John David Rheinallt Jones was born at Llanrug, Caernarvonshire, Wales, on the 5th July, 1884.

He completed his formal education in 1900 when he received his Senior Certificate, as he never had a formal university education. He was honoured by the University of the Witwatersrand in 1930, when an honorary M.A. was conferred on him in recognition of his services to the University, as well as his contributions to research on Africa and Southern Africa in particular.

His father, the Rev. John Eiddon Jones, was a minister of the Welsh Calvinistic Methodist Church; thus from his earliest years Rheinallt Jones was instilled with strong Christian beliefs and the conviction of the necessity of social justice.

He came out to South Africa in 1905, landing in Cape Town where he remained until 1918. In 1910 he met and married his first wife, Edith Barton.

The marriage was a happy one and his wife worked alongside him, striving to improve race relations in Southern Africa. They had one daughter, Helen (later Mrs Wynne of Salisbury, Southern Rhodesia).

He moved to Johannesburg in 1919 and was appointed Secretary to the Witwatersrand Council of Education, which played an important part in the provision of higher education. Thus Rheinallt Jones was also brought into contact with the South African School of Mines and Technology, which was later to become the University of the Witwatersrand.

He later became Assistant Registrar of the University, lecturer in Race Relations and an honorary graduate.

Rheinallt Jones, together with Charles T. Loram, was one of the founders of the Joint Council system in the 1920s, which replaced the Native Welfare Societies

Unfortunately this aspect of his work is not represented in this collection.

The movement was born out of the need to improve the plight of the poverty-stricken Africans, who were ignored by the majority of Europeans, and also to promote co-operation between Europeans and Africans

The need for a body to promote understanding between the various racial groups was sorely felt, and in 1929, with the aid of funds made available by the Carnegie Corporation of New York, the South African Institute of Race Relations came into being, through the efforts of Rheinallt Jones. The Institute was declared a non-political organisation.

Rheinallt Jones and his wife travelled extensively in those years. Rheinallt Jones was appointed Adviser on Race Relations and a few years later, Director. His lifelong devotion to the Institute continued until his death in 1953. His activities for the Institute covered many fields such as African education, African land rights, health and social welfare facilities for Africans, as well as improved wages and employment opportunities for Africans

He also contributed regularly to publications of the Institute but his writing was not only limited to Institute publications

His activities were not confined to the Institute of Race Relations. Despite his crowded and busy life he still found time for other interests such as his long association with the Pathfinders movement (African Boy Scouts).

To complement his interest, Edith Rheinallt Jones devoted herself to the Wayfarers (African Girl Guides).

Many welfare institutions received his support and he donated generously to their causes. He was associated with other institutions such as Jan H. Hofmeyr School of Social Work and the University of the Witwatersrand.

He was a member of: National Council for Adult Education; Consumers' Advisory Committee of the National Marketing Council; National Liaison Committee of F.A.O.; Committee on Minimum Accommodation Standards; President Sections E (1925) and F (1947) and He supported the Christian missions and was also a trustee of the Bantu Welfare Trust.

He was a member of Council of the South African Association for the Advancement of Science; served on the Transvaal Advisory Board for Native Education; the National Advisory Council for Adult Education; the Joint Native Advisory Board; the South African Institute of International Affairs; the South African National Council of Young Men's Christian Associations and several other public bodies

In 1937 Rheinallt Jones was elected Senator, representing the Africans of the Transvaal and Orange Free State in Parliament. He held office until 1942. He was thus able to use his influence to encourage legislation to improve the lot of the Africans

In 1944 Edith Rheinallt Jones died.

He continued his activities and travelled more extensively than before.

In 1947 he married his second wife, Clare, who associated herself with all his activities

On the 1st May 1947, Rheinallt Jones left the Institute and took up an appointment as Adviser on Native Affairs for the Anglo-American Corporation of South Africa.

His post as Director of the Institute was left open for him but he never returned to it.

In 1950 he was elected President of the Institute. With Anglo-American, he was able to implement schemes to improve accommodation facilities for mine workers and thereby reduced the proportion of migrant labour. During these years he was also able to visit other parts of Africa.

He died on 30th January 1953.