Audiovisual Archive
The Audiovisual Archive includes some 20,000 items, including 35 and 16-mm film and video.
Photographs
The photographic archive in Special Collections has material that spans a period from the inception of photography to the present day, from fragile prints to digital format.
Human Rights in the AV Archive
The urgency to restore the AV collections in UCT Libraries Special Collections is underscored by their critical role in documenting the history of struggle, and transition to, human rights and democracy in South Africa.
Tape: A paper conservators’ worst nightmare
Since the invention of pressure-sensitive tapes in the 1920’s, it became an ideal solution for a variety of applications. However, conservators know its long-term effects as disfiguring, damaging, and it is very very difficult to remove.
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.
Memory@UCT
This blog gives a platform to archivists and researchers to explore the memories preserved at UCT.
Whose copyright is that? Perpetual copyright and indigenous languages in archives
Copyright is a limited-time monopoly. Which is a fancy way of saying that it doesn’t last forever. Eventually, it expires. Except when it doesn’t. How many things in South African archives have perpetual copyright? So very many.
Fragments of the African Film Collection Survived the Fire
Initially believed to be entirely destroyed by fire, the AV team has recovered at least 850 titles of the original African Studies Film Collection. They were kept in VHS format and have now been digitised.
My lockdown experience by Clive Kirkwood, Archivist in Special Collections
Dealing with reference inquiries regarding archival material remained a significant part of my Special Collections work. While lack of access to physical sources poses difficulties for both staff and users, I have found it motivating in the
My lockdown experience by Andrea Walker
I started out loving lockdown. Early morning meetings in bed when it's the middle of winter and pouring with rain? Wonderful. No constant interruptions from users? Fantastic! Constant interruptions from three cats and the elderly neighb