The first part of the collection of CPSA records deals with the foundation and progress of the various dioceses and activities of the church, and mainly covers the years 1848-1938.

It has been described in 'Selected Records of the Archbishops of Cape Town', No 6, in the library's series of Historical and Literary Papers: Inventories of Collections.

The second part, 'Selected Records of the Archbishops of Cape Town, Part II' describes records transferred to the Library from Bishopscourt, the home of the Archbishops of Cape Town, by Mrs Kotze, the Provincial Archivist. The records in Part II relate mainly to the years 1940-1982, and are described in No 16 of the Historical and Literary Papers: Inventories of Collections.

This present inventory consists mainly of additional records transferred from Bishopscourt between the years 1983 and 1996, and covering the episcopacies of Archbishops Russell and Tutu. (There are also some records from Church House, the Diocesan headquarters in Cape Town which cover an earlier period, - from 1855 - but for the sake of convenience these have been combined with the Bishopscourt records.) The files are arranged alphabetically by subject according to the Bishopscourt filing system. As in Part II, a condensed description of each subject file is given in the inventory together with an index of personal names, churches, parishes and selected subject fields, and a list of the names of bishops in each diocese, from the origin of the diocese to date, has been provided together with a map showing the dioceses of the CPSA in existence in 1998.

The records relate to the Church of the Province as a whole, but there is a preponderance of Cape records due to the Archbishop's dual role as head of the Cape Town Diocese and metropolitan for the province. They include the Archbishops' correspondence with bishops of the various dioceses and with clergy and lay people, and they reflect the administration of the CPSA and its work, as well as the Church's attitude to social and political problems in South Africa such as abortion, homosexuality and the church, conscientious objection, race, sanctions, violence and political negotiations.

A number of these files do not relate specifically to the CPSA but reveal the various interests of the Archbishops. Archbishop Tutu's files include correspondence from numbers of organisations within and outside South Africa that were dedicated to removing apartheid and restoring a just society. Examples are the Bishop Desmond Tutu Refugee Scholarship Fund, the Educational Opportunities Council, West European Parliamentarians for Action against Apartheid, etc. This collection therefore gives an indication of Bishop Tutu's influence, both in the Church and as a participant in many human rights and welfare organisations.

Correspondence with Ds Gerrit van der Merwe and others, re provision of Bibles.

Correspondence, programme, information on race relations and apartheid. Includes photos from South Africa to stimulate discussion of race issues.

Bishop Tutu Refugee Fund -(See Bishop Desmond Tutu Southern Africa Refugee.).

Correspondence, application form, minutes, financial records, address by Bishop Tutu, appeals for assistance, letters re winding down the scholarship fund.

Correspondence with retired bishops, mainly personal. Includes a report to the Synod of Bishops on Episcopal Chaplaincy to retired clergy and clergy widows (1991) and a letter from Archbishop Selby Taylor re celibacy of the clergy and the liturgical innovation whereby clergy are vested by their wives; biographical notes on RS Taylor, notes re the secular state by John Carter, and a letter from Timothy Bavin to Archbishop Tutu re his vocation.

Circulars and correspondence addressed to Bishops of the Province. Various topics.

Includes letters from:

John Carter 3/4/1986. Re Anglican Cycle of prayer.

Frederick Amoore 25/4/1986. Re consecration of Bishop Russell.

John Carter 10/7/1986. Re message from the Archbishop of Canterbury in favour of sanctions against South Africa.

John Carter 2/12/1986. Re links with parishes in the UK.

Desmond Tutu 5/12/1986. Re Synod and the Federal Theological Seminary.

Thomas Stanage 4/2/1987. Re J Lebitsa, ex-theological student and con man.

Winston Ndungane 13/3/1987. Re parish links.

John Carter 14/4/1987. Re parish links.

Winston Ndungane 17/6/1987. Re St Augustine's Foundation.

Winston Ndungane 8/12/1987. Re meeting with the NG Kerk.

S.N. Colam 22/12/1987. Re travel bookings.

A. Gregorowski 18/1/1988. Re Christian Giving and Stewardship conference.

Winston Ndungane 19/1/1988. Re women, black and youth delegates at PSC.

Alfred Mkhize 19/1/1988. Re Christian Stewardship Conference.

Institute for the study of Spirituality 10/5/1988. Re recommended books for study.

Michael Nuttall 12/9/1989. Re cost of Altar Book.

Desmond Tutu 18/9/1989. Re cost of prayer book.

Rowan Smith 30/1/91. Re multi-party march for constituent assembly and interim governmentSecretary, Publishing Committee 15/2/91. Re publications.

John Suggit 26/2/91 Re Celebration of Faith.

Rowan Smith 26/3/91 Re prayers for peace.

Desmond Tutu 17/5/91 Re individuals, Lambeth Conference, reading by clergy,membership of politicalparties, attendance at retreats.

Michael Nuttall 25/6/91. Re appointment of Provincial Executive Officer and enthronement of Bishop Winston.

Desmond Tutu 23/9/91. Appeal for funds to rescue the Diocese of Namibia.

Michael Nuttall 26/9/91 Re liturgy.

Desmond Tutu 27/9/91. Re giving to various causes (Aids, Liberia, new diocese of Umzimvubu etc.).

C.L. Botha 2/10/91. Re prison visiting.

Michael Nuttall 7/10/91. Re visiting priest.

Michael Nuttall 11/11/91. Re Principal of Theological College.

Peter Lee November 1991. Re bishops' ststement on sanctions (and draft statement).

Donald Nestor 11/12/91. Re Theological Education.

Sid Colam. 11/2/92. Re Provincial Audit.

Michael Nuttall 24/2/92. Re Theological college, Namibia, ordination of women, renewal of diaconal vows.

Thomas Stanage. 27/2/92 Re prayer books.

Desmond Tutu 5/3/92. Includes comments on politics.

Thomas Stanage 18/3/92. Re Traditional Anglican Trust.

Desmond Tutu 3/9/92. Re Synod, ordination of women.

Michael Nuttall 1/7/93. Re meeting between Mandela and Buthelezi (with joint press statement), appointment of a provincial canon, links with churches in the UK.

Michael Nuttall 14/7/92. Re future of the Federal Theological Seminary.

Desmond Tutu 18/3/93. Re election of Mervyn Castle as Suffragan.

Desmond Tutu 7/4/95. Re Lambeth Conference.

Minutes of meetings of Bishops in the Diocese of Cape Town. (Includes some confidential material).

Statements from the Synod of Bishops and pastoral letters, mainly on political and social topics (see also Synod of Bishops, Media).

Includes:

Statement from the Synod of Bishops re sanctions, 3/12/1988.

Statement from the Synod of Bishops re Namibia, Mozambique, De Klerk's reforms. 29/11/1989.

Statement from the Synod of Bishops February 25, 1990. re violence, social ills.

Statement from Synod of Bishops after Kempton Park meeting re violence, Mozambique, Lesotho, farmworkers. May 1992.

Statement by Synod of Bishops after Kempton Park meeting, re Angola, Lesotho, Mozambique, corruption and violence in SA. March 1993.

Statement from Synod of Bishops 9/9/93 re taxi violence.

Statement from Synod of bishops re political negotiations, lifting of sanctions, peace initiatives, Motsuenyane Report (re ANC atrocities) September 10 1993.

Quotation by Archbishop Tutu in journal article re other faiths and Christianity 7/8/94.

Pastoral letter re church financing, 1994.

Pastoral letter on Human Sexuality (undated).

Statement of the Synod of Bishops re Reconstruction and Development and public morality, economy, responsibilty,etc. 23/2/95.

Final Statement from Synod of Bishops re negotiations, the TRC, arms trade, death penalty, refugees and aliens 20-24/2/95.

Statement from Synod 1996 (Crime, lawlessness, death penalty, abortion, AIDS).

Statement from the Synod of Bishops and pastoral letter re abortion 5/3/1997.

Press statement from Synod of Bishops 6/3/97 re homosexuality.

Statement by Winston Ndungane re Olympic Games and alleviation of poverty 7/3/97.

Statement by Synod of Bishops re proposed use of mine shafts as prisons 5/3/97.

Statement re artificial insemination (confidential) undated.

A Christian response to crime, violence and lawlessness, undated.