Directory
entries of
Archival Repositories
2005
Address: | Street: Radio Park Building, Henley Road, Auckland Park |
Postal: P.O. Box 931, Auckland Park, 2006 | |
Telephone: | (011) 714-4624 |
Fax: | (011) 714-4281 |
E-mail: | jacobsb@sabc.co.za |
Enquiries to: | Manager: Sound Archives |
Hours of opening: | Monday - Friday 07h00-16h30 Weekends on appointment |
Brief history: The SABC Sound Archives consciously began preserving radio programmes in the 1960’s. In 1984, specialisation led to a more focussed cataloguing system. The following disciplines were identified: each of the official languages, sport, music, news and actuality. Archivists, with specific qualifications and knowledge were employed to catalogue the material. The analogue and digital method of preserving material has been followed, but digitization is still being further investigated.
Acquisitions policy: All broadcast material to be sent to the Sound Archives for evaluation; donations regarding old broadcast material.
Areas of specialisation: All radio broadcast material, including: news and actuality, sport, music, Afrikaans, English, Setswana, Southern Sotho, Northern Sotho, Tsonga, Venda, Zulu, Xhosa, Swazi, Ndebele.
Core holdings: Radio broadcast material: interviews, dramas, documentaries, reports, concerts, music productions, discussions, talks, book readings, serials, poetry, nature and habitat sounds, speeches, including prime ministers and Presidents of SA, special events, e.g. 1994 elections (¼ inch tape, cassette, CDR). Acetate discs: interviews, speeches, discussions etc. 78 rpm gramophone record collection (local labels) (music).
Finding aids: Upon request.
National register participation: No.
82. SAMMY MARKS MUSEUM (INCORPORATED IN THE NORTHERN FLAGSHIP INSTITUTION)
Address: | Street: Old Bronkhorstspruit Road (R104), Pretoria. |
Postal: Northern Flagship Institution, PO Box 4917, Pretoria, 0001. | |
Telephone: | (012) 802-1150 |
Fax: | (012) 802-1292 |
E-mail: | smarks@nfi.co.za |
Website: | http://www.afsef.com/SammyMarks |
Enquiries to: | The Curator |
Hours of opening: | Tuesday – Sunday 10h00 – 16h00 |
Access: | The Sammy Marks Museum presents guided house tours throughout the day for the public and organized groups, e.g. school children, the elderly and tourists. The books in the library and the documents in the archive are studied by students, researchers and historians from all over the country. Permission must be obtained in advance from the curator. |
Brief history: Zwartkoppies Hall, a Victorian mansion dating from 1885, was the residence of the Jewish magnate Sammy Marks, who made significant conributions to the industrial, mining and agricultural development of the Zuid-Afrikaansche Republiek and early Union of SA. After Marks’ death, his widow and some of the children inhabited the house until the death of the last one in 1978. After a period during which it was looked after by caretakers, the family realized it was deteriorating and a suitable tenant was sought. Eventually in 1984 an agreement was reached with the National Cultural History Museum according to which the government was to buy the contents of the house from the estate, restore the house and rent it from the family trust. In 1986 the Sammy Marks Museum opened its doors to the public. In 1995 roughly 73ha surrounding the house and upon which all of the historical buildings are situated, was cut from the rest of the farm and sold to the National Cultural History Museum.
Acquisitions policy: The Museum’s collection consists of the possessions of the Marks family and as such few new acquisitions are made.
Areas of specialisation: Victoriana, the history of the Marks family, Marks’ relation to Paul Kruger and Marks’ contribution to the industrial development of the ZAR.
Core holdings: House: the Museum’s collection dates mostly from the late-nineteenth century until Sammy Marks’ death in 1920. Good examples of Victorian silver, glass, porcelain and furniture are exhibited in the Museum, recreating an authentic Victorian interior. Library: The library consists of the original library of books collected by the Marks family and covers topics from history, mining, agriculture, farming, horticulture, religion, industry to romantic novels and poetry. Archive: The archive contains a few original documents (as the bulk of the original family records were donated to the Isaac and Jessie Kaplan Institute for Jewish Studies and Research at the University of Cape Town), house plans, museum records and the photograph collection. Photograph collection: A huge collection of photographs is housed in the archive, many of which are studio portraits of family members, relatives and friends, some unidentified, as well as pictures of Zwartkoppies and other places and activities.
Finding aids: Inventory, Acquisitions Register, Catalogue.
National register participation: No.
83. SANLAM ARCHIVES (SANLAM-ARGIEF)
Address: | Street: 2 Strand Road, Bellville |
Postal: P.O. Box 1, Sanlamhof, 7532 | |
Telephone: | (021) 947-3147 |
E-Mail: | sanlamarchives@sanlam.co.za |
Enquiries to: | The Archivist |
Hours of opening: | 08h30 to 16h45 |
Access: | Public access to museum; provisory access to document collections. |
Brief history: Established in 1977 with relevant historical documents of Sanlam, now housing 300 linear metres of documents produced by the firm and filials. The archives also houses a museum section of pictures, books, trophies, machinery and computer parts.
Areas of specialisation: Sanlam history.
Core holdings: Valuation statements. Training manuals and courses. Marketer information and guides. Product brochures and advertisements. Marketing structures and lists. Investment brochures and history. Unit trust history and brochures. News releases and articles for newspapers. Sponsorship files and history. Donation files and history. Art gallery files and history. Speeches by Sanlam management. Newspaper and media advertisements. Computer history and files. Personnel development and history. Annual reports. Company structures and policies. Biographies. Historical photographs. Related companies: Histories and files. Films. Videos. CD’s. Newsclips. In-house Journals.
Finding aids: Computerised retrieval system.
National register participation: No.
Address: | Street: Simon’s Town Museum, Court Road, Simon’s Town, 7975 |
Postal: Simon’s Town Museum, PO Box 56, Simon’s Town, 7995 | |
Telephone: | (021) 786-3046 |
Fax: | (021) 786-2391 |
E-mail: | stmuseum@mweb.co.za |
Website: | www.simonstown.com/museum |
Enquiries to: | The Curator, Simon’s Town Museum |
Hours of opening: | Monday – Friday 9h00 – 16h00 Saturday 10h00 – 13h00 Sunday and Public holidays 11h00 – 15h00 |
Access: | Open to all. Access to the general public, local and tourists alike. |
Brief history: The Simon’s Town Museum was established in 1977 to house; preserve and exhibit the cultural history of the people of Simon’s Town, part of present and their connections to the VOC; Royal Navy and international history in general.
Acquisitions policy: To gather the history of Simon’s Town and its people through archival records; newspapers; personal and official records; photographs; magazines; maps; town plans; oral histories; diaries etc. and to make these available to researchers and anyone who is interested in this material and to exhibit this information in the museum’s displays. We also wish to concentrate of the vast diversity of origins and cultures of the people of Simon’s Town and their ancestors and the role the community played in international history.
Areas of specialisation: The history of the Simon’s Town Community. The devastation of the Group Areas Act through the museum’s Project Phoenix. The cultural diversity and origins of the Simon’s Town people. The Royal Navy and Simon’s Town’s connection with international history. The VOC and the development of Simon’s Town and the history of slavery.
Core holdings: The Moths Collection from “The Warrior’s Room”. The Reggie Biggs photographic collection. The Municipal Scrapbook collection of newspaper clippings (more newspaper albums). Collection of RN memorabilia. Project Phoenix Collection of people removed under the Group Areas (mainly photos). The Willis papers (documents copied from the Cape Archives, Roeland Street, CT). The East Dockyard records. The Boer War Collection (photos and artefacts). A reference library. A large collection of documents dealing with people; ships; buildings; the lighthouses; dockyards and fortifications etc.
Finding aids: The museum has an accession register of artefacts; index to photographic collection and files for ships; buildings; people etc.
National register participation: No.
85. SOUTH AFRICAN AIR FORCE MUSEUM
Address: | Street: Air Force Station Swartkop, Old Johannesburg Road, Centurion |
Postal: PO Box 21084, Valhalla, 0137 | |
Telephone: | (012) 312-2407 |
Fax: | (012) 357-2346 |
Enquiries to: | Officer Commanding |
Hours of opening: | Museum: Monday – Saturday 10h00 –
16h00 Historical research centre Tuesdays 08h00 – 12h30 or by appointment. |
Access: | Made available to researchers in reading room. |
Brief history: SA Air Force Museum established as a unit of the SA Airforce in 1973. Donations of book, documents and personal papers relating to aviation led to establishment of a research centre.
Acquisitions policy: Donations accepted unconditionally. Policy patterned on that of the SA National Museum of Military history.
Areas of specialisation: History of the SA Air Force.
Core holdings: Documents (not official) relating to history of SAAF. Books on Military aviation history and aircraft. Photographs of SA Air Force Aircraft and personalities. Training and documentary films and videos of an air force nature. Technical manuals on out of service aircraft and equipment.
Finding aids: Books under library catalogue. Finding aids still to be introduced subject to financing.
National register participation: Close liaison with SAAF documentation services. Films stored at National Film, Video and Sound Archive.
86. SOUTH AFRICAN DATA ARCHIVE
Address: | Street: Meiring Naude Road, Brummeria, Pretoria |
Postal: P.O. Box 2600, Pretoria, 0001 | |
Telephone: | (012) 481-4016 |
(012) 481-4120 | |
Fax: | (012) 481-4231 |
E-mail: | SADA@nrf.ac.za |
Website: | http://www.nrf.ac.za/sada |
Enquiries to: | The Manager |
Hours of opening: | 08h00-16h30 |
Brief history: SADA was established in 1993 when the director of the Danish Data Archive (DDA) was invited to the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC) as a consultant to undertake a feasibility study on the viability of establishing a data archive in South Africa. SADA has since been incorporated into the National Research Foundation (NRF) which was established in April 1999 by the National Research Foundation Act.
SADA serves as a broker between a range of data providers (e.g. statistical agencies, government departments, opinion and market research companies and academic institutions) and the research community. The archive does not only preserve data for future use, but also adds value to the collections. It safeguards datasets and related documentation and attempts to make it as easily accessible as possible for research and educational purposes.
Acquisitions policy: SADA acquires and catalogues survey data and related information.
Areas of specialisation: Censuses and household surveys; omnibus and international studies; demographic and health related studies; substance abuse; crime; income and poverty; Inter-group relations; labour and business; education and training and political perceptions and attitudes.
Core holdings: Over 1140 datasets, separated into the above ten subject groups.
Finding aids: An online data catalogue, which is searchable by title, abstract, principal investigator, keyword or data. A complete study description, including the size and description of data files and available machine-readable (electronic) codebooks are thereafter produced.
National register participation: No.
87. SOUTH AFRICAN HISTORY ARCHIVE (SAHA)
Address: | Street: William Cullen Library, East Campus, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg |
Postal: P.O. Box 31719, Braamfontein, 2017 | |
Telephone: | (011) 717-1941 |
Fax: | (011) 339-4137 |
E-mail: | sahav@library.wits.ac.za |
Website: | www.wits.ac.za/saha |
Enquiries to: | Director |
Hours of opening: | 08h30 – 17h00 |
Access: | Open to the public |
Brief history: SAHA was established in 1988 to preserve the documents, posters, and other ephemeral material that was produced by the organisations that were opposing apartheid. Duplicate copies were sent to the Popular History Trust (PHT) in Zimbabwe for safe-keeping. In 1990, when the restrictions were lifted on the organisations opposing apartheid, PHT closed down and all its holdings came to SAHA. Since 1994, SAHA has been based at Historical Papers, University of Witwatersrand. In 1996 it established the Gay and Lesbian Archives as a special project, and in 2001 introduced a freedom of information programme.
Acquisitions policy: SAHA’s primary objective it to document the struggles for justice in South Africa, with the focus being on the Apartheid and post-Apartheid periods. It is committed to liasing with other archival institutions in order to avoid unnecessary competition and duplication.
Areas of specialisation: Political organisations; civil and community organisations; non-governmental organisations; education; women’s and health organisations; trade unions; the anti-apartheid struggles of the 1980s; the Truth and Reconciliation Commission; gay and lesbian experience (through the Gay and Lesbian Archives).
Core holdings: Anti-apartheid organisations; Julie Frederikse collection which has interviews with about 200 prominent anti-apartheid activists; the poster collection has over 4000 posters mainly from the 1980s campaigns against apartheid; the Gay and Lesbian Archives; collection of mainly government records released under the Promotion of Access to Information Act.
Finding aids: Guide to the Resources of SAHA; Guide to the Resources of the Gay and Lesbian Archives (GALA); unpublished inventories to archives groups; websites; databases for special collections.
National register participation: SAHA contributes to NAREM, and is linked for on-line retrieval.
88. SOUTH AFRICAN JEWISH BOARD OF DEPUTIES
Address: | Street: 2 Elray Street, Raedene, 2192 |
Postal: P.O. Box 87557, Houghton, 2041 | |
Telephone: | (011) 645-2523 |
Fax: | (011) 645-2559 |
E-mail: | sajbod@iafrica.com |
Website: | www.jewish.org.za |
Enquiries to: | The Archivist (Mrs Naomi Musiker) |
Hours of opening: | Monday - Thursday 09h00-13h00 |
Access: | Archives are accessible to the public by appointment. |
Brief history: The repository was started by donations of minute books from various organisations. Members of the public also donated personal collections.
Acquisitions policy: We collect all papers, minute books, letters and pamphlets which are important to our collection.
Areas of specialisation: We specialise on the subject of South African Jewry - welfare organisations, SA Jewish Board of Deputies, country communities, personalities.
Core holdings: Our core holdings are all the minute books of the various organisations (Jewish) in South Africa. A very special section of our holdings is devoted to the country communities, which are almost depleted. We have boxes filled with correspondence, documents etc. as well as membership books, journals and minute books. We possess marriage registers from various synagogues. The Archives also has collections of various South African Jewish Newspapers.
Finding aids: Guide to the Manuscript Archives in the South African Jewish Board of Deputies.
National register participation: No.
89. SOUTH AFRICAN NATIONAL BIODIVERSITY INSTITUTE (HARRY MOLTENO LIBRARY)
Address: | Street: Harry Molteno Library, SA NBI, Rhodes Drive, Kirstenbosch, Cape Town |
Postal: Private Bag X7, Claremont, 7735 | |
Telephone: | (021) 799-8800 |
Fax: | (021) 762-0646 |
E-mail: | library@sanbi.org |
Website: | http://www.sanbi.org |
Enquiries to: | The Librarian |
Hours of opening: | Monday - Friday 08h00-16h30 |
Access: | Open to the public. For lunch time visits (from 13h00 to 14h00), enquire first. |
Acquisitions policy: No active acquisitions policy. Receive donations.
Areas of specialisation: a) Library: holds books, pamphlets and journals on Southern African flora and vegetation and related topics. Subject areas include taxonomy, botany, horticulture, landscaping, economic botany, conservation and ecology of the flora and environmental education. b) Archival material: Botanical art, botanical field trip notes, memorabilia, old photographs of Kirstenbosch and other National Botanical Gardens, newscuttings etc.
National register participation: No.
90. SOUTH AFRICAN NATIONAL GALLERY
Address: | Street: Government Avenue, Cape Town (All mail must be sent to postal address) |
Postal: P.O. Box 2420, Cape Town, 8000 | |
Telephone: | (021) 461-7296 |
Fax: | (021) 461-0045 |
E-mail: | joey@gem.co.za |
Website: | http://www/gem.co.za/sang/ |
Enquiries to: | The Senior Librarian |
Hours of opening: | Tuesday - Friday 08h30-13h00, 14h00-16h00 |
Access: | Under supervision. |
Brief history: The manuscript collection is of both national and international value.
Acquisitions policy: Acquisitions policy is mainly to collect manuscripts relating to visual art in South Africa but is interested in visual art on international levels.
Areas of specialisation: South African art and artists.
Core holdings: Manuscripts: Rosetti papers (approximately 600 items). Dorothy Kay papers (approximately 600 items). Melvin Simmers (approximately 400 items). Contemporary South African artists (approximately 80 items).
Finding aids: Manual catalogue and index. The library has contributed to NAREM.
National register participation: Contributed to NAREM and NAREF. Linked for on-line retrieval.
91. SOUTH AFRICAN NATIONAL GALLERY LIBRARY
Address: | Postal: PO Box 61, Cape Town, 8000 |
Street: Government Avenue | |
Telephone: | (021) 467 4677 |
Fax: | (021) 467 4680 |
E-mail: | jtruman-baker@iziko.org.za |
Website: | www.museums.org.za |
Enquiries to: | Head Librarian |
Hours of opening: | Mondays – Fridays 08h00-13h00, 14h00-16h00 |
Access: | The holdings are primarily for the use of staff, but they are loaned through inter-library loans. Students and other members of the public are welcome to use the material in the library but may not borrow it. A photocopier is available. |
Brief history: The present building in which the art collection is housed was opened in 1930. The library was initially established to provide a research resource for staff and academic scholars, but more recently has been made accessible to school students. There have been extreme budgeting restraints, particularly in 1988, when journal subscriptions had to be terminated. Some letters were preserved by the raising of funds from external sources. The area, in which the library collection is housed, has become inadequate and it is hoped that the problem will be rectified in time.
Acquisitions policy: The present policy follows that of the Gallery, in acquiring contemporary and in particular South African Art. The collection is supplemented by an Exchange programme with Art Institutions throughout the world. The catalogues received cover Art throughout the ages. The collection also includes monographs on Museology and Photography. Many of the journals include long runs from the first issue, and there are several reference tools such as indexes and dictionaries. There is a slide collection, mainly for the use of staff, and an extensive newspaper clipping collection which is indexed and ultimately put on a CD. This provides an invaluable resource from both a contemporary and an historical perspective.
Areas of specialisation: The collection, monographs, journals, slides and newspaper clippings, relate to art in all its forms, museums and galleries. Boxes containing current information about contemporary South African artists, have been assembled for the use of school students. These can be loaned by teachers over short periods. They include photocopies of articles, biographies and current work, as well as slides and occasionally tapes of interviews with the artists.
Core holdings: The resource materials are in many ways unique and consist of approximately 10 000 books, 87 current journal titles, 18 000 slides, a large pamphlet collection, news cuttings dating back to 1904 and 72 art boxes for students.
Finding aids: Reference books include Bryon’s Dictionary of Pointers and Ingrovers, Allgemeiner’s Lexieon…/Thèeme and Becker & Dictionaire: Peintres, Sculpteurs…/E. Benezit, Art Index, Art Bibliographies Modern etc. There is a card catalogue and electronic searching on a computer as from approximately 1992. There is an in-house index dating back to journals published as early as 1817.
National register participation: No, but there has been a certain amount of contribution towards SABINET.
92. SOUTH AFRICAN NATIONAL MUSEUM OF MILITARY HISTORY
Address: | Street: 22 Erlswold Way, Saxonwold, 2196 |
Postal: P.O. Box 502090, Saxonwold, 2132 | |
Telephone: | (011) 646-5513 |
Fax: | (011) 646-5256 |
E-mail: | milmus@icon.co.za |
Enquiries to: | The Director |
Hours of opening: | 09h00 to 13h00, 13h30 to 14h00 |
Access: | Open to the public. |
Brief history: South Africa participated in the First World War on the side of the Allies. Sadly no effort was made to establish a museum that could serve as a war memorial, and much of the war material collected in this period was dispersed. This mistake was not to be repeated during the Second World War (1939-1945). In 1940 Capt. J Agar-Hamilton was appointed official historian to the Union Defence Forces. He formed a Historical Research Committee to ensure the preservation of documents and materials of military interest, laying the foundation for the establishment of the Museum.
The South African National War Museum was opened at its present site by Prime Minister Jan Smuts on 29 August 1947. In 1975 the Museum’s name was changed to the South African National Museum of Military History to reflect its widened scope – all military conflict in which South Africans have taken part.
Acquisitions policy: The library purchases newly published books and accepts many donations from the public. The document archives and photograph archives are largely dependent on donations.
Areas of specialisation: The Museum’s extensive reference library has a unique collection of books, journals, archival material, audio-visuals, maps and photographs.
Interviews are regularly conducted in the library as part of an ongoing oral history collection project. In this way the Museum ensures that previously unrecorded experiences of ordinary servicemen and women are preserved for posterity. All the material collected has direct relevance to South African military participation. The Museum’s library serves researchers, model builders, school learners, university students, tour guides and many diverse members of the public with an interest in South Africa’s military past or the unique collections on exhibition. Recently there has been a growth in amateur genealogists but unfortunately no service records are held in the archives. These can be obtained from the Documentation Centre of the SANDF. These genealogical researchers can be helped with background information from the rich store in the reference library.
Core holdings: The library houses 16 000 books, 4 000 pamphlets, 8 000 archival files, 2 764 maps, 412 periodicals, 165 current periodicals, 80 000 photographs which include the Union Defence Force official photographs of the First and Second World Wars.
Finding aids: The library is not computerized. There is a card catalogue with subject, classified and author entries for books, pamphlets, periodical articles and archival files. A variation of DDC is used.
National register participation: NAREM and NAREF. Linked for on-line retrieval.
93. SOUTH AFRICAN POLICE SERVICE MUSEUM AND ARCHIVES
Address: | Street: 171 Pretorius Street, Pretoria, 0002 |
Postal: P.O. Box 4866, Pretoria, 0001 | |
Telephone: | (012) 353-6773 |
Fax: | (012) 353-6775 |
Enquiries to: | The Curator |
Hours of opening: | 08h00-15h30 |
Access: | Since the archives are functioning as a part of the SAPS there are restrictions upon sensitive and confidential documents. Information that is accessible to the public includes: Record cards; general documents; photographs and negatives; other related information via computers; magazines, news-papers and other published material (historical and present day). |
Brief history: The archives are situated in the Compol building (± 1909-12) on the corner of Volkstem and Pretorius Streets. Contents of the archives are being conserved in the form of a library and appropriate files and boxes.
Acquisitions policy: Newspapers (historical and present day). Magazines (historical and present day). Books and other published material (historical and present day). Videos. Films. Photographs and negatives (historical and present day). Donations (historical and present day).
Areas of specialisation: The complete history of the SAPS.
Core holdings: The history of crime and present day crime and documentary evidence. Record cards. Photographs and negatives.
Finding aids: Not stated.
National register participation: No.
Address: | Street: Ground Floor, Standard Bank Gallery, cnr Simmonds and Frederick Streets, Johannesburg |
Postal: Standard Bank Archives and Historical Services, P.O. Box 3124, Johannesburg, 2000 | |
Telephone: | (011) 636-5235 |
Fax: | (011) 636-5384 |
E-Mail: | archives@standardbank.co.za |
Enquiries to: | The Manager: Archives and Historical Services |
Hours of opening: | Monday - Friday 08h00-16h00 (preferably by prior arrangement) |
Access: | Unlimited access to records older than 40 years. |
Brief history: Records dating back to the 1860s were discovered in 1954 when the bank started preparing for its centenary in 1962. In the mid 1960s a pensioner was made custodian of the records. From 1970 appeals were made to employees to donate old records, but no formal acquisition policy existed. In May 1974 an “archivist” was appointed to expand the public relations function. In addition to research and writing functions, a concerted effort to collect and sort material and provide finding aids followed. The year 1980 saw the introduction of greater professionalism with the appointment of trained archivists.
Acquisitions policy: Collection of records with: Evidential value, Legal value, Informational/secondary value. Records are acquired: Passively: Material offered to the archives evaluated for retention. Actively: Determining which records are of archival value before they are offered to the archives.
Areas of specialisation: Standard Bank institutional records.
Core holdings: General Manager’s Office: Dates: 1863-1970s. Mainly correspondence. Heavily consulted for informational/ secondary value. Inspection Department: Dates: 1867-1945. Mainly reports. Heavily consulted for informational/secondary value. Policy making/Board Committees: Dates: Post 1953 - various. Minutes, papers tabled. Policy documents. Internally consulted for evidential and legal value. Staff Department: Dates: 1863-1992. Branch and admin. staff lists. Consulted for details re individuals’ careers, branch complements. Branches: Dates: Various. Selected records only - mainly evidence of accounts opened. Limited consultation. Regional and other departments: Dates: Various. Selected reports, correspondence, contracts, etc. Mainly consulted internally.
Finding aids: Unpublished - Lists. Database – for more recent records. Index cards.
National register participation: No.
95. STELLENBOSCH HEEMKRING/THE STELLENBOSCH CONSERVATION SOCIETY (DIE STELLENBOSSE HEEMKRING)
Address: | Street: Voorgelegen, 116 Dorp Street, Stellenbosch 7600 |
Postal: Voorgelegen, 116 Dorp Street, Stellenbosch 7600 | |
Telephone: | (021) 886-9468 |
Fax: | (021) 886-4400 |
Enquiries to: | The Archivist |
Hours of opening: | Monday – Friday 9h00 – 13h00 |
Access: | Members of the public. |
Brief history: Began in 1968 to collect and conserve the cultural heritage of Stellenbosch.
Acquisitions policy: The Stellenbosch Heemkring collects historical material of all kinds. The collection includes manuscripts, books, newspaper clippings, pictorial materials and audio recordings.
Areas of specialisation: Documents, newspaper clippings, books, tape recordings, photographs with regard to the history of the Stellenbosch area.
Core holdings: Books dealing with Stellenbosch. Documents such as programmes, letters, diaries, deeds of transfer, etc. Newspaper clippings, mainly the local weekly (Eikestadnuus). Photographs of Stellenbosch people. Tape recordings of interviews with residents of Stellenbosch and talks by speakers at member’s meetings.
Finding aids: The collections can be searched and accessed by catalogue cards or on the computerised catalogue.
National register participation: No.
Address: | Street: 37 Ryneveld Street, Stellen-bosch |
Postal: Private Bag X5048, Stellen-bosch, 7599 | |
Telephone: | (021) 887-2937 |
Fax: | (021) 883-2232 |
E-Mail: | Stelmus@mweb.co.za |
Website: | www.museums.org.za/stellmus |
Enquiries to: | The Librarian |
Hours of opening: | Monday - Friday 08h00-13h00, 14h00-16h30 |
Access: | The librarian is responsible for the handling of archival holdings. Only she may remove archival material from storage cabinets. She is allowed to make copies of required material for users, or, with permission, have it copied or photographed. |
Brief history: The archival collection is part of the museum’s reference library. The collection was built up since the foundation of the museum on 23 March 1962. The first official library was housed in the renovated wine cellar of the Van der Bijl House which was opened as the administrative headquarters of the museum on 12 February 1979. The library was moved to Erfurthuis in 1991. Erfurthuis was officially opened as the museum’s new headquarters on 20 September 1991.
Acquisitions policy: The library specialises in collecting archival material which is connected with the history of Stellenbosch.
Areas of specialisation: Material that is connected with the history of Stellenbosch.
Core holdings: The archival collection consists of the following: Postcards, photographs (mainly old buildings), 17th and 18th century documents on microfiche, estate inventories, plans of buildings, topographical maps and town plans, documents. The document collection and photograph collection form the main part of the archival collection. The photograph collection and topographical maps as well as the town plans are frequently used.
Finding aids: Indexes on cards.
National register participation: No.
Address: | Street: Vryheid Road, R33 |
Postal: Private Bag X2024, Dundee, 3000 | |
Telephone: | (034) 212-2654 |
Fax: | (034) 212-2376 |
E-mail: | info@talana.co.za |
Website: | www.talana.co.za |
Enquiries to: | The Curator |
Hours of opening: | Monday - Friday 08h00-16h30, Saturday, Sunday and Public holidays 10h00-16h30 |
Access: | Archives open weekdays. Weekends and public holidays only by prior arrangement. Available to all researchers. |
Acquisitions policy: Collecting all documents, photographs, maps, audio visual and all other data relating to our collections especially to our area and Northern KwaZulu-Natal.
Areas of specialisation: Anglo-Zulu War 1899, especially Isandhlwana, Rorkes Drift; Anglo-Boer I and II (1899-1902), especially Battle of Talana and Battles in Northern KwaZulu-Natal; Coal mining History (KwaZulu-Natal); Glass; Social/Economic Cultural History of Indumeni and Umzinyathi Districts (includes Dundee, Glencoe, Nqutu and related areas).
Core holdings: Anglo-Zulu War 1879: (especially Isandhlwana and Rorkes Drift); Anglo Boer War 1899-1902: (especially Battle of Talana and Battles in Northern Natal; British Forces in Northern Natal up to 1902); heavily consulted documents both wars; Coal mining Natal – only museum in Natal that is in possession of all documents relating to mining history in Natal; Social/Economic and Cultural History Indumeni and Umzinyathi Districts.
Finding aids: Archival filing system. Computerised databases are being developed.
National register participation: NAREF, NAREM. Linked for on-line retrieval.
Address: | Street: 152 Proes Street, Telkom Towers South, L/G 10, Pretoria |
Postal: Private Bag X74, Pretoria, 0001 | |
Telephone: | (012) 311-1169 |
Fax: | (012) 311-2222 |
E-mail: | Stofbecf@telkom.co.za |
Enquiries to: | The Archivist or Deputy Information Officer, Private Bag X145, Pretoria, 0001 |
Hours of opening: | Monday – Friday 07h30-16h30 |
Access: | Though the use of the archives by employees and scholars is widely encouraged, as there are records automatically available to the public and employees, there are some restrictions regarding company sensitive and confidential records. Telkom acts in accordance with the Promotion of Access to Information Act regarding the latter records. All public users must use the prescribed form to make the request for access to a record. A manual in this regard is available from the Deputy Information Officer via the Telkom portal: www.Telkom.co.za |
Brief history: The Archives was established in August 1994. (The first archivist was Charles Stofberg Ph.D). After moving first from the Somerset house in 1996 to the Annex building, a purposely designed, state of the art repository was built at the lower ground in the TTS building on the Telkom main campus in 2001. It houses ± 3 200 lin. metres of records.
Acquisitions policy: Telkom’s Archives collects records/documents of all kinds to enhance its core field of interest that is telecommunication. It would therefore not only include Telkom related records, but material from Labour Unions, etc, donated to the Archives. The Archives, however gets most of its records from the Telkom Service Organisations (divisions, sections) which no longer need the documents in their possession and are then transferred to the repository.
Areas of specialisation: The Archives focus mainly on all matters relating to telecommunication in South Africa, from the earliest times to present. It would however also include records from other Telco’s and institutions. Since the Archives is integrated with the Library the other Telco’s are a focus point for comparative studies and market intelligence.
Core holdings: The Archives houses a great variety of records and not all collections/groups can be mentioned. The annual reports start in 1872 – (also on CD as backup). There are the old Post Office Circulars (since 1917) and P & T archives (since 1963) and records from various technical departments such as transmission, switching, exchanges, cable files, laboratory result reports, etc. Other kinds of groups include Marketing, HR, Customer Care, Demand Forecast, Telkom Foundation (including Black economic empowerment), minutes of the Board of Directors and the Operating Committee, Corporate Communications, Operations Systems Support, etc. It also houses many financial records since 1900. There are also a number of “personal” groups such as those of retired executives and other high ranking officials.
Other collections include a very big newspaper clipping collection – all Telkom related matters. ± 3500 videos regarding Telkom’s in-house matters and national ad’s. There are technical manuals and drawings since 1925. The photograph collection was recently extended and includes thousands of old historical photos of Telkom. There is an old magazine collection since 1921. The Telephone and Telegraph Association Collection since 1918. Every telephone directory ever printed in South Africa since 1910.
Finding aids: A comprehensive Index to the Archives (unpublished) was compiled and can be used to access the archives groups. A number of archival groups are listed in detail – this would include arranged/appraised as well as un-arrranged/un-appraised groups. The Archives uses the electronic retrieval system called “Asksam”. 13 000 records can be accessed on this database. Makes use also of electronic management by using E-Dox for the day-to-day storage of records throughout the company.
National register participation: No. The Library is linked to SABINET.
99. TRANSNET HERITAGE LIBRARY AND ARCHIVES
Address: | Street: 96 Rissik Street, corner of Rissik and De Villiers Streets, Johannesburg |
Postal: P.O. Box 3753, Johannesburg, 2000 | |
Telephone: | (011) 773-9523 |
Fax: | (011) 774-3415 |
E-Mail: | EurikaD@transnet.co.za |
Website: | http://www.transnetheritagefoundation.co.za |
Enquiries to: | The Librarian |
Hours of opening: | Monday - Friday 07h45-15h45 (except public holidays) |
Access: | Open to the public. |
Brief history: The Transnet Heritage Library caters for the information needs of researchers and users interested in the history of transportation and the development of railways in South Africa since 1859.
Acquisitions policy: The Transnet Heritage Library adds archival material to its collection which is regarded as historically relevant to Transnet’s history.
Areas of specialisation: Rail transportation (steam, diesel and electric, stations), Harbours (ships, tugs, lighthouses), Airways (airports, aircraft, special flights), Pipelines, Road transport (road motor vehicles, buses, abnormal loads) etc. Information on the Anglo Boer War/South African War, World War I and II. Civil Engineering (bridges, railway buildings, harbour developments), Mechanical Engineering (tracks and permanent way, railway workshop), Electrical Engineering (electrification of railway lines, signaling and train control).
Core holdings: Publications (books, magazines, archival material and photographs) relating to Transnet and its predecessors, i.e. CGR, NGR, NZASM, OVSS, IMR, SAR & H, SATS, Private Railway Companies (annual reports, departmental reports, timetables, staff magazines, publicity brochures etc).
Finding aids: Holdings are in the process of being computerised. Catalogue available on the internet in 2006.
National register participation: No.
100. ULUNDI ARCHIVES REPOSITORY
Address: | Street: Blocks 4D, 4E, 4F, 4G, 4H - Unit A, Ulundi |
Postal: Private Bag X75, Ulundi, 3838 | |
Telephone: | (035) 879-8500 |
Fax: | (035) 879-8518 |
E-mail: | archives@uld.kzntl.gov.za |
Enquiries to: | Provincial Archivist |
Hours of opening: | Monday - Friday 07h30-16h00 |
Access: | Upon request. Users include researches from all over the world, local Universities and members of the public. |
Brief history: Ulundi Archives Repository was established in terms of the KwaZulu Natal Act 1992 (Act No. 12 of 1992). It is sharing responsibility with two other repositories i.e. Durban and Pietermaritzburg in terms of the new KwaZulu Natal Archives Act 2000 (Act no. 5 of 2000). It focuses its resources on an extensive Records Management service and Archives Management.
Acquisitions policy: Ulundi Archives Repository collects records from all the ex-KwaZulu government offices including records from the KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Administration. The Repository has an Oral History section which documents the unrecorded aspects of our nation’s past that has been neglected in the past. The collections include video and audio recordings which are migrated into a paper media. The repository is also mandated to collect private archives.
Areas of specialisation: Ulundi Archives Repository is strong in collecting the Zulu customs and has already covered the theme “Rites of passage.” Ulundi Archives is presently building up a collection of Oral Histories and is interviewing all the Amakhosi areas in KwaZulu-Natal.
Core holdings: Archival material from all the departments in the former KwaZulu Government, Magistrates and Commissioners, individual court records, Commissioner – General, Department of Bantu Administration, EX – KwaZulu Government cabinet resolutions, Commissions of Enquiries i.e. Buthelezi and Goldstone, Department of Authority Affairs, Population, Land and Trade matters.
Finding aids: Unpublished lists.
National register participation: No.
Address: | Street: 310 Burger Street, Pieter-maritzburg, 3201 |
Postal: P.O. Box 9, Pietermaritzburg, 3200 | |
Telephone: | (033) 341-1111 |
Fax: | (033) 341-1088 |
E-mail: | gisela.atkinson@umgeni.co.za |
Website: | http://www.umgeni.co.za/ |
Enquiries to: | The Corporate Archivist |
Hours of opening: | Weekdays 07h30-15h30 |
Access: | Accessible but mainly used by Umgeni Water staff. |
Brief history: Constructed 1992; contains records from central Registry filing system (discontinued ± 1991) and full volumes from the 36 decentralised systems currently operational.
Acquisitions policy: Internal - full volumes from current filing systems. Financial documentation is sent to off-site storage. External - as a result of extensions to our area and takeovers of waterworks etc. External material is appraised prior to archiving. Maps/plans are not accepted at this stage.
Areas of specialisation: Engineering, Water Resources Management, Reticulation of water to rural areas, Water Quality Assurance, Scientific Analysis, Information Technology, Environmental issues.
Core holdings: Minutes of Board and Management meetings. Contracts (engineering). Planning and feasibility studies. Liaison with other organisations. Conferences. Historical information relating to the company.
Finding aids: Electronic data base (boxes are in random storage).
National register participation: No.
Address: | Street: Cnr of Owen Street and Nelson Mandela Drive, Nelson Mandela Museum |
Postal: PO Box 93, Umtata | |
Telephone: | (047) 532-2968 |
083 5496 255 | |
Fax: | (047) 532-3006 |
Enquiries to: | The Provincial Archivist |
Hours of opening: | Monday to
Thursday 08h00 – 16h30 Friday 08h00 – 16h00 |
Access: | The Umtata Archives has users of the Eastern Cape, particularly Transkei, who take full advantage of this institution. Researchers from other parts of South Africa in universities like Rhodes and Cape Town also visit the Archives. Rhodes University used to refer students from abroad until the Archives were removed from the basement of the Bunga building. Archives will be stored at a renovated building at the back of the Bunga Building. Local schools and Technikons, Unitra and Fort Hare find these archives accessible. Chiefs and Headmen, Public Servants and the community at large consult these Archives. |
Brief history: After the formation of the Union of South Africa in 1910 the Transkei Territorial Authorities was formed. Chiefs and Headmen, officials from the Tribal Authorities and some Public Servants formed the governing body of the then Transkei Annexed Territory. This body called the Bunga, was answerable to the South African Government in Pretoria. The Umtata Archives was established as a result of this venture. Debates of the Bunga were compiled. Records from the Chief Magistrate offices were collected. These records gave an account of rural and urban life in Transkei.
Acquisitions policy: The Umtata Archives collections comprise of Chief Magistrate files called Chiefs and Headmen. The history contained in these files envelopes the history of rural and urban Transkei as compiled by magistrate offices. Transkei Territorial Authorities files, giving an account of how the Bunga was conducted. Civil and Criminal cases also transferred by the magistrate offices of Transkei. Land Allotment files are also found in this collection. Departmental files of the Transkei Homeland Government were transferred during the Apartheid era. Financial books and cashbooks from the Village Management Boards are also included. Transkei Statutes, Hansards, historical collections of Theal and Transkei Territorial Authorities reports, form part of the library. Photographs, maps, a compiled genealogy, one nagra tape with oral history recording are also housed here. There is a bulk of Transkei Records in Cape Town Archives. These records were recalled from these Archives during the Transkei Homeland government era. These records are due to be returned when adequate space is provided in the Archives.
Areas of specialisation: The Chief Magistrate files called Chiefs and Headmen are the areas of specialization in these Archives since Transkei is largely rural. Rural and urban history of development of Transkei forms most of the research material. A history of political uprisings is also collected but is still in Cape Town Archives.
Core holdings: The collections of the history of rural and urban Tranksei, the family trees of the ethnic groups of Transkei chiefs and headmen including the Transkei communities at large are largely researched. Histories of ethnic groups like Pondos, Tembus, Baca’s, Fingoes, Pondomises, Bomvanas, Sotos and other can be found. Genealogy is also frequently researched.
Finding aids: Indexes of the files are compiled and used as finding aids. There are no computerised finding aids yet.
National register participation: No.
103. UNIVERSITY ARCHIVES, UNIVERSITY OF KWAZULU-NATAL, PIETERMARITZBURG CAMPUS
Address: | Street: University Archives Building, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg Campus, Golf Road part of the campus – behind the School of Psychology and the Hexagon Theatre, Scottsville. |
Postal: University Archives, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg Campus, Private Bag X01, Scottsville, 3209. | |
Telephone: | (033) 260-5622 |
Fax: | (033) 260-5622 |
E-mail: | Jenkinsb@ukzn.ac.za (Archivist: Bronwyn Jenkins) |
mkhizese@ukzn.ac.za (Principal Archives Assistant: Senzo Mkhize) | |
Website: | The University Archives does not have its own website. However, the Archives’ contact details and a very brief description of the collection are included on the University Library (Pietermaritzburg Campus) website. The Library website address is: http://www.library.unp.ac.za . The Archives’ details appear on: http://www.library.unp.ac.za/id12.htm |
Enquiries to: | The Archivist or the Principal Archives Assistant. |
Hours of opening: | Monday to Friday: 8h15 – 13h00 |
Access: | Archives holdings are available for consultation by all-staff and students of the University of KwaZulu-Natal (five campuses), as well as members of the public. The latter include researchers from South Africa and abroad. Alumni also comprise a proportion of the public served. Users must complete a registration form agreeing to abide by the Rules for consulting material at the University Archives, before they may consult any material. Material is available for consultation in the reading room, but is not available for loan.Users must visit the Archives in person to do their research. Archives staff are not in a position to undertake research for users. Staff will however do their best to find information which is needed. There is no charge to consult material at the Archives. |
Brief history: The University Archives was established, it seems, early in 1976. In a circular of the 16th February of that year, the Principal, Professor Stock, informed academic staff that the then University of Natal recognized that it had a responsibility for the preservation of records containing evidence and information on the University’s origins and development, and the achievements of staff and students. A decision had been made that the University should embark on an organised plan for the collection and preservation of material of permanent value, for the proper arrangement and cataloguing of this material and for the provision of a reference service based on these records. Miss Margery Moberly of the University Library was seconded to the Administration staff to launch the project. Prior to this ‘launch’ however, a small committee under the chairmanship of the Principal had, as early as August 1973, been discussing the possibility of establishing and maintaining a University Archives.
Miss Moberly’s position as Archivist was part-time (a few hours per week) and included the Durban campus. In 1977 when Miss Moberly was appointed to the position of Press Organiser, the Archives was partially shelved. It was only in December 1979 that a new Archivist was appointed, who began on a temporary basis of 12 hours per week.
There was an intention to establish a separate University Archives on the Durban campus, however this has never come to fruition.
The Archives was at first temporarily accommodated in the University Library building in Pietermaritzburg. It was then housed in the same building as the University Press, behind Old Main Building. Expansion of both the Archives and the Press resulted in the Archives moving to 165A King Edward Avenue in September 1982 (another source states April 1984) occupying a portion of this house. In November-December 1999, the Archives moved to its present premises on the Golf Road part of the Pietermaritzburg campus, behind the School of Psychology and the Hexagon Theatre.
The Archives was under the management of the Library from its establishment up until the end of 1981. At the beginning of 1982, the Archives was transferred to Administration for several reasons, including that it liaised with Administration more than with the Library. At some stage pre-May 1990, the Archives was transferred under the management of Human Resources. In January 1997 the Archives was transferred back under the management of the Library.
Acquisitions policy: The University Archives collects records of permanent value which reveal the origins and development of the University. The collection spans 1910, when Natal University College (NUC) was established, through the years of the former University of Natal (UN) (1949-2003), to the present day University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) (1 January 2004-). The collection covers both the Pietermaritzburg and Durban campuses (Howard College and Medical School), and more recently, publications from the Edgewood (Pinetown) and Westville campuses have been received. Records include publications, documents, photographs, press-cuttings, audio-visual material, some memorabilia items and electronic documents.
Areas of specialisation: The University Archives has not specialised in any particular area of the University’s history. It does however strive to maintain a complete collection of University publications. As a service to the University Community, the Archives deposits University publications with the Legal Deposit Libraries. In providing this service, the Archives ensures it receives a copy of every publication for the collection.
Core holdings: These include: University publications: produced by academic disciplines and schools, support divisions (including Public Affairs and the University Press), research units, and student publications. Frequently consulted ‘official’ publications include: University calendars (yearbooks)/faculty handbooks, graduation ceremony programmes and annual reports of the Vice-Chancellor and University Principal.
Minutes and agenda of University bodies and committees: include University Council, Senate, Boards of Faculty, and numerous other University committees.
A photograph collection: Over 5000 accessioned photographs and albums. Includes photographs of University buildings and grounds; individuals; ceremonies and functions; group staff, student, residence, sport, and SRC photographs; RAG activities and department photographs.
Biographical information: (including CV’s) on past and present staff, prominent alumni, and honorary graduates.
Papers of prominent persons associated with the University, and records from particular University offices. Examples include: Papers of Professor John Bews (first Principal of NUC), and Dr EG Malherbe (third Principal of NUC/later UN), records of the Deputy Registrar and Director of Administration of the former University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg.
Press cuttings on University activities/events and persons.
Past examination question papers
University Oral History Project interviews: Video-recorded interviews with eight University persons who have also been actively involved in the broader community.
Other audio-visual material.
Some memorabilia items (e.g. University blazers, ties, old sign board).
A ‘trial’ or pilot electronic archives (in progress): Electronic documents – commenced as a pilot project and not accessible to the University community as yet.
Finding aids: Most of the University Archives’ holdings are catalogued on the Library’s (PMB Campus) URICA catalogue. The catalogue is accessible from the Library website: http://www.library.unp.ac.za . Material housed at the Archives has the prefix ‘AR’ in the location field. Retrospective cataloguing of material which lacks a URICA entry, is undertaken, where possible.
An OPAC terminal in the Archives reading room allows users to search the URICA catalogue. Paper author, title and subject finding lists of Archives’ holdings (generated from the URICA catalogue) are also available in the reading room.
The Archives Guide to the arrangement used in the Archives (unpublished paper format) may be consulted at the Archives to obtain an overview of the collection, the kinds of records available and how records are arranged.
A card index to the phogograph collection is available in the Reading Room.
A name card index to the biographical collection is maintained, whilst entries are also added and amended on the URICA catalogue.
Paper descriptive lists are available for collections in the ‘SP’ section (“Special collections – private papers of individuals and groups connected with the University”).
Paper descriptive lists are also available for the Academic Staff Association records (ST3), the Lecturers’ Association records (ST4). Paper descriptive lists of volumes of past examination question papers (DE) are available. These listings are currently being added-to (recent listings also available as electronic files on request).
Paper subject and sequential indices for each of the eight University Oral History Project interviews are nearing completion (also available as electronic files on request). Paper transcripts (intended to be used with the videos) are also in progress.
National register participation: NAREM. Available for on-line retrieval.
104. UNIVERSITY OF CAPE TOWN LIBRARIES: MANUSCRIPTS AND ARCHIVES DEPARTMENT
Address: | Street: University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, 7701 |
Postal: UCT, Private Bag, Rondebosch, 7701 | |
Telephone: | (021) 650-3123 |
Fax: | (021) 686-1505 |
E-mail: | mss@uctlib.uct.ac.za |
Website: | http://www.lib.uct.ac.za/mss/ |
Enquiries to: | The Head Librarian |
Hours of opening: | Monday -
Friday 08h30-17h00, Saturday 09h00-13h00 (term), 09h00-12h30 (vacation) |
Access: | Post-graduate and senior under-graduate students. Bona fide researchers (with letter of introduction). |
Brief history: The collecting of manuscripts at UCT Libraries was started by Dr RFM Immelman, University Librarian in the 1940s, and originally housed in his office. During the 1960s a separate section was established under Mr Gerald Quinn. In 1973 the department moved into a separate area with its own reading room for researchers. In 1989 the department moved to its present quarters in the Oppenheimer Building, which also houses the Centre for African Studies.
Acquisitions policy: To collect manuscripts relating to the political, social, cultural and economic history of the Western Cape, in order to support research needs of the students and staff of the University of Cape Town. Any other aspects regarded as necessary to the research needs of students and staff at the University, either at the present time or at some future date, will also be collected. The personal papers of individuals associated with the university (former students, academic staff etc.) are also collected.
Areas of specialisation: South African (specifically Western Cape) politics and history (19th and 20th century). South African literature, music, religion. African languages. Architectural collections (Western Cape).
Core holdings: South African politics and history: M and WG Ballinger, Black Sash, Mary Burton, Sir P Duncan, Colin Eglin, HG Lawrence, Leo Marquard, DB Molteno, Jack and Ray Simons, WP Schreiner, Sir W Stanford, Dr J Stewart, Unity Movement of SA, S Waterson. South African literature: C Louis Leipoldt, Olive Schreiner, Pauline Smith. Architectural collections: Sir Herbert Baker and partners, Black and Fagg, Parker and Forsyth, Roelof Uytenbogaardt and Jack Barnett. African languages: WHI Bleek, Lestrade, EO Westphal. Religion: Large number of Jewish Collections, Religious Society of Friends (Quakers). Newspapers: Cape Times Collection. Anthropology: Monica and Godfrey Wilson. Archaeology: AJH Goodwin.
Finding aids: Guide to the Manuscripts in the University of Cape Town Libraries. Inventories of individual collections available to researchers. Over 500 finding aids are available in full text on the website.
National register participation: Contributes to NAREM. Linked for on-line retrieval.
105. UNIVERSITY OF DURBAN-WESTVILLE DOCUMENTATION CENTRE
Address: | Postal: Private Bag X54001, Durban, 4000 |
Telephone: | (031) 204-4350/204-4351 |
Fax: | (031) 204-4018 |
E-mail: | ramdhani@pixie.udw.ac.za |
Enquiries to: | The Director/The Librarian |
Hours of opening: | 08h00-16h00 |
Access: | All materials held on campus. Items may be used with permission. No items available for loan. |
Brief history: Established in 1979. Prof. GS Nienaber, Chairman of the Council of the University of Durban-Westville motivated for the establishment of a documentation centre for the Indian South African. Up to 1979 no attempt was made to document the history of this minority group who arrived at the Cape from 1652 (Malays) and into Natal since 1860. Today, the centre functions as an archive and museum extending its activity by documenting the history of the region (KwaZulu-Natal).
Acquisitions policy: Items acquired by donations and purchases. All materials on two major aspects, the Indian South African and KwaZulu-Natal are systematically collected and developed.
Areas of specialisation: Indian South African. KwaZulu-Natal History. Contemporary issues. University archive. History of women in resistance. History of resistance in KwaZulu-Natal. India South Africa relations. Oral history. History of organisations involved in the anti-apartheid activity. History of the University community.
Core holdings: Ship’s list of indentured Indians. Bhana Collection. Newspapers and newspaper cuttings. Tasa Collection. Phyllis Naidoo Collection. Social welfare files. University archives. Gandhi Collection. Biographies. Organisations (social, cultural, religious). Photographs. Education, commerce, arts and crafts. Christian Indians. Muslims. Indians abroad. Language and literature (Indian). Contemporary issues. Indentured Indians. Politics and political organisations. Shanti Naidoo Resistance Collection. Justice Manival Moodley Collection.
Finding aids: Computerised catalogue (in-house). A bibliography on Indians in South Africa: A guide to materials at the Documentation Centre/K Chetty - published ISBN 0-947445-02-1. Copies available on request.
National register participation: NAREM participation in progress. Linked for on-line retrieval.
106. UNIVERSITY OF JOHANNESBURG LIBRARY AND INFORMATION CENTRE, RARE BOOK COLLECTION AND ARCHIVES
Address: | Street: University of Johannesburg Library and Information Centre, corner of University and Kingsway, Auckland Park |
Postal: P.O. Box 524, Auckland Park, 2006 | |
Telephone: | (011) 489 2630 |
(011) 489-2171 | |
Fax: | (011) 726-7723 |
E-mail: | hwl@bib.rau.ac.za |
pmh@bib.rau.ac.za | |
info@bib.rau.ac.za | |
Website: | www.uj.ac.za/library |
Enquiries to: | Head: Rare Book Collection |
Hours of opening: | Monday -
Thursday 08h00-13h00, 13h30-16h30 Friday 08h00-13h00, 13h30-16h00 |
Access: | Fully accessible by prior arrangement. Users include postgraduate and undergraduate students, university staff and members of the public from Johannesburg and Pretoria. |
Brief history: Established in the 1980’s to house the documents collected by the History Dept. of the University of the history of the Afrikaans community in the Witwatersrand. The collection has grown because of kind donations and includes a collection on the history of the Greek community in Southern Africa as well as the N.J. van Warmelo Collection which provides valuable insight into the Culture of the Black people of South Africa and Namibia. The University Archives, which reflect the University’s history and character since its founding, are also housed on the premises of the Rare Book Collection.
Acquisitions policy: The Rare Book Collection Dept. collects material of all kinds to support research of staff and students into the history of Southern Africa and related fields in the social sciences.
Areas of specialisation: The Rare Book Collection holdings are particularly strong with regard to the history of Johannesburg, the history of the Afrikaans community in Gauteng, the history of the Greek Community in South Africa and ethno-historical data on the Black people of South Africa and Namibia.
Core holdings: Johannesburg collection consists of 137 individual collections. Examples of other important collections include the Hellenic Archives of Southern Africa, ethnological research material and photographs in the NJ van Warmelo collection; minutes, correspondence and reports of the various working committees of the HSRC Investigation into Education, G-M van der Waal collection of photographs of Johannesburg and the Archives of the University itself.
Finding aids: Unpublished finding aids available to most collections. All material housed in the Rare Book Collection is listed on the Library’s catalogue (JINK). The catalogue is accessible via the Library’s home page at www.uj.ac.za/library. In addition, the Rare Book Collection is linked to the National Register of Manuscripts (NAREM), Photographs (NAREF) and Audio-Visual Material (NAROM).
National register participation: The Rare Book Collection contributes to the NAREM, NAREF and NAROM, and is linked for on-line retrieval.
107. UNIVERSITY OF PORT ELIZABETH ARCHIVES
Address: | Street: The Archives, The Library, Summerstrand Campus (South), Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University |
Postal: PO Box 6058, Port Elizabeth, 6000 | |
Telephone: | (041) 504-2290 |
Fax: | (041) 504-2280 |
E-mail: | rita.fokker@upe.ac.za |
Enquiries to: | The Archivist |
Hours of opening: | Monday - Friday 09h00-13h00 during school terms, published material available after hours and during school holidays, requested at Lending Services Library. |
Access: | Material is not issued but may be consulted by any person who abides by the rules and regulations of the Archives. |
Brief history: The Archives have existed since 1974, though only accommodated in an ordinary office. During 1995 a spacious new venue was created on the ground floor of the Library NMMU Summerstrand Campus (South), where the documents could be better displayed for visitors and interested persons to view and consult for research purposes.
Acquisitions policy: Documents created by University staff in the performance of their duties. Documents of enduring administrative, legal, financial, historical and research value. The Archives preserve and store only documents of and relating to the University of Port Elizabeth. Documents include student publications and documents about student activities.
Areas of specialisation: All UPE documents of and relating to the University.
Core holdings: See acquisitions policy and areas of specialisation.
Finding aids: Library catalogue. Millenium III.
National register participation: No.
108. UNIVERSITY OF PRETORIA ARCHIVES
Address: | Street: Human Sciences Building 5-8, University of Pretoria, Lynnwood Road, Hillcrest, Pretoria |
Postal: UP Archives, Department of Historical and Heritage Studies, University of Pretoria, Lynnwood Road, Hillcrest, Pretoria, 0083 | |
Telephone: | (012) 420-2123 |
Fax: | (012) 420-2656 |
Cellular phone: | 082 582 3809 |
E-mail: | argief@postino.up.ac.za |
Website: | www.up.ac.za |
Enquiries to: | The Archivist |
Hours of opening: | Monday to Friday 08h30 – 15h30 |
Access: | The Archives of the University of Pretoria (UP Archives) serves a wide range of researchers including international and local scholars, university students and staff, the media, as well as the general public. It aims to form an integral part of the University and broader community both as a memory bank and as an active stakeholder in the training and servicing of undergraduate and postgraduate students in the relevant disciplines. |
Brief history: The UP Archives was established in September 1994. It was decided that all documents and material relevant to the University’s past should be preserved and sorted in a central repository. As custodians of the institution’s heritage it strives to make research information accessible to a wide range of users, and is currently focusing on the forthcoming centenary celebrations of the founding of the University of Pretoria. It is also the custodian of the records of the Pretoria College of education and the Goudstad College of Education.
Acquisitions policy: The UP Archives collects all materials relevant to the inception, history and development of the University of Pretoria, as well as the former Pretoria College of Education and the Goudstad College of Education. In collaboration with faculties, departments and other institutional divisions, all material with intrinsic value is preserved and inventoried. Relevant donations and legacies from students, alumni and the public are welcomed, subject to the University’s donations policy. The UP Archives also strives to obtain and preserve material regarding student activities and bodies through promotion of interactive projects.
Areas of specialisation: Original documentation, including University and other related institutions’ minutes, annual reports and material relevant to the founding, development and activities of University faculties, departments, institutes, centers, divisions and student bodies. Publications such as commemorative volumes, periodicals, newspapers, magazines, brochures, programmes, annual reports, inaugural lectures, placards and catalogues. All information regarding both academic and administrative staff as well as students. Photographs, slides, films, videos and audiotapes as well as objects of cultural historical value relevant to the University.
Core holdings: Primary and secondary documentation regarding the history of the University and its faculties, departments, institutes, divisions, staff and students. Photographic and other visual material relevant to the University’s wide range of activities, physical structure, staff and students. Objects, relevant to the University, that are of cultural and historical value. The core archival collection measures in excess of 400 linear metres. The photographic collection consists of more than 10 000 photographs.
Finding aids: Selected material housed in the UP Archives is listed on the Archives’ computerised catalogue (DBText), or in the Archives’ card catalogue system. Photographic material is inventoried on the Archives’ computer catalogue. The UP Archives also produces a Register of Documents, which serves as a general finding aid for documents held.
National register participation: In Progress.
109. UNIVERSITY OF PRETORIA: MAPUNGUBWE MUSEUM
Address: | Postal/Street: SASOL African Heritage Exhibition, Mapungubwe Museum, Old Arts Building Room 2-4, Marketing Services: Cultural Affairs, University of Pretoria. Pretoria, 0002 |
Telephone: | (012) 420-3146 |
Fax: | (012) 420-2262 |
E-mail: | mapungubwe@postino.up.ac.za |
Website: | www.cindek.org |
Enquiries: | The Curator Mapungubwe Collection |
Hours of opening: | Tuesdays – Fridays 10h30 – 16h00 (By appointment only) |
Access: | The Mapungubwe Archives function together with the museum, however public access to the archives is open by appointment only as the archive is only in a developmental and conservation phase. The University of Pretoria welcomes the general public, researchers, under & post graduate students, other tertiary institutions and schools of either national or international standing to utilize the Mapungubwe Archives. |
Brief history: The Mapungubwe Archives documents a seventy-year period of the Iron Age archaeological site of Mapungubwe by the custodian, University of Pretoria. Begun in the 1930’s this collection comprises documents, reports and photographic material. The archives only began to be systematically ordered in the late 1980’s by Prof. Andrie Meyer (Head of Archaeology). In 2001, the Centre for Indigenous knowledge committed itself to the conservation and electronic formatting of the archives. The Mapungubwe museum is still developing this project in 2003.
Acquisitions policy: The Mapungubwe archives collect materials of all kinds (newspaper clippings, audio-visual, research documentation) related to any aspect concerning Mapungubwe, both the site and its archaeological collection. The aim is to continue building up the archive from the 1930’s with present day information and database it so that all information is on hand. Documents, public/consumer material, educational material, media reports, academic publications, photographs, slides, drawings, sketches, reports, maps and any audio-visual material concerning Mapungubwe is added annually. A Library is also in the process of development, acquisitions to the museum, library and archive are monitored, catalogued and are in the process of conserving and being made available in the near future.
Areas of specialisation: The Mapungubwe Archives together with the permanent museum specialise on the archaeological site of Mapungubwe and its collection, Iron Age in the Limpopo Valley, Archaeology in general and the history of investigations at Mapungubwe and some related archaeological sites.
Core holdings: The Archives consisting of 16 000 recorded documents covering 1932 – 1980. These documents continue till the present day but have not been catalogued as yet. The documentation of the Mapungubwe Archives are in various mediums: manuscript, typed and hand written texts, printed and hand-drawn maps, reports, letters, sketchings, drawings, newspaper and magazine clippings.
The second part of the archive is the Mapungubwe photographic records consisting of glass negatives, photo negatives, slide and audio-visual material.
There is only one Mapungubwe Archive consisting of the above. The University of Pretoria has a separate archives covering the history of the institution. This is separate from the Mapungubwe Archives.
Finding aids: Most of the Archival material is listed electronically on a database in a catalogued format. Scanning the documents and photo archive is still in progress. However all documents are available in original or photocopy. Some of the published material is available at the University’s Academic Information Centre on a computerised catalogue. None of the archival information is available on the Internet. Once the project is completed, the intention is to open the archives to the public and place it on the Internet.
National register participation: No.
110. UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH AFRICA LIBRARY
Address: | Street: Unisa Library (Samuel Pauw Building), Preller Street, Muckleneuk Ridge, Pretoria |
Postal: Archival and Special Collections, Unisa Library, P.O. Box 392, Pretoria, 0003 | |
Telephone: | (012) 429-2560 |
Fax: | (012) 429-2925 |
E-mail: | Coetzma@alpha.unisa.ac.za |
Website: | http://www.unisa.ac.za/library |
Enquiries to: | Head: Archival and Special Collections |
Hours of opening: | Monday - Friday 07h45-16h00. Closed on public holidays and between Christmas and New Year. |
Access: | Scholars and students (local and overseas) are admitted free of charge for research purposes. |
Brief history: The history of the University of South Africa dates back to 1873, when the University of the Cape of Good Hope was established. The Unisa Library only came into being in 1946 when Unisa introduced distance teaching. The Section Archival and Special Collections developed in the early seventies. Over the years a number of very valuable and unique archival collections have been acquired.
Acquisitions policy: The archival collections in the Unisa Library consist of donations and a very small percentage of bought materials. Only donations in the specialisation field of the Library are accepted and on the following conditions. Donors must agree in writing that the material will be permanently housed in the Archives; and that the material may be made available to visitors and scholars in the reading-room for teaching, study and research purposes.
Areas of specialisation: The Unisa Archives collects and preserves archival material concerned with the University of South Africa and its predecessor, the University of the Cape of Good Hope. The Unisa Library is the official custodian and processor of the United Party Archives. The Unisa Documentation Centre for African Studies was established with the aim of collecting historical and contemporary materials concerning the Black, Coloured and Indian communities of Southern Africa. From 1994 onwards, the acquisition has been broadened to include all population groups in South Africa. The Hesse Collection of German Africana contains material reflecting the German contribution to South African culture over many decades. The Manuscripts Collection includes a wide range of manuscripts and archival collections of historical, cultural and research value which have been donated to the Unisa Library by individuals and organisations. After an agreement between Unisa and the Board of SAILIS in 1988, the Unisa Library became the official depository for the archives of the South African Library Association (SALA) and the South African Institute for Library and Information Science (SAILIS).
Core holdings: The Unisa Library houses the archives of the University of South Africa and its predecessor, the University of the Cape of Good Hope. The archival material of the UP’s predecessors, such as Het Volk, the Afrikaner Bond, the South African Party and its successor, the New Republic Party are part of the United Party Archives. Apart from the official material, the Archives also has several private collections of which the Sir de Villiers Graaff Collection is the most important. The Documentation Centre for African Studies collects historical and contemporary archival material in the political, theological, social, economic, cultural and historical fields. The materials include: Private collections: AWG Champion, Tom Swartz, Sonny Leon, DC Marivate, DDT Jabavu, ZK Matthews and others. Organisations/associations: Archives of the African Teachers’ Association of South Africa and other teachers organisations; the archives of the National African Federated Chamber of Commerce (microfiche); the papers of the Natal Indian Congress and the South African Indian Congress. Election materials. Microfilms of political organisations, trade unions, private collections of documents (e.g. Carter and Karis) and newspapers. The manuscripts in the Hesse Collection of German Africana consist of diaries (mainly 19th century missionaries of the Berlin and Hermannsburg Mission Societies), family histories, genealogies and biographies. The archives of various German organisations in South Africa are also housed in the Unisa Library, e.g. the South African German Cultural Society, the Deutschafrikanische Jugend, the Deutscher Lehrerverein, the Deutsch-Afrikanischer Studentenbund der Universität Pretoria and the South African Association for German Studies. The Manuscripts Collection includes the following collections of individuals and organisations: Henri Alexandre Junod (1863-1934) and Henri Philippe Junod (1897-1987); LF Maingard (1884-1986); HJ De Vleeschauer (1937-1978). Literary collections: DF du Toit (Oom Lokomotief) (1846-1923); Afrikaanse Skrywerskring; Johann Lodewyk and René Marais; Arthur Nortjé; Ethelreda Lewis; Robert Pearce; John Eppel: HA Fagan; Nora Stevenson; Sarah Gertrude Millin; John McIntosh. Music collections: Hennie Joubert; Richard Cherry; Pretoria Music Society; Rosa Nepgen. Anglo-Boer War collections: WA du Plessis; MM Bresler; Jacoba Steenkamp; Elisaveta Foxcroft; Louis Edouard Favre-Bulle; Slotow; British officers’ diaries (Lt Colonel SB von Donop, Capt DH Gill and Lt RC Alexander). Associations: The Girl Guides; YWCA; Council for English Education; Nursery School Association of SA; SA Mathematical Society; Association for Sociology in SA. The archives of the South African Library Association (SALA) and the South African Institute for Library and Information Science (SAILIS).
Finding aids: The archival collections may be accessed via NAREM (Documentation Centre for African Studies), printed catalogues/inventories/lists and computer catalogues (InMagic DBText).
National register participation: Only the Documentation Centre for African Studies contributes to NAREM. Linked for on-line retrieval.
Address: | Street: University of Venda, Thohoyandou |
Postal: Private Bag X5050, Thohoyandou, 0950 | |
Telephone: | (015) 962-8148 |
Fax: | (015) 962-4746 |
E-Mail: | lufuno@univen.ac.za |
Website: | www.univen.ac.za |
Enquiries to: | The Librarian |
Access: | The section operates on a closed access policy. Use of material in this section is strictly supervised. Outside researchers can also be granted permission to use the material in the section. On rare occasions, a publication (mostly theses) can be loaned out on ILL. |
Brief history: The Library received a huge donation from the late Prof. John Blacking in 1990. This collection comprised a huge wealth of rare material, some of which pertained specifically to the Vhavenda. The Special Collections section was then established, with the Blacking Collection forming most of the stock. (Prof. John Blacking was an ardent researcher on Venda music and culture).
In 2001, Prof. Esk’ia Mphahlele donated his personal collection to the section. The Special Collections now comprises two separate subsections: Theses/Dissertations Section and the Mphahlele Section.
Acquisitions policy: The section acquires material in all forms (manuscripts, articles, books etc.) pertaining to Venda, Vhavenda and the Limpopo Province. Honours and masters students are invited to donate their research reports to the section. All lecturing staff are also requested to donate a copy of their masters and/or Phd dissertations, articles they publish in books, periodicals, newspapers as well as papers read at conferences. The section also accepts theses/dissertations from other universities covering the subject matter of Venda and the Limpopo Province.
Areas of specialisation: Venda history and culture.
Core holdings: Esk’ia Mphahlele Collection: Personal collection of Prof. Mphahlele, collected throughout the years as a scholar. This collection is not yet catalogued and is heavily restricted. Theses/Dissertations: comprising of research by students and staff. Venda (Blacking) Collection/ Particularly useful to national and international researchers. Univen archives: Personal papers and conference papers of/by Univen staff.
Finding aids: In-house lists of articles in the section; OPAC.
National register participation: No.
112. UNIVERSITY OF THE WESTERN CAPE INSTITUTE FOR HISTORICAL RESEARCH
Address: | Street: Modderdam Road, Bellville |
Postal: Private Bag X17, Bellville, 7535 | |
Telephone: | (021) 959-2616 |
Fax: | (021) 959-3178 |
E-mail: | cloff@uwc.ac.za |
Website: | http://www.uwc.ac.za |
Enquiries to: | The Archivist |
Hours of opening: | Weekdays 08h30-16h30 |
Access: | UWC Collection: With permission of Registrar. Private Collections: with permission of owner/trustee/Director IHR. |
Brief history: Since its inception in 1976, the Institute for Historical Research had the idea of collecting documents reflecting the thrust of its research into the history of the Cape. In 1978 the first archivist was appointed. As the University developed, the need for the safekeeping of its official papers became evident with the result that documents from the various administrative sectors where deposited in this repository. From this spontaneous start, the repository which was initially meant to be for the exclusive use of the IHR, became the official archives of the University.
Acquisitions policy: Collections regarding Cape history are accepted when donated or put in our care temporarily; we do not buy collections. The repository serves a University archives.
Areas of specialisation: Apart from the University papers, we focus on Cape history.
Core holdings: The one section holds papers pertaining to the history and broad administration of the University. The other section holds private collections of individuals, organisations like Welfare Organisations, Clubs, Churches, Trade Unions.
Finding aids: Unpublished finding aids for the private collections are available; an electronic finding aid for the University papers is used.
National register participation: No.
113. UNIVERSITY OF THE WITWATERSRAND, HISTORICAL PAPERS
Address: | Street: Room 2, Ground Floor, William Cullen Library, East Campus |
Postal: Historical Papers, William Cullen Library, Private Bag X1 PO Wits, 2050, South Africa | |
Telephone: | (011) 717 1940 |
Fax: | (011) 339 4137 |
E-mail: | Pickover.m@library.wits.ac.za |
Archibald.c@library.wits.ac.za | |
Abbott.K@library.wits.ac.za (photographic enquiries) | |
Website: | www.wits.ac.za/histp |
Enquiries to: | The Curator of Manuscripts |
Hours of opening: | Monday,
Tuesday, Thursday and Friday: 08h00-17h00 Wednesday : 08h30-17h00. Except the first Wednesday of every month when we open at 10h30 |
Access: | Our department is open and accessible to all. No collections are closed. A limited number of collections are on restricted access, i.e. permission from the depositor must be obtained before consultation. |
Brief history: The University established Historical Papers in 1966 in order to retrieve the rich historical heritage belonging to all South Africans. Our primary aim is to serve the broader community as well as the university and to transform archives into accessible centres for research.
Acquisitions policy: The objective of Historical Papers is to ensure the non-partisan collection of, and the provision of access to, South and Southern African material of historical importance. See also areas of specialisation below.
Areas of specialisation: Material relating to South Africa. At present our collections span the 17th century to the 20th century. We will continue to collect contemporary material and beyond. Areas of specific interest include; industrial and labour relations, politics, social conditions, repression, women, health, rural communities, urban conditions, anti-apartheid struggles, community and civic organisations, NGO’s, trial records, individual’s papers, literary papers, church and missionary.
Core holdings: Our collections include the papers of individuals and the records of organisations. The earlier collections relate to journeys of exploration into Africa, slavery, colonialism and missionary activity. Our more recent acquisitions are rich sources of information for the study of 20th century South Africa. We house the personal papers of JH Hofmeyr, Margaret Ballinger, Dr AB Xuma, Sol Plaatje, AWG Champion, Helen Joseph and Helen Suzman, to mention a few. We are the official repository of a number of organisations, churches and bodies, e.g. SAIRR, Black Sash, Democratic Party, SACC, Presbyterian Church, Church of the Province of SA, ECC, Swiss Mission, COSATU, SACTWU, NUMSA. We have also built up an impressive collection of political trial material dating from the 1950’s to the 1990’s, including 1956 Treason Trial, Rivonia Treason Trial and the Delmas Treason Trial. We also have an extensive collection of press cuttings. Many of our collections give information relating to: the ANC, the Congress Movement, the PAC, the UDF, Inkatha, the Liberal Party, black consciousness, women, labour movements, relocations, repression and elections.
Finding aids: We sort, describe and index all our collections and publish Guide to the Archives and Papers and Guide to the Archives of the Church of the Province of Southern Africa. We also produce published and unpublished inventories of our collections.
National register participation: Holdings appear on NAREM. Linked for on-line retrieval.
Address: | Street: 1 Beethoven Street, Duncanville, Vereeniging. |
Postal: PO Box 1622, Vereeniging, 1930. | |
Telephone: | (016) 450-3030/1/2 |
Fax: | (016) 421-2543 |
E-Mail: | Lebom@sedibeng.guv.za |
Enquiries to: | Jacqui
Kitching Professional Officer |
Hours of opening: | Weekdays 9h00
– 15h00 Saturdays 10h00 – 13h00 |
Access: | Accessible to all. |
Brief history: A collection of documents, photographs, books collected from the opening of the museum in 1963. Members of the public and professional, business and industrial institutes in the Vaal Triangle have donated most of the collection to the Vaal Teknorama.
Acquisitions policy: Documents, etc pertaining to the Sedibeng District (Vereeniging, Vanderbijlpark, Meyerton, Heidelberg, etc.).
Areas of specialisation: Anglo-Boer War, History of the Vaal, Industries in the Vaal, Archaeology and Palaeontology, Sharpeville Massacre.
Core holdings: As above.
Finding aids: Index cards, manual registers.
National register participation: No.
115. VOORTREKKER MONUMENT RESEARCH CENTRE
Address: | Street: Eeufees Road, Groenkloof, Pretoria |
Postal: PO Box 1514, Groenkloof, 0027 | |
Telephone: | (012) 326-6770 |
Fax: | (012) 326-8374 |
E-Mail: | research@voortrekkermon.org.za |
Website: | www.voortrekkermon.org.za |
Enquiries to: | The Research Officer |
Hours of opening: | Weekdays 08h00 – 16h00 |
Access: | The Voortrekker Monument Research Centre has a wide customer pattern. Users include researchers from all over the world, postgraduate and undergraduate students from tertiary institutions in South Africa, scholars from local schools and members of the public from Pretoria and the vicinity. |
Brief history: The requirement for a research centre was identified on the grounds of the Monument’s comprehensive collection of documents and the increase in donations of books and other relevant material. A new wing was erected on the western side of the existing office complex and the Voortrekker Monument Research centre was inaugurated in 2002.
Acquisitions policy: The Voortrekker Monument Research Centre collects published and unpublished material, films, photo’s, etc. relevant to a broad spectrum of South African history. Emphasis is placed on collecting information regarding the broad South African history and the cultural history of the Afrikaner in particular. The aim is to expand collections of historical records and to catalogue these so that the maximum amount of information can be made available to the researcher. Collections include manuscripts and other documents, rare and modern books, periodicals and newspapers, maps, pictorial materials, video recordings and electronic media. Records include minutes of the Board of Directors and other committees of the Monument, letter exchanges, etc.
Areas of specialisation: The Voortrekker Monument Research Centre’s assets are particularly strong with regard to the cultural history of South Africa and specialise in the Great Trek (history, battles and sites); 1st Anglo-Boer War (history, battles and sites); Anglo-Boer War (history, battles, sites and forts). Emphasis is especially placed on the history of the Voortrekker Monument.
Core holdings: The Voortrekker Monument Research Centre possesses a large collection of documents concerning the history of the Voortrekker Monument. Apart from other assets, the biggest single collection of books is curently the Hertzog collection (nearly 1,300 books on loan). The Gauteng Department of Education also donated 30,000 books on a loan basis. The Kleynhans collection consists of amongst other pamphlets, magazines and programmes of the 1938 Symbolic Ox Wagon Trek and programmes concerning the Day of the Covenant festivities from all over the country.
Finding aids: The material currently in our possession is being listed on card catalogues.
116. WAR MUSEUM OF THE BOER REPUBLICS
Address: | Street: Monument Road, Bloemfontein |
Postal: PO Box 34061, Faunasig, 9325 | |
Telephone: | (051) 447-3447 / 447-0079 |
Fax: | (051) 447-1322 |
E-Mail: | museum@anglo-boer.co.za |
Website: | www.anglo-boer.co.za |
Enquiries to: | Director |
Hours of opening: | Monday –
Friday: 09h00 – 16h30 Saturday: 10h00 – 17h00 Sunday: 14h00 – 17h00 Closed on Christmas Day, New Year’s Day and Good Friday |
Access: | Users include researchers from all over the world, postgraduate and undergraduate students from the Free State University and other tertiary institutions, scholars from local schools and members of the public from all over South Africa. Our website is frequently used by scholars from other countries. |
Brief history: Throughout the years following the erection of the Women’s Memorial in 1913 the commission dealing with the upkeep of the memorial became the recipient of articles, artefacts and documents donated to them by ex-burghers who had fought in the war. By 1929 the commission felt that the time was ripe for the erection of a museum near the memorial. On 27 September 1931 the museum finally opened its doors. After protracted negotiations the state agreed to provide financial aid to the museum.
Acquisitions policy: The mission of the War Museum is to collect, conserve, study and display historical material relating to the Anglo-Boer War (1899 – 1902) and the Rebellion (1914). Collections include manuscripts and other documents, rare and modern books relating to the war, periodicals, newspapers, maps, clothes, paintings, weapons and ammunition, POW artefacts, household goods, furniture, philatelic material (envelopes, stamps etc. dealing with the POW’s and the Boer forces) and uniforms.
Areas of specialisation: The museum’s holdings are particularly strong with regard to the history of the Boers of the two Republics during the War. The museum is presently building up a collection of material relating to the British participation in the war as well as a collection of oral histories relating to black participation in the war.
Core holdings: The holdings of museum are extensive and it would be dificult to give details of each major collection. Examples of the most frequently used collections include the library holdings, the diaries and reminiscences of the POW’s and the inhabitants of the concentration camps, the collection of photographs expecially regarding the concentration camps (TV documentaries and publishers) and the weapons and ammunition collection. Our largest philatelic collections are the André Bezuidenhout collection (dealing with the POW’s) and the Joh Groenewald collection (field post-Boers).
Finding aids: All material is listed in detail in the card catalogues and on the museum’s computerised catalogue.
National register participation: The museum contributes to NAREM. Linked for online retrieval.
117. WORCESTER MUSEUM RESEARCH LIBRARY AND ARCHIVES
Address: | Street: Robertson Road, Worcester 6850 |
Postal: P.O. Box 557, Worcester, 6849 | |
Telephone: | (023) 342 2225 |
Fax: | (023) 347 4134 |
E-mail: | kleinplasie@mweb.co.za |
Website: | www.kleinplasie.co.za |
Enquiries to: | Library Assistant |
Hours of opening: | Monday - Friday 08h30-16h30 |
Access: | The Worcester Museum Research Library and Archives is used by the museum staff, university students, scholars and the general public of Worcester and further afield. We also handle international enquiries. |
Brief history: The Worcester Museum Research Library and Archives houses books, photos, and documents related to agricultural history of the Western Cape as well as history of Worcester and environs. The collection was started in 1981 when the Kleinplasie Agricultural Museum came into operation.
Acquisitions policy: The Worcester Museum Research Library and Archives collects material to support research into the agricultural history of the Western Cape and also anything pertaining to Worcester. For easy retrieval, the Dewy system and a card index are used. The collection consists of manuscripts, documents, rare and modern books, newspapers, photos and microfilms.
Areas of specialisation: The Worcester Museum Research Library and Archives specialises in information regarding old farms, farm structures, old buildings, family histories, local schools, churches, businesses, prominent people and traditional activities such as soap making, candle making and the distillation of witblitz.
Core holdings: The holdings of the Worcester Museum Research Library and Archives most frequently used are:
Books: SA history, Anglo Boer War, traditional activities, old buildings, herbs, old recipes, regional history. Manuscripts: local history, traditional activities. Documents: Minutes of local organisations, local history. Photos: Family histories, local buildings. Newspapers and newspapers on microfilms: Worcester Standard, the local newspaper since the 1880’s.
Finding aids: All the material in the Worcester Museum Research Library and Archives is on card index.
National register participation: NAREM and NAREF. Linked for on-line retrieval.
Address: | Street: 100 Villiers Drive, Clarendon, Pietermaritzburg, 3200 |
Postal: Private Bag X9094, Pietermaritzburg, 3201 | |
Telephone: | (033) 342-0752 |
Fax: | (033) 394-5589 |
E-mail: | marilylnp@twc.org.za |
Website: | http://www.twc.org.za |
Enquiries to: | Archivist |
Hours of opening: | Random or as needed. |
Access: | Access open to staff, pupils, parents and Old girls. |
Brief history: In 1989 Wykeham and Collegiate schools amalgamated to form The Wykeham Collegiate. Each school brought their archives and since that date records have been kept for the new school. Collegiate school’s records date back to the early 1900’s and Wykeham’s to the 1940’s.
Acquisitions policy: Material of all kinds are collected. It reflects the day to day activities of the school, the special occasions, special achievements both in the academic and sporting arenas. The collection includes documents, newspaper cuttings, photographs, maps, architectural drawings, models crockery, cutlery, trophies, banners, uniform, furniture, sports equipment, slides, 8mm film. Includes diaries, letters, school magazines, newspaper articles written by school girls, parents association, School Board, play programmes, concert programmes etc.
Areas of specialisation: No specific specialisation. Material includes everything that will reflect the activities and achievements of the pupils at both the Junior and Senior schools.
Finding aids: Unpublished card catalogue.
National register participation: No. All publications of the school are distributed to the 5 legal deposit libraries. No on-line access.
119. ZULULAND HISTORICAL MUSEUM
Address: | Street: Fort Nongqayi, Nongqayi Road, Eshowe |
Postal: PO Box 37, Eshowe 3818 | |
Telephone: | (035) 474-1141 X 247 |
Fax: | (035) 474-4976 |
E-mail: | zhm@umlalazi.org.za |
Website: | www.umlalazi.org |
Enquiries to: | Curator |
Hours of opening: | Monday –
Friday: 7h30 – 16h00 Saturday, Sunday & Public holidays: 9h00 – 16h00 |
Access: | By negotiated appointment only. |
Brief history: In 1961 the Museum was established in this old British Fort which dates from the Civil War in Zululand in 1883. The collection consists of material and artefacts donated, collected and, to a small extent, purchased pertinent to all aspects of the history of Zululand.
Acquisitions policy: All aspects of artefacts, documents, and oral history to do with Zululand and the Zulu history.
Areas of specialisation: Tsetse Fly/Natural local history, Nongqayi Police, Zulu Beadwork, Norwegian Lutheran Mission History, Anglo Zulu War, Local involvement in Anglo Boer War, John Dunn, Zulu culture, Zulu Kings, Mining in Zululand and Zulu Crafts.
Core holdings: Largest groups/collections: Zulu Beadwork, John Dunn, Norwegian Lutheran Missionaries. Most Frequently consulted: Anglo Zulu War, Local History, Norwegian Lutheran Missionaries, Natural history. Most significant: Local Zulu beadwork and crafts, Norwegian Lutheran collection – King Mpande’s wheelchair and mission furniture, etc., John Dunn’s furniture from Emoyeni, Original Harris Tsetse Fly trap, Archaeological and other Anglo Zulu War artifacts, Zulu cultural artefacts and history and Zululand colonial history.
Finding aids: Entire manual documentation, photographs, maps, documents, information in files, book collection pertinent to Zulu and Zululand history and culture.
National register
participation: No.
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