Russell Stone


Russell Cyril James Stone is a New Zealand historian, author and professor emeritus at the University of Auckland. He is the leading authority on the history of Auckland and has written nine books on early Auckland history.
Born in the Auckland suburb of Mount Eden in 1923, Stone graduated from Auckland University College with a BA in 1945 and an MA with first-class honours in 1949. After working as a secondary-school teacher, Stone was appointed to the staff of the history department at the University of Auckland in 1964, and completed a PhD in history in 1969. His thesis was titled Auckland business and businessmen in the 1880s. He retired in 1989 and was granted the title of professor emeritus.
In 1881 John Logan Campbell's memoirs were published, and Stone republished these long out-of-print tales in his book: Poenamo: Romance and Reality of Antipodean Life in the Infancy of a New Colony. Stone had earlier written a two-volume life of John Logan Campbell:
In the 2002 New Year Honours, Stone was appointed an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to historical research. He was the joint winner of the biennial J.M. Sherrard Award in New Zealand local and regional history in 2004, for his book From Tamaki-Makau-rau to Auckland, published in 2001.

Personal life

Stone has three children, and two grandchildren.