Full Collection Details

Donald Barkly Molteno Papers

Units in Collection

This Collection contains 3 units

Finding Aids

List available on web
List available in Word Document link.

Quick Guide

The Quick Guide is a list of all the items relevant to the Black Sash in this particular collection.

Donald Barkly Molteno (Creator)
Molly Molteno (Donor)

Repository: Manuscripts and Archives, University of Cape Town Libraries, University of Cape Town
Reference code: BC579
Extent: ca 22 138 items. Black Sash items number ca. 65
City: Cape Town
Dated: 1937-1972. Black Sash materials are from 1956-1971
Scope:The D.B. Molteno Papers were presented to the University of Cape Town Libraries in 1972 by Mrs Molly Molteno, and number ca 22 138 items.

The collection consists of documents relating to Molteno's political and legal career, and reflects his interest in organisations such as the South African Institute of Race Relations, Cafda and the Progressive Party. Reflecting his political career are the Constituency files which contain almost 12,000 items. These are an alphabetical arrangement of files by district containing correspondence dealing with the problems of Molteno's constituents such as employment, taxation, housing, voting etc.

The Parliamentary files (2 450 items) contain mainly mimeographed documents, pamphlets, articles etc relating to political issues, government native policy and the social and economic conditions of Blacks. These were Molteno's working files and are arranged by subject, thereby indicating his main interests while Native Representative.

All correspondence other than that in the Constituency files is kept together in Section C.

Another important section is the Constitutional section, G, which contains documents relating to every stage of the important legal battles fought over the African and Coloured vote, during 1936 and the 1950s. There is also a large section of legal material consisting of opinions, appeals etc showing the extremely varied nature of Molteno's legal career.

Other material in the collection comprises articles, newspaper clippings and a small section on the University of Cape Town.

Several people were involved in the initial sorting of the collection, but the major sorting and numbering was done by Tim Keegan in 1976. Leonie Twentyman-Jones completed the sorting and edited the final list.

There are no restrictions on the use of the collection, but permission should first be obtained from the University Librarian.

Black Sash materials are correspondence (1956-1968), Black Sash publications (1959-1971, incomplete) and administrative records.

Media: Text documents; Publications

Themes:National administration (pre 1995)

Administrative / biographical history:Some themes may be missing as inventory was not detailed enough to ascertain all themes.

Condition of access / use: Unrestricted. Permission should first be obtained from the University Librarian.
Percentage of collection relevant to Black Sash: 1 - 19%

Location contact details

Organisation: Manuscripts and Archives, University of Cape Town Libraries, University of Cape Town
Telephone: 27 (0)21 650 4424
Fax: 27 (0)21 686 1505
Email: lib-mss@uct.ac.za
Website: http://www.lib.uct.ac.za/mss/
Street address: Oppenheimer Institute Building, Upper Campus University of Cape Town, Rondebosch
Postal address: Private Bag X3
Area: Rondebosch
City: Cape Town
Postal code: 7701
Province / State: Western Cape
Country: South Africa