BIOGRAPHICAL NOTES

MADGE ELIZABETH GREEN 1915-1991

Madge Elizabeth Green studied at the University of the Witwatersrand, then worked as a librarian at the Johannesburg Public Library, in Randfontein, and later at the University of Cape Town Libraries.

At UCT she was in charge of the Jagger Library reading room and also lectured in the School of Librarianship.   In 1974 she was appointed Acting Director of the School of Librarianship.

Miss Green was a devout Roman Catholic and was actively involved in many aspects of the life of the Church.

LOREE ELIZABETH TAYLOR 1909-1991

Loree Elizabeth Taylor studied at the University of the Witwatersrand, worked as a primary school teacher, then as a librarian at the Johannesburg Public Library where she was the first children's librarian in South Africa.

She was appointed to the UCT School of Librarianship in 1946, the first fulltime lecturer in Librarianship, where she was Assistant Director.   In 1955 she was appointed Deputy University Librarian and became University Librarian and Director of the School of Librarianship from 1971 to 1974.   She served on the committees of various Library organisations and published many articles, as well as a book on South African libraries.   She was also involved in public lecturing and broadcasting.

Miss Taylor was an active member of the Roman Catholic Church, and was deeply involved in the work of the Church.

Madge Green and Elizabeth Taylor became friends while they were working at the Johannesburg Public Library in the early 1940's.   They both joined UCT Libraries in the mid-1940's, and moved into Coniston, in Wynberg, which was to be their home for nearly fifty years.

Madge Green was a prolific letter writer, and the collection consists mainly of correspondence from her many correspondants in South Africa and overseas.   These were members of her family as well as friends, with some of whom she maintained a regular correspondence over a period of more than fifty years.

Among the letters are a number written by Cedric Messina, a well-known South African broadcaster who later made a name for himself in the BBC.   These letters were written during the Second World War from Egypt, and later from Italy during the closing stages of the war.

Whenever either Madge or Elizabeth was on holiday they corresponded every few days, giving each other detailed accounts of their daily activities.   These letters read like journals, giving information about friends, the running of the household and garden, the pets, and commenting on people and events in UCT Libraries and the local community and church.

Madge Green kept a journal for serval years from 1940, and also kept diaries of her activities in later years, as well as detailed lists of books she was reading, with comments.

Both Madge Green and Elizabeth Taylor were involved in the life of the Roman Catholic Church.   A section of the correspondence reflects this involvement, and papers relating to various church organisations give an idea of the scope of their interests.

Amongst Elizabeth Taylor's correspondence are some letters relating to her work at UCT Libraries and the School of Librarianship.

Access to the Collection is restricted until the year 2000.

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