BC 1088 HYMAN LIBERMAN INSTITUTE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE PAPERS
Manuscripts & Archives
University of Cape Town Libraries
"THE INSTITUTE was founded as a Community Centre in about the year 1934, largely as a result of a bequest to the City Council by the late Mr. Hyman Liberman for the purpose of providing a reading room for the poorer inhabitants of the City. Its premises have always been in District Six and throughout its existence the University has been deeply interested in its welfare. Indeed, according to Mr A. Liberman, one of the Executors, and a nephew of the late Mr. Hyman Liberman, the late Sir Carruthers Beattie, former Principal of the University, was largely instrumental in its creation. He, Sir Carruthers, saw in it a means whereby, in addition to the other laudable purposes which would be achieved by it, the interests of the Department of Social Science at the University could be advanced by the Institute.
It houses a nursery school, a library and reading room and is the centre of a variety of organizations, clubs and other activities.
The Constitution of the Institute has been altered from time to time but always in a manner so as to maintain a close association with the University."
This quotation is taken from the publication FINDINGS OF THE COMMITTEE OF INQUIRY APPOINTED BY THE UNIVERSITY OF CAPE TOWN TO ENQUIRE INTO THE TRUTH OF CERTAIN STATEMENTS PUBLISHED IN "THE CAPE ARGUS" OF 1ST DECEMBER 1955.
This booklet gives not only the official background, but also lists the purposes of the Institute. It is to be found pasted into the "Trustees" book, which is one of the 12 large books which comprise this collection.
Of the other books, 8 are numbered minute books of the meetings of the Management Committee, and include some Accounts & Expenditure Statements stapled into the books, as well as published reports, the Constitution of the Institute, lists of Committee members and also copies of certain letters. They cover the period from 1934 to 1958.
A further book is devoted to the "Transfer" Committee, and includes inventories and expenditure accounts.
There are an additional 2 unmarked books which are scrapbooks, containing newspaper cuttings and other memorabilia relating to the Institute.
The collection was deposited with the University of Cape Town Manuscripts & Archives Department by Professor Edward Batson, who had close connections with the Institute, and served on the Management Committee for some years.
Access to the collection is restricted.