UCT Libraries

 

BC 704 THE THELMA TYFIELD PAPERS

 

Manuscripts & Archives

 

University of Cape Town Libraries

 

presented to

The University of Cape Town Libraries

by Mrs A.Kurgan on behalf of the Thelma Tyfield Estate

A List

compiled by

Jane van der Spuy

1985

CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION

Biographical note

The Collection

A.

PERSONAL PAPERS

B.

THELMA TYFIELD POETRY

C.

THELMA TYFIELD TEACHER

D-H.

NOTES FOR TEACHING ENGLISH

J.

PHILOSOPHY & RELIGION

K.

POLITICAL INTEREST

L.

J C SMUTS

M.

TAPE. SPECIAL SERVICE FOR INAUGURATION OF THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA

INTRODUCTION

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE

Thelma Tyfield was born in Cape Town on 14th February 1906, and educated at Good Hope Seminary High School and the University of Cape Town.  Her association with Good Hope Seminary School lasted 37 years, from a pupil aged 5 years, a teacher and then Headmistress, until her retirement in 1961.

Thelma Tyfield inspired a great love of the English Language in her pupils and was a staunch champion of raising the Standard of English in South Africa.  She wrote "English the Living Language" used for many years as an English Textbook in South Africa. She was a respected educationalist, played an active part in the S.A.Teachers Association and was a member of the Examinations Committee of the Cape Education Department.

Thelma Tyfield edited two anthologies of poetry "The Living Tradition" (with K.R. Nicol) and "The True-Filed Line".  After her retirement in 1961, she wrote poetry.  Her poems were published in New Coin,

Standpunte, Purple Renoster, Contrast and New Nation.

Thelma Tyfield died in 1968, her life as a poet was thus very brief. "Time Prized" a collection of her poetry was published in 1972.

THE COLLECTION

The Thelma Tyfield papers were presented to the University of Cape Town Libraries by Mrs A Kurgan on behalf of the estate of the Late Thelma Tyfield in 1984, and number approximately 1,900 items. The Collection consists of manuscripts and typescripts of her poetry, correspondence with publishers, including letters from, R. Harnett, A.C. Partridge, Jack Cope, William Plomer and others. The Collection also contains papers she has kept and used in her teaching capacity as English teacher and Headmistress. Also personal papers such as testimonials, degree certificates and letters from Professor J.C. Beattie, Professor Rabbi Israel Abrahams, Guy Butler, Thomas Mann and others.

There are also notes reflecting her interest in philosophy and religion, politics, J.C. Smuts and copies of speeches made on various occasions.

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

 

BC 704 THELMA TYFIELD PAPERS

 

 

 

Approximate numbers of items

A.

PERSONAL PAPERS

40

 

 

 

 

Degrees in cylinder.

 

 

Testimonials, 1936-1942.

 

 

Coronation Medal Documents, 1953.

 

 

Presentation to Miss Thelma Tyfield on her retirement as principal of Good Hope Seminary High School, December 1961.

 

 

Presentation Gift list.

 

 

Letters from 'Old' girls and parents to gift fund raiser Mrs Berelowitz.

 

 

Personal notes and reflections on leaving G.H.S.H.S., 4/5/62 & 9/12/62.

 

 

Newpaper clippings on Miss Tyfield's retirement, October, November, December, 1961.

 

 

Newpaper clippings on G.H.S.H.S. 1959.

 

 

Insurance receipt, 1946.

 

 

Letter from Thomas Mann 26th October 1944.

 

 

Testimonials include letters from Prof J.C. Beattie, Prof Rabbi Israel Abrahams, Chief Rabbi of Cape Town, A.C.S. Scrungeour Dean of Faculty of Education U.C.T., & headmistresses of various schools

 

B.

THELMA TYFIELD POETRY

350

 

MSS of Poems 1965-1967.

 

 

TSS of Poems.

 

 

List of Poems & corresponding Poems.

 

 

Revised, altered & 'discarded' Poetry, signed.

 

 

Letters to & from Publishers, 1964-1968.  Including letters from R. Harnett, Ass Editor of S.A. English Poetry Society. Nancy Gordon, Editor of Contrast, Prof A.C. Partridge, Prof C.J.D. Harvey, Jack Cope, Charl Cilliers, L. Abrahams, The Purple Renoster, Walter Saunders, Editor of Ophir, Prof Ridley Beeton, William Plomer, Prof W Gardiner.

 

 

Autobiographical notes. 12 January 1968.

 

C.

THELMA TYFIELD TEACHER

 

C.1

MSS & TSS of Speeches, talks, addresses by Miss Tyfield for end of school year assembly, Memorial services, parents meetings, Union of Jewish Women Meetings etc. 1938-1961.

90

 

Articles by Miss Tyfield in 'Hasholan','Education','Common Sense', 1941-1946. Newspaper clippings on S.A.T.A. Presidential Address 1944.

 

C.2.

Christian National Education.

50

 

TSS of Institute for C.N.E.

 

 

MSS & TSS of S.A.T.A. reactions to C.N.E.

 

 

Letters from W.P. Zionist Council.

 

 

Newspaper clippings February, 1949 - July 1949.

 

 

Articles & pamphlets including 'Blue Print for Black Out' 1948-1949.

 

C.3.

Correspondence, reviews and newspaper clippings on book 'English the Living Language' by Thelma Tyfield 1954-1967.  Including letters from Dr Leavis.  Cambridge 1954. Maskew Miller Ltd Publishers for

reprint of book 1967.

25

D-H.

NOTES FOR TEACHING

 

D.

English language.

120

 

TSS of Address delivered at Rhodes University "Teaching English in High Schools".

 

 

Notes and Correspondence including letters from Prof Guy Butler, Prof Gerber, Prof Morton.

 

 

Newpaper clippings & pamphlets, 1960.

 

 

Notes made at U.C.T. on teaching English, including Literature, 1961-1964.

 

 

TSS of an address delivered at the Jubilee Conference of Faculty of Education, U.C.T. 1961.

 

 

English Exam papers.

 

 

Articles in "Education" February 1965.

 

 

Newspaper clippings on Advertising and Advertisements.

 

E.

Literature.

150

 

General History Notes.

 

 

Greek, Pre-Renaissance, Renaissance, Classical, Romantic Revival and Victorian.

 

F.

Novels.

12

 

General Notes on the Novel, "Structure of the Novel".

 

 

General Novel questions.

 

 

Short Bibliography.

 

F1-F18

Biographical Notes & Writings on Authors & their novels. Pamphlets, Newspaper clippings & TSS for School Broadcasting on some of the novels. In alphabetical order of Author.

 

F1

Austin Jane: Emma, Pride & Prejudice, Sense & Sensibility, Persuasion, Northanger Abby

25

F2

Boswell & Johnson: Notes; biographies & criticism of Boswell & Johnson. Boswells life of Johnson.

6

F3

Bronte Charlotte: Jane Ayre, Villette.

35

F4

Bronte Emily: Wuthering Hights.

10

F5

Conrad Joseph: Typhoon, Lord Jim, Heart of Darkness.

25

F6

Dickens Charles: David Copperfield, Oliver Twist, Bleak House.

35

F7

Duguid Julian: Green Hell.

12

F8

Eliot George: Silas Marner, The Mill on the Floss, Adam Bede.

50

F9

Forster E.M.: Where Angels Fear to Tread, Passage to India.

20

F10

Goldsmith Oliver: The Vicar of Wakefield.

5

F11

Hardy Thomas: The Return of the Native, Under the Greenwood Tree, Far from the Madding Crowd, The Mayor of Casterbridge, The Woodlander, Two on a Tower, Desperate Remedies, Tess of the D'Urbervilles.

70

F12

Kiernan R.H.: Lawrence of Arabia.

8

F13

Kinglake A.W.: Eothen

7

F14

Scott Sir Walter: Quentin Durward, Kenilworth.

35

F15

Stern Lawrence: The life of Tristan Shandy, Gent., A sentimental journey through France & Italy by Mr. Yorick.

8

F16

Thackeray W.M.: Henry Esmond, Vanity Fair, The Newcomers, The Virginians.

40

F17

Wells H.G.: The War of the Worlds.

6

F18

Miscellaneous: Assortment of Short notes on novels including Jock of the Bushveld, Marie Curie, Quest & Conquest, etc.

40

G.

Poetry. General notes, Bibliographies, Biographies, Criticisms of Poets & Poetry. Poets in alphabetical order. Anonymous, Arnold, Bacon, Blake, Browning, Burns, Campbell, Chaucer, Coleridge, Collins, Donne, Drayton, Dryden, Elliot, Gray, Goldsmith, Herrick, Keats, Macniece, Milton, Morris, Pope, Rossetti, Shakespeare, Shelley, Sidney, Spencer Stevenson, Swinburne, Taylor, Tennyson, Thompson, Wordsworth, Yeats.

160

 

H.

Drama, Plays, Theatre. Notes on the teaching of Drama.

75

 

General notes on Shakespeare & his plays.

 

 

Newspaper clippings, Articles, Pamphlets & Programmes.

 

H1-H7

General Notes, Bibliographies, Biographies, Criticisms of Authors & Plays from Greek Drama to 1900 drama. Including School Broadcasts of some plays.

 

H1

Greek Drama. Including Hegels "Theory of Tragedy".

5

H2

Renaissance Drama. General Notes.

34

H3

Marlowe Christopher: Dido, Edward II, Dr Faustus, The Jew of Malta, Tamburlaine.

25

H4

Shakespeare William: As you like It, Anthony & Cleopatra, Henry IV, Henry V, Julius Cesear, King Lear, MacBeth, Midsummer Nights Dream, Othello, Richard II, Romeo & Juliet, The Tempest, Corioloanus

360

H5

Sheridan Richard B.: The Rivals, School for Scandal.

15

H6

Modern Drama. General Notes. Notes on Authors & their plays. Authors in alphabetical order. Askill, Barrie, Bax, Berkeley, Brighouse, Dane, Drinkwater, Elliot, Goldsmith, Houseman, Lipscomb, Macnamara, Mayer, Parkington, Shaw.

60

H7

TSS of notes for 'Education Gazette'.

20

 

 One Act Plays of Today.

 

 

Talks 1 & 2.

 

 

TSS for School Broadcast.

 

 

Lessons of One Act Plays. 21st May 1956 - 28th May 1956.

 

 

1 letter from Miss Tyfield asking for alterations to the Broadcast.

 

 

MSS for Radio play "Christopher Columbus" by L. Macniece.

 

 

Illustrated Magazine article on "Importance of being Earnest" by Oscar Wilde.

 

J.

PHILOSOPHY & RELIGION

 

J1

Thelma Tyfield writings, general notes and study notes on various philosophers, philosophy & faith.

35

J2

Burber M. Writings, general notes, study notes and summaries of Burber and his works including Faith, Chassidism etc.

60

 

Newspaper clippings 1964-1965.

 

J3

de Chardin P. Notes and writings, study notes on de Chardin and his works.

10

 

Newspaper clippings 1962-1963.

 

J4

Ezra Rabbi Ben.  A few notes on his writings.

2

J5

Existentialism.  General writings, study notes and newspaper clippings on Existentialism, the Philosophers and their works in alphabetical order include Heidegger, Jaspers, Kierkegaard, Marcel, Nietzsche, Pascal, Sartre.

20

J6

Jung C.G. General notes and study notes on his works, psychology, philosophy, literature, theology etc.

35

J7

Tillich P. General notes, study notes on the works, Theology, writings and teachings of Tillich.

25

K.

POLITICAL INTEREST

50

 

TSS "The fight for Educational Freedom in Norway. Martyrdom of the Norwegian Teachers".

 

 

Nazi Civilization Newspaper clippings of May 1945.

 

 

Letter and article "The Pity of It" by Thelma Tyfield to the editor of Cape Times on the Sabotage Trial 14th November 1964.

 

 

Newspaper clippings on Hofmeyr, Snooping, Mine Workers and World War II, 1948-1965.         

 

 

Personal writings on attitudes to S.A.'Simon's Notes' Newspaper clippings 5th April 1965 - 24th July 1965.

 

L.

J.C. SMUTS

15

 

Writings, notes & TSS on Smuts including writings from W.K. Hancock's The Sanguine Years and from the Cape Argus & Cape Times 12/9/50.

 

 

Photostat of article from Reality 25/5/64.

 

 

Newspaper clippings September 1965.

 

L1

Smuts Statue, Cape Town by Sydney Harpley.

35

 

TSS of "A personal Impression" by Thelma Tyfield.

 

 

Letter from Dudley D'Ewes, Assistant Editor of Cape Times thanking for article "A personal Impression" but unable to publish it, 11th June 1964.

 

 

Newspaper clippings, comments and criticisms of the Statue by Sydney Harpley 1964-1965.

 

M.

TAPE RECORDING

 

M.

Tape. Recorded 30th May 1961. Special service for inauguration of the Republic of South Africa. Speed 7.5 p.s.

1

 

 

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