'. This item is one of seven received in May 1996.
Includes note for 'blurb': 'Pocket Collected Poems not only marks Campbell's seventieth birthday, but also fifty years of writing and publishing verse.' This item is one of seven received in May 1996.
File box containing four items, titled: Pocket Collected Poems: first set of proofs; final page proofs, second set of page proofs, first set of page proofs.
This item is one of seven received in May 1996.
Box containing five draft typescripts of novel 'Fantasy with witches'.
This item was received in April 1997.
Memoir: 'Island to Island' (Revised) - 3 drafts.
This was one of two items deposited in May 1998.
On The Fall of Icarus' by Breugel.
This was one of two items deposited in May 1998.
Novel 'Fantasy with witches' - first page proofs.
One of three items deposited in December 1998.
One of three items deposited in December 1998.
Manuscript poems in tapa-covered notebook.
This is one of three items deposited in December 1998.
Drafts of poems etc and part of Meg's memoir. Poetic sequence: 'Cages for the wind'. Var. poems. Graduation correspondence and drafts of addresses. Drafts of Meg Campbell's memoirs.
This item is one of four deposited in April 1999.
Titles include: Morning blues, The beginning, Symbols, unpicking an old poem, Why the Holiday piece 1948, Boredom ....
This item was one of four deposited in April 1999.
This item is one of four deposited in April 1999.
Drafts of poetic sequences - 'Cages for the wind', and 'Gallipoli'.
This is one of two items deposited in September 1999.
Includes correspondence with Wai-te-ata Press, also an invitation from Wai-te-ata Press & Unity Books to the book launch for 'Gallipoli and other poems', on 7 December [1999] 'with special guests Vincent O'Sullivan, Sam Hunt, and Alistair Te Ariki Campbell'.
This item was transferred via Nelson Wattie in February 2000.
Drafts of 'Parihaka Grieving', 'For Lauris Edmond', 'Leaving Home' - holographs, typescripts with holograph emendations (and correspondence with Wellington City Gallery re 'Parihaka').
This item was deposited in August 2000.
Drafts of 'Maori Battalion': a dramatic sequence (poems) - holographs, typescripts (some photocopied) with ms emendations.
This item was deposited in December 2000.
This item was deposited in 2001.
This item is one of three deposited in November 2001.
Two spiral bound booklets: 1. Sanctuary of Spirits, text and poems: Alistair Te Ariki Campbell, Music: Ian McDonald. 2. Sanctuary of spirits, final music report - 31 August 2001, Ian McDonald.
These were received as two of three items in November 2001.
This item was deposited in 2001.
Draft manuscript.
Spiral-bound typescript.
File box containing three folders of drafts for 'Island to island' titled 'various drafts', 'Revised and expanded', and 'Final draft. Not for publication'.
This item is one of six deposited in 2002.
Includes transcript of Campbell's interview with Antonella Sarti on 14 September 1994. This item was one of six deposited in 2002.
209 pp. Some pencil annotations. This item was one of six deposited in 2002.
Three spiral-bound items and one folder. Includes a programme for the performance,, with the following notes: 'Sanctuary of Spirits is a stage work commissioned by the Kapiti Arts rust, with assistance from Creative New Zealand. It consists of projected paintings by Peter Coatse, written text and poems by Alistair Te Ariki Campbell, and music for orchestra and voices by Ian McDonald....Sanctuary of Spirits weaves a dream-like tapestry of recorded history and poetic reality. In poetry, narration, drama, music and visual imagery, the exploits and legacy of one of Aotearoa's greatest leaders is presented ...Te Rauparaha becomes, for the poet as narrator, a source of terror, creative stimulus and love...'
The production was videotaped but a copy of the videotape is not included.
This item was one of six received in 2002.
Includes drafts and synopsis for a proposed adaptation titled 'Passing Souls' by Martyn Jones, revisions by Campbell, and correspondence.
This item was one of six received in 2002.
Includes letter dated 23 Oct 1945 to Mrs M. Smith concerning burial of her brother Stuart Alexander Campbell, other documentation about the grave, postcard postmarked 24.9.17 annotated 'Taken off a dead H'un at Ypres', copies of military records, clippings and reviews, funding applications and correspondence, request to reprint the poem 'It's Greece'.
This item was one of six received in 2002.
Two spiral-bound items. Include notes to 'Chris. Pemmican Press'.
This item was one of six received in 2002.
Accession 2002/46.
This item was received in November 2002.
Spiral-bound copy of 'Maori Battalion: a dramatic sequence' inscribed 'For Roderick, happy reading'.
This item is one of four received in June 2003.
This item is one of four received in June 2003.
Small spiral-bound hard-covered notebook annotated inside front cover with 'This book was given to me by my grandson Te Ariki who told me it was to write my poems in'. Laid in are 68 loose pages with versions of the poems both typed and with handwritten editing notes.
This is one of four items received in June 2003.
Envelope contains rough, typed, and edited drafts.
This is one of four items received in June 2003.
Loose sheets, chiefly typed or copies, some handwritten editing. Includes draft title page.
This item was received in Oct 2003.
Loose sheets.
This item was received in February 2004.
A5 size 1984 diary, with cover note: "Notes useful to me in writing the sequence 'Maori Battalion'. Taken mainly from J F Cody's Official History and Wiri Gardiner's 'The story of the Maori Battalion'."
This item was received in May 2004.
Material re 'The Dark Lord of Savaiki: Collected Poems': - author's copy of the typescript he sent to his publisher, 283 pp. - 'Maori Battalion' and other changes, 10 pp. - pp. 2-3 of pre-publication notes: 1. end of biographical notes, 2. (continued): Book Reviews 3. Synopsis. 4. Selling points - author's corrections, c. 20 pp., includes one page of notes for a speech - corrected proof for 'The Dark Lord of Savaiki', dated 13 April 2005, pp. 5-303 - further poems and revisions.
This item was received in June 2005.
Original letters and copies of emails. This item was received 2 June 2005.
Correspondence and writing about Campbell's poetry by John O'Connor: including a Reader's report for Wai-te-ata Press on 'Maori Battalion', notes on Campbell's poetry, and a draft titled 'The Long Letter Home : the poetry of Alistair Te Ariki Campbell'. Includes copies of letters by Campbell to O'Connor. Includes typescript poems with manuscript amendments by Campbell.
Also includes 1 p. letter from Sally Blundell, re an interview Campbell had given her concerning his time as Editor of the NZ School Journal. A transcript of the interview is mentioned but not included.
This item was received in October 2005.
These poems reflect a visit in 2003 to the island home of Campbell's childhood. He and his 'Boswell', Nelson Wattie, were guests of the Ta'unga Creative Writers' Society in Rarotonga in July 2003, and ran a poetry workshop for senior high school pupils. During the visit they flew to Atiu, where Campbell had lived with his father.
This item was received in July 2006.
A small black decorated notebook containing a manuscript poem titled 'About the house'.
This item is one of two received in 2006.
This item was divided into three sections: - Leaves from a Journal - Letter to John Kelly - About the House.
This item is one of two received in 2006.
Drafts of poems as listed below: Letter to Barry Mitcalfe, of which the author writes: 'unpublished, although parts have been cannibalised'. Drafts of 'Two Mirrors', published in Poetry NZ 31 Draft of 'On a bronze by Lehmbruck' Draft of 'Bucolic Verses, 'I. Our Clifftop'.
This item was received in January 2007.
Drafts in longhand, printer's copy, printer's proof.
These items were received in August 2007.
This item is one of three received in May 2008.
Typescript with handwritten additions.
This is one of three items received in 2008.
Includes correspondence and editing discussions with Headworx Press.
This item was received in 2008.
Minor pencil additions to Contents page.
This item was received in 2008.
Note: 'Dedicated to the memory of my beloved wife Meg.' Includes bibliography.
Includes correspondence and speech notes about the University Literary Archive Project. This item is one of five received in July 1995.
Letters from John O'Connor re poetry, especially re Alistair Te Ariki Campbell's forthcoming 'Matariki: Collected poems', and a projected critical study of Campbell's poetry by O'Connor. Includes some copies of outwards correspondence.
This item is one of six received in November 1995.
This item is one of six received in November 1995.
Includes programme for Victoria School of Music concert second semester 1995, also copy of New Zealand Poetry Society journal P/S. Also includes revised table of contents for [?] 'Collected Poems'. This item is one of six received in November 1995.
This item is one of six deposited in November 1995.
This item is one of six deposited in November 1995.
This item is one of five received in July 1995.
These photographs consist of colour and black and white prints, some evidently removed from an album, others taken for publicity purposes. All photographs have been annotated on the reverse with names and sometimes dates.
This was one of eight envelopes received in August 1993.
This item consists of many separate manuscript and typescript notes, some with annotations, sometimes dated. A note by Alistair Te Ariki Campbell on the cover of the box described these as 'part of Meg's memoir'. This item is one of four deposited in April 1999.
This item is one of five deposited in April 1995.
Order forms for 'The Dark Lord of Savaiki, Soul Traps, Collected Poems, etc'.
This item is one of five deposited in April 1995.
Note that the paste has failed and several small scraps of paper have come loose.
This item is one of five deposited in April 1995.
Te Kotare Press receipts. This item is one of six deposited in November 1995.
Box of black and white photographic prints, thought to have been used for 'New Zealand : a book for children with photographs by Helen Buttfield / text by Alistair Campbell', (Wellington : School Publications Branch, Dept. of Education, 1967).
This was one of five envelopes deposited in March 1994.