Hamilton City Libraries' Archives collections are an excellent resource if:
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You are researching Hamilton or Waikato history
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You need original material for an assignment
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You are interested in local genealogy
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You are researching topics from our past that will be enhanced by local case studies
About Archives
Archives are the non-current records of an organisation or institution, or of private individuals and families, which are preserved because of their long-term value. Our archives contain records transferred from the Hamilton City Council as well as archives collected from the local community.
Our Archives collections
The Hamilton City Council archive includes holdings from both the present council and previous local authorities, such as the Frankton Borough Council. Examples are minute books, rate books, correspondence files, plans and aerial photographs.
The Community archive holds records donated or loaned by local clubs, societies, businesses, and individuals, for example: records from the Hamilton Club, an Armed Constabulary diary from the 1870s, letters, diaries, accounts, photographs, research papers, scrapbooks, political papers, records of AFFCO Ltd, and letters of early Waikato settler William Rysdale.
Using the Archives collections
You can make a preliminary search for archives on the library catalogue. Archives can be viewed in the Special Collections Room on Level 3 of the Central Library.
Archives are not indexed or classified in the same way as books, so it can take time to identify items that may be useful for a particular enquiry. However, there are various lists, inventories and registers to help you.