Core collection
The Core Collection, donated by Dr Alan Cooper, is a premier resource for scientific, historical and cultural studies related to issues of the southern polar region and incorporates a diverse suite of subjects in 19 categories that include: Adventure, Art/music, Aviation, Fiction, Photography, General polar, Polar politics, Geoscience, Religion, Bibliography, Biography, General science, History and Whaling.
The Core Collection holds;
- Many early Antarctic expedition volumes and reports dating back to 1832
- A print run of “The Polar Record” Journal; 1931-2015
- Long print runs of the “The Polar Times; 1935 -1982”
- The “Antarctic Journal of the U.S.; 1970 -1997”
- The “British Antarctic Survey Bulletin; 1963 -1988”
- “Terra Antarctica (Italian program); 1994 – 2006”
- Copies of geoscience reports on Antarctic scientific drilling by Deep Sea Drilling Project, Ocean Drilling Program, Dry Valley Drilling Project, Cape Roberts, ANDRILL and others
- Copies of International Antarctic Earth Science Symposium volumes (#1- #10; 1963 -2008)
- Copies of “Antarctic Bibliography” (Vols. #1 – #22; 1965 –1995)
- Copies of arts volumes including “The Art of Captain Cook’s Voyages”, “Antarctica – An Artist’s Logbook”,
The materials in the Core Collection were acquired since the mid-1980’s from scientists, book dealers, and science agencies around the world during Dr. Cooper’s travels, with many before the time of internet book sales. The materials are catalogued in detail in Excel spreadsheet format and are easily searched in digital format at the library. The principal focus and greatest number of titles and items are in the polar sciences, reflecting Dr. Cooper’s research interests. The Core Collection was acquired with personal funds for professional and personal use.
Additional collections/historic items
- Emeritus Professor Peter Barrett- historic United States 48-star flag, flown at Camp Minnesota during his time with the 1962-63 University of Minnesota Ellsworth Mountains Expedition.
- Professor Jim Kennett of Santa Barbara, California – 50+ volumes being surplus to donations to Victoria University of Wellington, Te Herenga Waka
- John Alexander, Arrowtown. New Zealand – extensive collection of Antarctic maps
- Earl Bennett, Lieutenant, US Navy (retired) – 1966 USAF aerial navigation chart- Antarctica
As shelving capacity is achieved and expanded, the Trust will be open to receipt of donated material subject to criteria. Please contact the Trust if you wish to donate to the library.
Useful links
For people interested in finding out more about Antarctica, the following local and international websites may be of interest.
Antarctica New Zealand; www.antarcticanz.govt.nz
New Zealand Antarctic Society; www.antarcticsociety.org.nz
Antarctic Heritage Trust, https://nzaht.org
Gateway Antarctica, University of Canterbury; www.canterbury.ac.nz/research/about-uc-research/research-groups-and-centres/gateway-antarctica
Canterbury Museum; www.canterburymuseum.com
Victoria University of Wellington Antarctic Research Centre www.wgtn.ac.nz/antarctic
Scott Polar Research Institute; www.spri.cam.ac.uk
Byrd Polar Research Institute; www.byrd.osu.edu
Alfred Wegner Institute; www.awi.de
Antarctic Reference Library, hedgehog House; 1-3 – REFERENCE BOOK LIBRARY (not for sale) – Colin Monteath | Colin Monteath