Alan Brunton and Sally Rodwell papers.

MSS & Archives 2009/4 was added to Special Collections in a process that took place, largely, between 2006 and 2009. In 2007, Michele Leggott, Associate Professor of English at the University of Auckland, successfully applied for funding from the University of Auckland Arts Faculty to digitise select material from the collection. More recently, she has been instrumental in securing the acquisition of the collection as it is now, and of compiling a preliminary inventory, with the assistance of Bryony Sinclair and Fredrika van Elberg. The final arrangement and description of the materials owes much to their work.

This collection is arranged in 22 Series and incorporates a wide range of materials and media. Where multiple examples of individual items existed, only two copies were retained, as in the case of surplus Bumper Books, which were transferred to Michele Leggott. Technical difficulties may restrict access to files on older computer disks and limit the viewing of film reels in this collection. Where folders contained excessively bulky material, these have been split into smaller sets and this is reflected in additional hierarchy of item numbers and evident in continuation of folder names. This representation of hierarchy is also apparent in the numbering of material in descriptions of the contents of folders and files on computer disks. Due to the large number of clippings and reviews across the collection, these will not always be noted in Item descriptions.

Series 1-3 contain numerous scripts and drafts of poetry composed by Alan Brunton for various performances and publications. Also included in these series are related materials such as reviews, artwork and publication proofs. Some material in Series 3 may be copies of computer files from Alan’s Computer in Series 17.

Series 4 comprises prose work in the form of essays, lecture material and a photocopy of Brunton’s MA thesis from Victoria University of Wellington. Also present are photographs and interview transcripts. Thirteen notebooks belonging to Brunton that span much of his career are found in Series 5. They contain prose, poetry and various notes. One of the notebooks is a scrap book with business cards, passport photos and publicity material glued to the pages. Much of it is associated with overseas travel.

In Series 6 are various personal papers mostly connected to Sally Rodwell and Ruby. Included are materials pertaining to schooling, family travel, photographs, artwork and correspondence. A partial restriction applies to this series.



Collections of maps, brochures and blank postcards in Series 7 attest to the extensive travel undertaken by Brunton and Rodwell during their careers, and their interest in collecting such ephemera. The focus of Series 8 is publicity for Red Mole and White Rabbit Puppet Theatre. Included are photographs, posters, related ephemera, and lyrics for the song, Parihaka, signed by Tim Finn. Similarly, Series 9 includes publicity materials but, more broadly, encompasses production materials related to performances with scripts, artwork, reviews, photographs and ephemera.

A key occupation of Red Mole was the hosting of workshops and drama classes. Papers related to these activities, such as scripts, schedules and publicity materials, are found in Series 10, along with papers connected to White Rabbit Puppet Theatre.

Series 11 contains Red Mole photographs in various formats and sizes. Most are prints that have been removed from plastic albums and put in acid-free pockets. Their arrangement makes clear to which albums the groups of photographs belonged, including those numbered I-VII and a set pertaining to Rodwell’s work that are arranged by year. Many of those in albums were intended for publicity and publication purposes. As well as prints, there are negatives and film stills. Some damage, possibly due to moisture, has occurred on some material. Similar materials also feature in Series 12, but with a focus on ROADWORKS. Included are scripts, administrative and publicity materials.

Series 13 contains numerous groups of slides that came in a variety of containers and have been placed in acid-free pockets. There are also some film stills. The subject matter covers tours and performances in New Zealand and overseas, art and images, masks, dolls, and puppets.

A large amount of artwork was produced in the course of Brunton and Rodwell’s activities, often for Red Mole publicity. Some was created by Rodwell; other material by acquaintances such as Richard Killeen, Stuart Shepherd, Jean Clarkson, and Barry Linton. Numerous examples, mainly in the form of posters, are found in Series 14, along with artwork, layouts and a paste-up for publication. Also included is artwork by Ruby Brunton.

Numerous sound cassettes comprise Series 15. A few contain commercially produced music but most are have been compiled by Brunton and Rodwell to record their performances, sound collages and backing tracks. Readings by Brunton, radio interviews, and discussions are also recorded. In addition, there is a phonograph recording of five Red Mole songs.

Series 16 contains reels of Red Mole films, in various sizes, and video recordings of performances and poetry readings by Alan Brunton, Michele Leggott, Russell Haley and Ian Wedde. In addition, some videos are personal recordings. The film reels include outtakes and stills. These are accompanied by related items such as scripts, correspondence, photographs, call sheets, shot lists, and publicity material.

After the deaths of Brunton and Rodwell, various files were downloaded from computers used by the couple and numerous floppy disks, CDs, CD-ROMs and DVDs were retrieved. They comprise Series 17, which is arranged in five subseries: Subseries 1 is made up of twenty-four disks containing a range of subject matter; Subseries 2 comprises files downloaded from Brunton’s computer on 24 July 2002; Subseries 3, to which a partial restriction applies, has files downloaded from Rodwell’s computer on 27 November 2006 and includes material originating from Brunton and Ruby; Subseries 4 is a photographic record of masks and puppets created and acquired by Red Mole over a number of years; Subseries 5 is a large set of various floppy disks, a number of which may contain material found elsewhere in the collection.

Series 18-20 consist of publications of Alan Brunton, material contributed by him to other publications, and other authors’ publications promoted by Bumper Books. Included are papers that relate to Bumper Books’ administration. Diverse materials are found in Series 21. They include correspondence, publicity material, papers relating to community issues, performances, Magdalena Aotearoa, Brunton family history, and obituaries for Alan Brunton. Brunton and Rodwell’s interest in community activities and issues in the later years of their lives are also evident in Series 22. It contains material regarding the talking island bay oral history project, involvement with the Island Bay Life Saving and Surf Club, and action over a local development and the practise of creating artificial reefs.