Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- 1854 - 1947 (Creation)
Level of description
Fonds
Extent and medium
148 items
Context area
Name of creator
Biographical history
Jan Christiaan Smuts, 1870-1950
Born on the farm Bovenplaats outside Riebeek West, Cape Colony, on 24 May 1870, his education took place at Victoria College, Stellenbosch, and Cambridge, where he read for the bar. He served with distinction in the South African War, 1899-1902, and in the first World War during the East African campaign. Smuts had a distinguished career in politics, being Prime Minister twice. During the second World War he played an important part and helped to draft the covenant for the United Nations.
For a full biography see the Dictionary of South African Biography Volume 1, edited by W. J. de Kock
Archival history
The 148 items described in this inventory complement the principal collection of Smuts papers which is in the State Archives in Pretoria. These 148 items formed part of the library of J. C. Smuts which was bequeathed to the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg. In turn the University donated the library to the Smuts Memorial Trustees and it was looked after jointly by the South African Institute of International Affairs and the Smuts Memorial Trustees. The books in Smuts' study were retained as he had left them but the rest of the books were deposited in the University library. By a letter of 15 March 1974 the Trustees and the Institute agreed that these books be dispersed to their appropriate places in the library and that the manuscripts and other non-book items be given to the Historical and Literary Papers division of the library.
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
Content and structure area
Scope and content
The papers contain correspondence, notes, typescripts, theses, photographs and a scrapbook.
This collection of Smuts' papers relates to the two World Wars and in particular to the German East African and German South West African campaigns of Worid War I and to the creation of the British Royal Air Force. Subjects relating to South Africa are the establishment of an oil industry, politics and native policy. Other subjects are South West Africa, the League of Nations, colonialism, Ireland and astronomy. A large part of the papers is made up of draft typescripts of books, submitted to Smuts for his criticisms.
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Archivist's note
Compiled by Anna M. Cunningham