Our NZMS team in Te Whanganui-a-Tara Wellington recently had the privilege of digitising 9 illustrated diaries for the family of artist Brian Pleasants.

These diaries paint a vivid picture of the adventures Brian and his wife, Antionette, embarked on together. Beautifully illustrated, they are filled with fascinating tales and experiences from across the globe. We recently spoke with Brian’s son, Simon, about his father’s diaries and the significance of their digitisation.

In 2007, Hamilton City Libraries launched a digitisation project, focusing on its holdings of aerials, maps, and a significant photographic collection, which included images transferred from the Waikato Museum during the redistribution of its exhibition spaces. NZMS captured 32,000 heritage photographic negatives as part of this initiative, a project spanning 15-years!

Archives are more than just a collection of official records, they also serve to safeguard and celebrate the memories and achievements of their communities. In the case of schools, archives are increasingly seen as a vital component of alumni engagement programmes.