Television chef Richard Till and Hocken Collections librarian Sharon Dell sort through the dozen boxes of material collected by Mr Till's father, the late musician Maurice Till, which were donated to the library yesterday.
Mr Till said his father's collection included the programme for every musical event he attended, as well as his diaries, records of performances and live and recorded correspondence with other artists.
"My late father left behind extensive records of his career and the New Zealand music scene. Much of his career was spent with an association to the Canterbury and Otago universities so there is a great deal of music department business in his records," Mr Till said.
Prof John Drummond, of the University of Otago's music department, said Maurice Till was a leader in the New Zealand music scene for more than 50 years. He was a piano professor at the University of Otago and played a leading role in Dunedin's musical activities, Prof Drummond said.
"A tireless giver of concerts the length and breadth of the country, he was a unique force for spreading classical music to people in settlements large and small.
"His detailed and matchless record of a long and vital concert career offers a resource for researchers in many fields," Prof Drummond said.
