Collection of newsletters and publications relating to education, political movements, labour, religion, urban living, and generally aimed at an African readership.

Containing the SAIRR FACT Papers; the Hoernle Memorial Lectures and other publications.

In April 1946 a five-year project was initiated, which aimed at developing materials and techniques for literacy classes for African adults, particularly on the gold mines, using methods developed by Frank Laubach in the Philippines in the 1930s. It was started by the South African Institute of Race Relations, and conducted through a special committee whose members included specialists form government departments, and with finance provided by the Department of Education, The Bantu Welfare Trust, private donors, and the Institute.

The years 1952 1964 were a pre-Bureau period in which work continued, and on the 1 April 1964, the Bureau of Literacy and Literature became an independent voluntary organisation, and was registered as a `non-profit making company'.

The teaching methods were based on Dr Frank Laubach's phonetic alphabet, which he developed in the 1930s in the Phillippines, and which were applicable in different languages, by using the sound of a syllable in association with a familiar picture. He would later be called "apostle of mass literacy".

This collection consists of correspondence and memoranda to and from the South African Institute of Race Relations. The principal correspondents are: Quintin Whyte and F.J. Van Wyk, while others include M. Horrell, W.B. Ngakane and D. Rheinallt Jones.

Subjects covered are the social and economic conditions of Black South Africans, with particular reference to education, land, farm labour, labour relations, housing, township conditions, health, welfare, liquor, discriminatory legislation and penal reform.

The Committee was established by the Department of Education, to investigate the disturbances at state-aided educational institutions for Africans, with boarding establishments. The Chairman of the Committee was D.McK. Malcom, and the members were D.D.T. Jabavu, R.E. Phillips and H.R. Storey. The Report was released on the 26 July 1947.

Correspondence, memoranda and press clippings on unrest, banishments and removals.

Records relating to the Treason Trial, Regina vs. F. Adams and 152 others on a charge of High Treason, 1956-1961.

Including: Correspondence, minutes, memoranda, printed items and court records including preparatory examination, indictment, arraignment and evidence, admissions, addresses, closing arguments, judgments and documentary exhibits. The exhibits relate to organisations including African National Congress, Communist Party of South Africa, Congress of Democrats, Congress of the People, Federation of South African Women, Natal Indian Congress, South African Coloured People's Association, South African Indian Congress, South African Peace Council, Springbok Legion, Transvaal Indian Congress, and to cultural-political groups, vigilance associations and trade unions. Also included are press summaries and bulletins of the Treason Trial Defence Fund. Amonst the many accused were Chief Albert J. Luthuli, Z.K. Matthews, Nelson Mandela and Walter Sisulu.