UCT Libraries

BC 707 THE PURWITSKY COLLECTION  

Manuscripts & Archives

University of Cape Town Libraries

donated to

The University of Cape Town Libraries

by

Miss Hilda Purwitsky via the Kaplan Centre for Jewish Studies

A List

compiled by

Margaret Curran

1982

INTRODUCTION

Biographical Note

The Collection

A.

SOUTH AFRICAN JEWISH ART AND ARTISTS

B.

JEWISH BENEFACTORS TO SOUTH AFRICA

C.

JEWISH PERSONALITIES

D.

ARTICLES AND INTERVIEWS

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE

Hilda Purwitsky was born in 1901 in the province of Kovno, Lithuania. She came as a baby to South Africa with her parents and the family lived in Cape Town, where her father worked as a blacksmith. She was educated at the Sacred Heart Convent in Somerset Road, Green Point and the Cape Town Training College.

In 1920, when a student teacher at the De Villiers Street School, she met Roza van Gelderen, a member of the staff and when Miss van Gelderen was appointed principal of the Girls' Central School, at that time in Buitenkant Street, Hilda Purwitsky also obtained a post there.

At about this time they both became friendly with Irma Stern, who had not yet made a name for herself in South Africa as a painter and sculptor and the three were close friends for over forty years.

While teaching at the Girls' Central School, Miss Purwitsky attended evening lectures at the University of Cape Town and obtained her B.A. degree. Also at this time she was local correspondent for the S A Jewish Times, the Zionist Record, the S A Jewish Chronicle and Afrikaner Yiddische Zeitung, often writing articles in conjunction with Roza van Gelderen. After nearly twenty years at the school, they both left for posts in Johannesburg, but afterwards returned to Cape Town.

Miss Purwitsky continued her journalism and also travelled extensively, accumulating an interesting and valuable collection of historical material. She lives in Sea Point, Cape Town, and intends writing a history of the Girls' Central School.

THE COLLECTION

The Purwitsky Collection was donated to the University of Cape Town Libraries in 1981 by Miss Hilda Purwitsky through the Kaplan Centre for Jewish Studies and numbers 448 items.

Miss Purwitsky was a journalist, so a large part of the collection comprises interviews with and articles about prominent and interesting Jewish personalities during the years 1919 to 1979, everyday as well as important events in contemporary Jewish life and also early days in Southern Africa from the Jewish angle. The section on Jewish Benefactors to South Africa includes the 1850's to the 1930's.

One of the most interesting parts of the collection deals with South African Jewish Art and artists, particularly the section on the painter Irma Stern (1894-1966). Hilda Purwitsky and Roza van Gelderen, who was headmistress of the Girls' Central School, Vredehoek,,were personal friends of Irma Stern and their biographical notes reveal interesting details of how this remarkable artist lived and worked.

Together, Hilda and Roza wrote many articles under the pseudonyms Rozilda, Hora, Zora Dailh, V G Purvis and Hillel Ross. Hilda Purwitsky also wrote under her own name, her initials H.P., and the pseudonyms Elia Stamm, Aleph Beth and Clara Way.  She wrote mainly for the South African Jewish Times, the South African Jewish Chronicle, the Zionist Record and the Cape Times and regular articles appeared in columns headed "Out of the Ordinary", "The Human Angle" and "What shall I read?"

The collection is an enthusiastic record of Jewish affairs and personalities and Miss Purwitsky stresses the contribution made financially and the talents they showed in different fields by Jewish South Africans to the land of their adoption.

 

BC 707 HILDA PURWITSKY COLLECTION

 

A.

SOUTH AFRICAN JEWISH ART AND ARTISTS

No. of items

A1-A4

IRMA STERN

 

A1.1

Letter from I.S. to Roza (van Gelderen) from Santa Cruz. 11.10.31 MS

1

A1.2

Letter from I.S. to Hilda (Purwitsky) and Roza (van Gelderen) from her home in Rosebank, Cape Town, referring to the medal which she received from the S.A. Akademie vir Wetenskap en Kuns in 1966. 11.3.66 MS

1

A1.3

Rough sketch from I.S. to Roza - 'Miriam and her nurse.' Undated MS

1

A1.4

Note from I.S. to Hilda. Undated MS

1

A1.5

Description by I.S. of composition of a painting 'Repose' Undated MS

1

A1.6-A1.6.1

'My Critics' by Irma Stern. Article for Cape Times 1930 TSS

2

A1.7

'These also we wrote' - an anthology of poetry and prose by the pupils of the Girls' Central School, Vredehoek, Cape Town 1932. Illustrated by Irma Stern.  Edited by Hilda Purwitsky TS

1

A1.8

Photograph of 'The Tree of Knowledge,' painted by I.S. above the assembly hall doorway at the Central Girls' School (sic), Vredehoek, as a present to the principal, Roza van Gelderen. Painting dd. 1936

1

A2

Biographical Notes

 

A2.1-A2.6

Rough notes about I.S.'s personality, her home, her husband, servants, entertaining, pets, method of working etc. Undated MSS

6

A2.7-A2.8.1

'A visit to Irma Stern's Studio' - article by 'Rozilda', for S.A. Jewish Chronicle. 30.11.28 MS + printed versions.  On reverse of A2.8 picture of I.S. painting – two reclining women amidst foliage. Also cutting from Jewish Guardian of 12.4.29 about her exhibits at the Imperial Art Gallery in London

 

A2.9

'Irma Stern - A South African Artist' by Zora Dailh. Undated MS

1

A2.10

'Irma Stern. A great South African Jewish Artist' by R.H.vP. Undated MS

1

A2.11

'Success at Last' by Rozilda. (P.1 missing). Undated TS On P.4, following the above article, copy of a letter to Ovedoff. Undated

1

A2.12

Rough notes for articles about I.S. Mainly describe her paintings. Undated MS

1

A2.13

Letter from Roza van Gelderen [to press?] protesting about a picture of I.S.'s that was displayed in the New Art Gallery, C.T., under a misleading label. Undated MS

1

A2.14

Funeral speeches - heads rough notes of names and tributes - [possibly at I.S.'s funeral] MS

1

A2.15-A2.15.1

Irma Stern, South Africa's Greatest Artist, Passes. A tribute by her friends Roza van Gelderen and Hilda Purwitsky'. Article for S.A. Jewish Times.  9.9.66 TSS

2

A3

Catalogues of Exhibitions and Auction Sales

 

A3.1

Argus Gallery, Cape Town. Exhibition 7-20 Feb. 1945

1

A3.2

S.A. Art Association Gallery, Cape Town. Exhibition 1955

1

A3.3

National Gallery of S. Africa, Cape Town. Exhibition of African and Christian Sculpture from the Irma Stern Collection

1

A3.4

Lidchi's Gallery, Cape Town. Exhibition 13-26 Feb. 1962

1

A3.5

Association of Arts Gallery, Cape Town. Exhibition 1963

1

A3.6-A3.6.1

Rand Easter Show. Exhibition 1968

2

A3.7-A3.7.1

Wolpe Gallery, Cape Town. Exhibition of paintings 1915-1965. Date of exhibition not given

2

A3.8-A3.8.1

S.A. National Gallery. Exhibition - Homage to Irma Stern. Cape Arts Festival 1968

2

A3.9-A3.9.2

Ashbey's Galleries. Auction sale of Estate Irma Stern. 19.4.68

3

A3.10

Newspaper cutting from Cape Argus 19.4.68, with pictures of people at auction sale at Ashbey's Galleries on that date

1

A3.11

Curries Auctioneers, Johannesburg. Auction sale of Art works 20.11.68

1

A4

Newspaper Clippings about Irma Stern's work and her death

 

A4.1-A4.15

Her work

16

A4.16

Picture of I.S. at her desk, from periodical 'Sarie Marais'. 5.6.68

1

A4.17

Picture of exterior of her Rosebank home and art objects displayed for the auction sale. Sarie Marais 5.6.68.  On reverse - pictures of front door of house and carving on a chest.

1

A4.18

Pictures of bronze headdress and carved mask - Sarie Marais 5.6.68.  Reverse - Buyers at the auction sale

1

A4.19

Chinese Actress - picture of I.S. painting 1945

1

A4.20

Pictures of Malay Girl and stone head of Young Native Girl. - both I.S. works

1

A4.21

Drei Madchen aus Swaziland. 1927. Newspaper clipping from German publication, of I.S. painting

1

A4.22-A4.32

Newspaper clippings after I.S.'s death, about her Funeral, her bequests, tributes to her. 1966/67

14

A4.33-A4.38

Miscellaneous clippings. Undated

6

A5-A9

Other South African Jewish Art and Artists. 1925-1963 - Newspaper Clippings, programmes etc.

 

A5.1-A5.6

Wolf KIBE L 1929-1963

7

A6.1-A6.11

Moses KOTTLER 1925-1955

18

A7.1-A7.5

Israel LIPSCHITZ 1930-1954

9

A8.1-A8.7

H.V. MEYEROWITZ 1928-1935

9

A8.8-A8.10

Eva MEYEROWITZ 1959

3

A9.1-A9.5

Other artists including Cecil HIGGS, John DRONSFIELD, Jacob EPSTEIN (sculptor), Isadore EPSTEIN (Pianist).  TS article by Hilda Purwitsky - 'A Cezanne on the Parade'.

5

B.

JEWISH BENEFACTORS TO SOUTH AFRICA

 

B1.1-B1.36

The DE PASS family

 

B1.1

Letter from Alfred de Pass to Hilda Purwitsky 10.5.(52) MS

1

B1.2-B1.4.1

TS Articles and their newspaper versions about Alfred de Pass by Hilda Purwitsky 10.5.52

5

B1.5

Notes about Alfred de Pass by Roza van Gelderen.  Undated TS

1

B1.6

'Alfred de Pass - An Appreciation', by Roza van Gelderen. After his death TS

1

B1.7-B1.8

Newspaper cuttings - tributes to A. de P. after his death 17.12.52

2

B1.9-B1.10

Photographs of A. de P. One undated, one July 1944, aged 82

2

B1.11-B1.14

Articles on the de Pass family by V.G. Purvis, Hilda Purwitsky and 'Rozilda' TSS

5

B1.15

Cape Times payment slip to H.P. for de Pass article 5.10.52

1

B1.16-B1.36

Miscellaneous notes - some incomplete MSS & TSS

21

B2.1-B2.13.1

OTHER JEWISH BENEFACTORS TO SOUTH AFRICA

 

B2.1

COQUI, Adolf (In S.A. ± 1840-1854) TS

1

B2.2-B2.6

MARKS, Sammy (In S.A. 1869-1920) MSS and TSS

5

B2.7

MENDELSSOHN, Sydney (In S.A. 1860's - ± 1912) MS

1

B2.8

OPPENHEIMER, Sir Ernest (In S.A. 1892-1957) TS

1

B2.9-B2.11

Articles on Jewish Benefactors to S. Africa by Hilda Purwitsky and Roza van Gelderen - include Sir Alfred Beit, Sir David Harris, Hyman Liberman, Barney Barnato, Emil Nathan, Sammy Marks, Sydney Mendelssohn, Sir Lionel and Lady Phillips, de Pass family, Sir Max Michaelis, Bernard Klisser, Moritz Pickler, Otto Beit, Wolf and Hirsch Hillman. TSS

3

B2.12-B2.13.1

Newspaper clippings of the H.V. Meyerowitz door to the Liberman Hall. 28.9.35

3

C.

JEWISH PERSONALITIES - Articles and Interviews

 

C1.1

Abrahams, Rabbi I. (C.T. Hebrew Congregation) Undated TS

1

C1.2

Abramson, Mrs Thea - pianist. Undated TS

1

C1.3

Bender, the Rev. A.P. Undated TS

1

Cl-4

Berman, A.Z. Clipping. Undated

1

C1.5

Bradlow, Mr. and Mrs. Frank. Clipping 24.6.55

1

C1.6

Cape Town Old Timers. Clipping. Sept. 1952

1

C1.7

Carasov, Jack. Clipping. 1.5.53

1

C1.8-C1.8.2

Cohen, Isadore. Clipping. 2.9.55

3

C1.9

Cohn, J. Curt. Undated TS

1

C1.10

Coplans, Josef. 12.2.56 TS

1

C1.11

Duschinsky, Rabbi Eugene. Undated TS

1

C1.12

Fram, David. 3 poems TS

1

C1.13-C1.14.1

Friedman, Dr. Bernard TS and clippings. 27.12.53

3

C1.15-Cl.20.1

Goldberg, Jack - Rhodesian pioneer. Letters and interview 24.2.53 - 26.3.53 TSS

8

C1.21-C1.21.1

Goldstein, B. Clippings 12.9.58

2

C1.22-C1.22.1

Gordon, Gerald, Q.C. Clippings 10.6.55

2

C1.23

Graumann, Sir Harry. Clipping 27.9.46

1

C1.24

Grober, Chayale. Clipping 24.6.55

1

C1.25

Herbstein, Mr. Justice. Clipping 16.10.53

1

C1.26

Herzog, Chief Rabbi. Clipping 12.9.52

1

C1.27

Hyman, Dr. Ann. Undated TS

1

C1.28

Kahana, Rabbi Kopul. Clipping 27.7.56

1

C1.29

Kahaneman, Mrs. Undated TS

1

C1.30-C1.31

Koussevitzky, Moshe. TS and Clipping 29.7.55

2

C1.32

Kuperholz, Miss Sarah. Clipping 13.11.36

1

C1.33

Kusevitsky, Geoffrey and Cantor Simcha. Undated TS

1

C1.34

Lourie, Arthur. Undated TS

1

C1.35

Machanick, Phillip. Clipping 21.8.36

1

C1.36

Mauerberger, Morris. Undated TS

1

C1.37

Melamet, A. Max. Undated TS

1

C1.38-C1.39

Morris, S.S. C.T. City Engineer. TS and Clipping 17.4.53

2

C1.40

Oppenheimer, Sir Ernest. Clipping 12.7.46

1

C1.41

Palley, Dr. A. Clipping 19.9.58

1

C1.42

Rabie, Dan. Undated TS

1

C1.43

Rome, Cantor Boris. Clipping 29.6.56

1

C1.44

Rubin, Senator Leslie. Clipping 11.3.55

1

C1.45

Schauder, Adolf. Clipping Sept. 1958

1

C1.46-C1.47

Shaban, Abel. Article and letter. TSS

2

C1.48

Shapiro, Bernard. Undated TS

1

C1.49-C1.50

Singer Dr. Donald (Ronald?) TS and Clipping.  Undated

2

Cl.51

Suzman, Helen. Clipping 25.5.56

1

C1.52

Three Hebrew Teachers (Bitnum, Avin, Blesovsky) Undated.  TS

1

Cl.53

Weiss, Prof. (and Skibbe, Carl Arthur) Clipping.  11.2.55

1

C1.54

Wolff, Dr. Robert. Clipping 7.10.55

1

C1.55-C1.55.1

Articles by Hillel Ross on personalities in the Immigration Quota Debate in House of Assembly. 1.3.30

2

D.

CLIPPINGS AND ARTICLES ON GENERAL TOPICS

 

D1.1-D1.74

Interviews and Articles from the S.A. Jewish Chronicle

109

D2.1-D2.5

Scrapbooks of press cuttings from the S.A. Jewish Times

5

D3.1-D3.30

Miscellaneous TS articles - arranged alphabetically by title of article.  Included are: How we were evacuated from Woolwich to Wilts; Little Lithuanians; Misgav - Visit of the Israeli frigate 'Misgav' to Cape Town 1955; Yom Kippur in the synagogues of Cape Town

31

D3.31-D3.68

Miscellaneous newspaper clippings in chronological order. Included are: Peggy Duncan's swim from Robben Island to C.T. 1926; 'A Cape Town Jewess among the Nazis' 1933; 'Jeanne D'Arc' - French training ship with Israeli cadets. 1953; Cape Town Cheder boys in 50-yr-old photographs 1953

44

D.

ARTICLES AND INTERVIEWS

 

D4.1

Letter to H.P. from secretary of charity bazaar 26.2.24 TS

1

D4.2-D4.5

Correspondence about nom-de-plume 'Elia Stamm', TSS and clipping

4

D4.6

'Case of Zandberg Jansen and our pictures'. MS undated

1

D4.7

Album (heading to page) - list of photographs. MS undated

1

D4.8

Newspaper cartoon. Cape Times 6.2.32 'Among the Immortals'

1

 

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