Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- 1966- (Accumulation)
Level of description
recordgrp
Extent and medium
4 archival guides
Context area
Name of creator
Administrative history
The Historical Papers research archive, situated in the William Cullen Library, was established in 1966. Its first holdings were the Jan Hofmeyr collection and the Gubbins collection as well as other manuscripts which were transferred from the Africana section in the William Cullen Library.
It has since become one of the largest and most comprehensive independent archives in Southern Africa. We house over 3400 collections of historical, political and cultural importance, encompassing the mid-17th Century to the Present.
Archival history
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
Content and structure area
Scope and content
The Guides provide an overview of all collections at the Historical Papers Research Archive. The descriptions are provided on Fonds level.
The collections housed at Historical Papers include diaries, letters, memoranda, reports, minute-books, press clippings, pamphlets, photographs, drawings, maps, oral interviews, trial transcripts and financial, legal and personal documents. They are contained in various formats such as paper based records, microfiche, microfilm, photographs, slides, negative and positive film, tapes, DVD and CDs, audiovisual formats and digital formats.
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling
Accruals
System of arrangement
The system of arrangement is explained for each of the 4 Guides.
Conditions of access and use area
Conditions governing access
Conditions governing reproduction
The Guides to the Historical Papers Collections have been compiled and are subject to copyright by the Historical Papers Research Archive, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa.
Language of material
Script of material
Language and script notes
Physical characteristics and technical requirements
Finding aids
The 4 Archival Guides at the Historical Papers Research Archive are:
HP1 - Guide to the Historical Papers Collections
HP2 - Guide to the Anglican Church Collections
HP3 - Guide to Historical Papers Photographs
HP4 - Guide to Digitised Audio and Audio-Visual material
Allied materials area
Existence and location of originals
Existence and location of copies
Related units of description
Notes area
Alternative identifier(s)
Access points
Subject access points
Place access points
Name access points
Genre access points
Description control area
Description identifier
Institution identifier
Rules and/or conventions used
Status
Level of detail
Dates of creation revision deletion
Language(s)
Script(s)
Sources
Archivist's note
The Guides might not include the most recently added collections and items, but they are being updated on a regular basis.