Draft - Press release for Fairbairn Papers.

The papers cover the years 1781-1917 and relate to four generations of the Fairbairn family. There are personal documents and correspondence of John Fairbairn, who arrived in South Africa in 1823. He became involved in the prevailing fight for the freedom of the press being waged against Lord Charles Somerset. He edited and later became sole owner of the South African Commercial Advertiser, an early Cape newspaper, which advocated reform. He became a national figure, was elected to Legislative Council and served as chairman of the South African Mutual Life Assurance Society, of which he was a founder.

John Fairbairn's wife, Eliza, was a daughter of Dr. John Philip, missionary and champion of the rights of the native peoples of South Africa. There are papers belonging to the Philip family in this collection. These assist in providing information lost with the destruction of the Philip papers in the fire at the Library of the University of the Witwatersrand in 1931. Eliza Fairbairn's correspondence, although primarily personal, gives the woman's point of view of life at the Cape in the twenties and thirties of last century. There is an interesting scrapbook, presented to her by her father, which contains the letters and autographs of eminent men such as Lafayette, Lord Macaulay, Sir Walter Scott and William Wilberforce.

Other items of particular interest are a collection of photographs of hospitals used during the South African War of 1899-1902, from the papers of John Fairbairn, grandson of John Fairbairn, who was Hon. Secretary of the Red Cross Society in South Africa. There are also the drafts of five sonnets by Thomas Pringle, South Africa's first poet to write in English, in his own handwriting and with emendations.

Personal; names of correspondents: James Bain, George Paxton, Rob. Colville.

Official of the East India Company, passenger on board the 'Grosvenor', wrecked off the Pondoland coast 4 August 1782

ALS, 9 Apr. 1782, from W. Hosea to Sir R. Chambers (Judge of the Supreme Court of Bengal), written on board the 'Grosvenor', off the coast of Ceylon, and probably posted in Trincomalee, describing the harrowing experiences of Mr. and Mrs. Hosea in their efforts to reach the 'Grosvenor' at Madras, which was besieged by the French, and the subsequent perilous voyage. This letter is quoted in The true story of the Grosvenor East Indiaman by P.R. Kirby, published Cape Town, Oxford University Press, 1960. Also Ts transcript and negative of letter and Ds, 7 Apr. 1784, Calcutta, proving Mr. Hosea's will.

Soldier, explorer and founder of South Africa's merino sheep industry

'Versameling van orders die van tijd tot tijd aan het Battaillon uytgegeeven zijn door ... Col. R.J. Gordon in 't Casteel van Cabo de Goede Hoop 1782'.

'Beskrivelse udtaget af den Engelske Peiloth og oversat paa Dansk i aaret ao 1784 & 1785 af Her Fagtoer Woliam til notte for siine landsmend'. 287p. Ms vol.

Extracts from The English PIlot, translated into Danish in 1784 and 1785 by Mr. Fagtoer Woliam for the use of his countrymen.

The Daily Universal Register (forerunner to Rand Daily Mail) 1 January 1785; The Rand Daily Mail (miniature} reproduction of the 5th issue, 26 September 1902: cuttings from RDM 13 November 1973 - Buthelezi's speech - "Federation - bridge to Africa; RDM, 20 August 1974 Discusses views on federalism; need for a vigilant press; Style Honk 1975; newspaper decline in circulation; separation warning; S.A.'s withdrawal of aid In Dr. Savimbi; RDM's 75th anniversary souvenir supplement 1902-1977, 22 September 1977; police action towards RDM reporters during June 16; SAAN Editorial Chapel executive and the restructuring of the BDM/Sunday Times editorial, June 1981; transfer control of pans courts to the Department of Justice.