HISTORICAL PAPERS: A PLATFORM FOR RESEARCH AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
The Historical Papers research archive, situated in the William Cullen Library, was established in 1966. We are a friendly, vastly used, valued and popular service as well as unique and accessible hub for human rights research serving civil society, scholars and researchers. Historical Papers is one of the largest and most comprehensive independent archives in Southern Africa. We house over 3300 collections of historical, political and cultural importance, encompassing the mid 17th Century to the Present.
Our primary aim is to serve the broader community as well as the university and to transform archives into accessible centres for research. Included are the records of many human rights NGOs, trade unions, labour federations, political parties, women's organisations, churches and church bodies, and the papers of human rights activists. We are also home to a huge volume of political trials, photographs, press clippings, oral interviews, and material collected by several research institutions and individual researchers.
Our digitisation activities have been made possible with generous funding from the Atlantic Philanthropies Foundation and the Carnegie Corporation of New York. More
On the 17 February 2011 Historical Papers and Museum Africa jointly held the opening of the FOSATU exhibition and the book launch of " 'The future is in the Hands of the Workers' A History of FOSATU". You can now download the book for FREE.
NEWS
NELSON MANDELA REMEMBERED
The Historical Papers Research Archive joins in the mourning and remembrance of Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela (1918-2013). As custodians of the Nelson Mandela Trial Papers and the court records of the Rivonia Trial, we are firmly committed to upholding the memory of his livelong struggle against Apartheid.
From the Allison Wessels George CHAMPION Papers, A922:
A list of persons present at the founding of the ANC Youth League, signed on the 24 February 1944, amongst them Nelson Mandela. Convinced that the Youth League was 'driving the train against the red light' Champion warned that precipitate action would be fatal for Congress. Champion was succeeded by Albert Luthuli in 1951 as President of the African National Congress.
Granted to him by the Bantu Welfare Trust in January 1947, Mandela committed to its repayment on the 5 September 1949. This document forms part of the collection of the South African Institute of Race Relations, AD843RJ.
Handwritten final clause, with correction as advised by Adv. George Bizos, of his statement from the dock during the Rivonia Trial, 1963-1964. From the Nelson MANDELA Papers, A2519.
One of the many colourful greeting cards which Nelson Mandela sent to Helen Joseph from Robben Island, dated 18 November 1981, "to Helen ... with a million kisses". From the correspondence in the Helen JOSEPH Papers, A1985.
With Helen Suzman, former member of Parliament, who visited Nelson Mandela at his Soweto home in Orlando West in February 1991 after his release (Photo: AP). Helen Suzman was instrumental in monitoring the prison conditions of political prisoners on Robben Island. From the Helen SUZMAN Papers, A2084.
