Photographs of the construction of the National Library Building in Wellington

Photographs taken by Michael Jones, G Simpson, and/or unidentified photographer(s) relating to the construction of the National Library of New Zealand building on Molesworth Street, Wellington, between circa 1982 and circa 1985. Includes duplicate prints. Some prints display the date of photography or date of image development on reverse as a printing stamp or an annotation.

A set of black and white photographs taken by G Simpson depict: an architectural model of the library building; high angle views of the completed library building surrounded by new St Paul's Cathedral, Beehive, Freyberg Building, and Thorndon houses on Pipitea Street (probably taken from a high-rise building on Pipitea Street); street level views of the buildling exterior and scaffolding during construction; a group portrait of people on site, December 1983, one man is carrying a folder titled "National Library of New Zealand" with fern logo; people entering and exiting the building via the Aitken Street entrance to the theatrette (auditorium); and speakers addressing a large group of people (possibly staff) within the unfurnished theatrette.

A colour photograph taken 2 February 1982 showing a partial view of a man holding a steel rod and mixing a trough of concrete.

Three colour photographs taken April 1985 showing construction work on the roof.

Six colour photographs showing exterior views of the brutalist style Boston City Hall building in the Government Centre area, Boston, circa 1980s.

Five colour photograph showing views taken in the National Library of New Zealand foyer: the stairs in the entrance foyer, people looking at the newly installed National Library Mural by John Drawbridge in June 1985, and the marble tile flooring and Drawbridge mural in the completed foyer.

Two colour photographs showing the exterior views of the completed National Library building.

Two colour photographs showing National Library staff listening to a presenter standing at a projection screen, a staff member holds a "Kiwinet" folder, a "multi modem" is on the table nearby; and three staff members working on dumb computer terminals in their work cubicles.

Photograph showing Alan Smith (left) and Paul Szentirmay (right) standing outside the Library. Both were Deputy National Librarians.

Title supplied by Library.

Arrangement: Photographs were delivered in a brown envelope annotated as "Sally Horton 4th floor Borthwick House the Terrace".

Quantity: 31 b&w original photographic print(s). 19 colour original photographic print(s).

Physical Description: Black and white photographic prints with white borders, colour snapshots, a colour polaroid, and a photograph of a slide image.

Transfers: Photographs of library staff at a presentation and at computer terminals were separated from negatives held at 1/2-239609-F and 1/2-239610-F..

Processing information: Two subjects identified following information from a staff member, 18 September 2023.