Researcher in residence 2014

Is research your passion? Do you have a burning topic that you just can't wait to get stuck into? Then keep reading, this is what you have been waiting for!

Ref: Tornquist Portrait Studio, scene from a production by the Auckland Little Theatre Society, c. 1920-1930s, Sir George Grey Special Collections, Auckland Libraries, NZMS 867-43

The Auckland Library Heritage Trust, in association with Auckland Council, is offering a research scholarship using the Sir George Grey Special Collections at the Central City Library. Unique opportunities like this don't come along very often and this is only the second year that this has run. So if you want to immerse yourself in one of the major collections in NZ, find out more about Grey’s wonderful legacy and focus on a research project, then look no further!

Ref: Auckland Weekly News, a political cartoon, no location, 1909, Sir George Grey Special Collections, Auckland Libraries, AWNS-19091209-12-3

The scholarship is open to NZers and overseas visitors to NZ. To apply you need to have a research proposal based on material held in the Sir George Grey Special Collections. The scope for the proposal is broad, just like the breadth of the collections, so you could focus on NZ, the Pacific or international subjects. This really does give you a vast range of subjects to choose from and lets you pick something that you really interests you and which reflects and explores the treasures in the collections.

Ref: NZ Expeditionary Force and NZ Field Service, First World War postcards and Christmas cards, 1914-1918, various locations, Sir George Grey Special Collections, Auckland Libraries, 7-C1900

The images in this post show just how diverse the collections are: from the photographs of one of Auckland's theatre companies to political cartoons in the supplement to the Auckland Weekly News and from mementos from the First World War to the First Folio by William Shakespeare (1623).

Ref: William Shakespeare, the play Macbeth in the First Folio, no location, 1623, Sir George Grey Special Collections, Auckland Libraries, 7-C1936

Applications close on 31 May 2014 and the selection will be announced on 27 June 2014. The scholarship will run from 1 July 2014 to 30 June 2015. The successful recipient will receive a grant of NZ$1000. Visit this page to find out more or contact Georgia Prince on 09 307 7677.