Oxford University Press (NZ) records.

Collection consists of the publishing records of the New Zealand agency of Oxford University Press covering the period 1956 to 1995 although the bulk of the material dates from the 1970s and 1980s.

The Oxford University Press kept a number of types of files labelled as follows: ED 1 – ideas and proposals (before contract). ED 2 – editorial matters (e.g. letters to author, queries, contracts, etc.). ED 3 – production matters (type specifications and grid, bills, costings, quotes, letters to typesetter, printer, etc.). ED 4 subject files arranged into approximately 56 subdivisions and relating to organisational matters within the Press. Each published book had its own individual ED 2 and ED 3 material.

When the collection was arranged and described in 1994 the following three series of files were created:

Series 1: ED 1 files, retained as designated by OUP.

Series 2: Book files, based on an author or a title entry for each published book. Within each book file are gathered original MSS, proofs where applicable, original art work, etc., and all ED 2 and ED 3 material relating to that book. ED 2 and 3 material was sometimes found in OUP's boxes with the relevant manuscripts and proofs, but was often separated from them, though labelled as belonging to those manuscripts. They have been sorted into one series of book files to be more convenient of access.

Book files are arranged internally with MSS, text or proofs first, then ED 2 and 3 material as found. Galleys are retained where author's or editor's changes to the text are evident, otherwise they were discarded. Bromides, paste-ups, and copies of original material were also discarded. Artwork in the form of plates etc. was returned to OUP. It was felt that the papers as received from OUP must be reduced in bulk to be accommodated in the Library's limited storage space.

Amounts of material received in relation to individual titles vary considerably, and each book file should be examined in total since the contents of each do not always conform to the established pattern, or comprise all the parts one would expect to find.

Series 3: ED 4 files, which do not, especially after 1986, conform exactly to the key given. They have been retained as received, and arranged in 6 sub series.