Writer and economist

'The principles of railway rate-fixing with special reference to South African railways'. c1950.

Legal journalist

Contains press clippings from local newspapers reporting cases tried in the Eastern Districts court and the Supreme Court.

Afrikaans language pioneer

'Sannie Beyers', poem in the handwriting of F.W. Reitz.

66 notebooks containing his diary from 1888-1959. While primarily a record of personal and family events, the diaries include references to political and social events of the day. Also 10 photograph albums of tours by Hills 1936-1956 to various parts of the world; correspondence with family, friends and others on his journalistic career and on subjects such as religion, education and the labour movement. Correspondents include Bishop G. Clayton, J. Keir Hardie, Sir R. Jones, Bishop A.B.L. Karney, Sir E. Oppenheimer and L. Weinthal.

Also personal documents, printed items and notebooks.

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.

16 Scrapbooks and newspaper clippings.

The collection contains the papers of William John Burchell (1781-1865), artist, naturalist and traveller. With the exception of few original manuscripts and notebooks, most items consist of transcriptions made by Mrs H.M. McKay.

Correspondence, some originals and some Ms transcripts by H.M. McKay, of early letters 1795-1805, letters from St. Helena 1806-1810, letters from South Africa 1811-1815 and letters between Burchell and his family, friends and scientific colleagues 1824-1865, Names of correspondents include H. Alexander, Earl Bathurst, Earl of Caledon, Sir W.J. Hooker, W. Goddard Jackson, H. Nourse, J. Phillips, Marquess of Salisbury, Lord C.H. Somerset, Sir A. Stockenstroom, W. Swainson, D. Turner and J.O. Westwood.

An Ms transcript of the St. Helena Journal, Ts transcript of unpublished journal May-Sep. 1812 and a Hg journal Jan.-Mar.21, 1863; transcript of annotations in Burchell's own copy of his Travels; Hg poem 'Address to "Lot", rock in the Island of St. Helena'; financial records and copies of family wills; catalogues of the books and pictures in the Burchell estate and other miscellaneous papers.

Also included is the sorted material of research and publications, collected and submitted by H.M. McKay. The material is relating to her extensive study of W.J. Burchell.

Agriculturist, journalist and author

Press clippings on the South African farmers' agricultural tours to Europe in 1914 and 1925.

Collection of photographs by the photographer William Matlala and others.

His photographs focus on workers at their workplace, union activities and gatherings, community work and social issues. It covers political event during the time of transition from Apartheid to a democratic South Africa. The collection also includes a large section on personalities from various spheres ranging from trade unions, politics, art and business.

Many of the letters received have been used in A Father in God the official life by M.H.W. Wood (Macmillan, 1913). The page reference is given.