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".

Includes minutes of Native Adult Literacy (a Sub-Committee of the National Advisory Council for Adult Education); Minutes and reports of General Purposes Committee; Finance Committee, Interim Committee of Bureau of Literacy and Literature (B.L.L.).

Includes minutes of interim Committee for B.L.L, Exploratory Committee; Special meetings.

Includes minutes of Advisory Committee of B.L.L; Annual General Meeting; Executive Committee.

Includes executive committee minutes, Annual General Meeting, and Advisory Committee.

Includes statements of Revenue, Expenditure, Budget, Trial Balance and Balance Sheet.

Includes correspondence with the Union Education Department, proposed projects, grant applications.

Incudes correspondence with Department of Education; Comments by Maida Whyte on the Bantu Education Syllabus 1955 February-1955 September ; Letters in appeal for funds 1955 May-November.