In 1976, Mrs Alison MacGibbon bequeathed to the University of Canterbury a major gift of oil paintings, watercolours and prints, which formed the W.S. & Alison MacGibbon Collection.
Alison MacGibbon, nee MacLeod, was born in 1902.

She attended Canterbury College School of Art in 1918, studying plant drawing, design and embroidery. On her 21st birthday, Alison began collecting art when she received 10 guineas from her mother to purchase a painting.

William Smith MacGibbon was born in Edinburgh circa 1891 and came to NZ as a child. An accountant and businessman, William also served on the Christchurch City Council, and was involved in a variety of civic affairs and charitable organisations, including the Canterbury Society of Arts (CSA). He was awarded an OBE in 1952 for his work. In 1947, William married Alison MacLeod, and the two continued to acquire art for their personal collection.

The collection is comprised of 46 works, the majority of which were purchased largely between 1940-1960 from the annual sales at the CSA and from H. Fisher & Sons. The collection includes a discriminating selection of landscape paintings by artists who enjoyed a high reputation in Canterbury.