article  // 15 Aug 2018

The 1968 "Mafeje Affair" sit-in, 50 years on

Archie Mafeje was offered a post as anthropology lecturer at UCT. The offer was then rescinded as a result of government pressure. 1968 was a year marked by student protests across the globe. The "Mafeje Affair" was the spark that ignited s
article  // 20 Mar 2020

New edition: Guide to the Manuscripts in the UCT Libraries

An updated edition of the Guide to the Manuscripts in the UCT Libraries has been published and is accessible on the Special Collections website. The Guide provides a synoptic collection-level overview of the manuscript and archival holdings
page  // 19 Jun 2023

Primary Collections

Our primary collections consist of archival holdings such as manuscripts, audiovisual archives, photographs and the UCT Historical Pamphlets and Photographs Collection.
page  // 02 Jun 2023

Bolus Herbarium Library

The library contains many early botanical works, including the writings of early 17th-century travellers who visited southern Africa and explored its flora. It serves academics and students from Biological Sciences and Bolus Herbarium.
page  // 19 Jun 2023

Manuscripts

Our archival holdings consist of original research material and personal papers on the political, social, cultural and economic history of Southern Africa, with a strong focus on the Western Cape.