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Robben Island
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Dennis Brutus Papers

Collection of documents including correspondence, newsletters, pamphlets, press clippings, memoranda and media releases. The subjects covered include:
Biographical material on Nelson and Winnie Mandela. Robben Island. Nelson Mandela's health during his imprisonment, and calls for independent medical treatment.
Petitions and campaigns for Nelson Mandela's release from prison. US House Resolution 430 entitled, "The Mandela Freedom Resolution," submitted by Geo W. Crockett Jr., Hamilton Fish Jr., Claude Pepper and Jim Leach, calling for Nelson Mandela's release from prison.
Prison conditions.
The work of the International Anti-apartheid Movement, particularly the Free South Africa Movement (USA). International tributes, such as the Nelson Mandela bust on Trafalgar Square (London) and the statue at Merrion Square (Dublin). Honorary degrees conferred on Mandela. Seventieth birthday tributes. Nelson Mandela's release from prison in February 1990, and his visit to the US later that year. The International Reception Committee, established to welcome Nelson Mandela after his release from prison. Marches and rallies held in the US celebrating his release from prison. Nelson Mandela's address to the US Congress, and remarks made to newspaper editors and writers in the US on the new South Africa. Political negotiations, the future of sanctions, the reasons for his release from prison and the armed struggle.
Speeches, statements and articles by Mandela.
The list of correspondents includes Dennis Brutus, John Fiordelisi, Randall Robinson, Archbishop Trevor Huddleston and Geo W. Crockett Jr.
News clippings are from the Boston Sunday Globe, Chicago Sunday Times, Chicago Tribune, Ebony Magazine, New York Post, New York Times, State News and USA Today.

Brutus, Dennis

Files of United Nations Secretary-General, U Thant

Files of the United Nations (UN) Secretary-General, U Thant, include:
Text of a statement by Achkar Marot, the representative of Guinea, to the UN, refers to Nelson Mandela's imprisonment on Robben Island. Response by the South African government to two articles published in the "UN Monthly Chronicle," which discusses the South African government's position on the Rivonia Trial, including Nelson Mandela's statement from the dock. The conclusion and recommendations of the International Seminar on Apartheid, Racial Discrimination and Colonialism in Southern Africa held in Kitwe, Zambia (1967). The conference recommended special campaigns around the incarceration of outstanding leaders such as Nelson Mandela, Walter Sisulu, Robert Sobukwe and Bram Fischer.

U Thant

Episcopal Church People for Southern Africa

Collection of materials including:
News clippings on the situation in South Africa in 1991 regarding, among others, ANC National working committee nominations, reports of spies within the ANC. Discussion document on structures and principles of a constitution for a Democratic South Africa. Press statements by the ANC. Statements by Nelson Mandela and Oliver Tambo during an ANC national conference held between second and 7th July 1991 in Durban, South Africa. ANC resolutions on various issues including strategy and tactics, building the ANC, violence, negotiations, and foreign policy. Correspondence with Jennifer Davis of the Africa Fund.

Episcopal Church People for Southern Africa

National Archives United Kingdom

Closing case against Nelson Mandela (includes information that Mr. L.J. Blom-Cooper from Amnesty saw the magistrate leaving for lunch with the Security Branch in their car. This led to Nelson Mandela to call the magistrate to recuse himself from the trial but he refused. Confidential report from the British embassy. ( 26 October1962). Nelson Mandela's trial. Report from British embassy. Arrest of Nelson Mandela (including biographical details)
Report from the British embassy, Pretoria to the Foreign office, London.

British Embassy, Pretoria

Norwegian Action Against Apartheid

Correspondence, memoranda, newsletters, pamphlets, reports, publications and other campaign materials concerning:
The World Campaign for the Release of South African Political Prisoners (1964 - 1967). The Rivonia Trial, and a call to save South Africa's resistance leaders, including Nelson Mandela, from the death penalty. Nelson Mandela's statement from the dock at the Rivonia Trial, translated into Norwegian.
Amnesty International reports on prison conditions in South Africa (1965).

Norwegian Action Against Apartheid

South African Pressclips Collection

Collection of news clippings concerning the following:
Campaigns for Nelson Mandela’s release from prison (1980- 1989). Nelson Mandela and Robert J. Brown, Nelson Mandela being diagnosed with tuberculosis, his 70th birthday, and the Free Mandela Concert held at Wembley Stadium (1988). The Mandela family (1988- 1989). Nelson Mandela’s release from prison, and worldwide reaction to his release (1990). Speeches and statements by Nelson Mandela (1990-1991). Tours undertaken by Nelson Mandela, including visits to the USA, Canada, Europe, Africa, South America (Brazil, Spain, Cuba, Venezuela, Mexico), the Far East and Australia (1990 - 1991). Victor Verster prison, visits to Nelson Mandela at Victor Verster, and his meeting with PW Botha (1989).
Biographical profiles Nelson of Mandela.

Eddie Daniels 1981 Escape Plan

News cuttings, diagrams, notes and memoranda concerning a 1981 plan by Eddie Daniels to free Nelson Mandela from Robben Island. The collection also includes subsidiary material about a Bureau of State Security (BOSS) escape plan in 1969, reportedly part of a plot to assassinate Nelson Mandela.

Daniels, Eddie

Zwelakhe Simon Xamlashe

Collection of film and video recordings consisting of distribution prints and master materials (negatives, rushes, sound tracks and trims). The subjects covered include:
Nelson Mandela's early views on the objectives of the ANC and the liberation struggle. The reception given to Mandela's rejection of the regime's offer of conditional release, read by his daughter Zindzi to a vast gathering in Soweto on 10 February 1985. Commentary from activists and family members, including Winnie Mandela. Prison conditions on Robben Island including Mandela's cell, the daily routine of hard labour, diet in prison, isolation and Mandela's transfer to Pollsmoor Prison in 1985. The impact of international campaigns for the release of Mandela, including footage of the Free Mandela Campaign Concert held at Wembley Stadium in celebration of his 70th birthday.
The collection also includes interviews with Nelson Mandela, Winnie Mandela, Andrew Masondo, Jacob Zuma, Indres Naidoo, Philip Mathews, Mary Benson, Barbara Harmel and Barry Feinberg.
It consists of both completed productions and raw footage.

International Defence and Aid Fund (IDAF)

Legassick, Martin

Martin Legassick- photocopy of an encoded letter [1967] with an attached list of prisoners from
Robben Island in the period 1963-1965.

Legassick, Martin

Masemola, Japhta

Statement to police by former Robben Island political prisoner, Japhta Masemola dated 22-04-1963
and photographs.

Masemola, Japhta

Robben Island General Recreational Committee Archive

Documents created by the General Recreational Committee that represented political prisoners on Robben Island. These include a handwritten transcript of a document by Nelson Mandela motivating that the African National Congress (ANC) and the government reach a negotiated political settlement.

-There is also a message from Mandela (during the period of his imprisonment) to Oliver Tambo.

Robben Island General Recreational Committee

Records of the Rivonia Trial

Incomplete set of records of the state vs. Nelson Mandela and nine others. The collection includes the indictment, opening address, statements, evidence, evaluation of evidence and exhibits including photographs. An important section of the collection relates to preparations of the defence. As well as Nelson Mandela, the accused include Dennis Goldberg, Govan Mbeki, Walter Sisulu, Ahmed Kathrada, Andrew Mlangeni, Raymond Mhlaba, James Kantor and Elias Motsoaledi.

Helen Suzman

Collection includes documentation concerning the following:
Helen Suzman's visits to Robben Island and Victor Verster prisons (1967, 1982, and 1985). Reports on prison conditions at Robben Island, submitted by Nelson Mandela and Neville Alexander (1967). Law text books to be sent to Nelson Mandela (1974). Robben Island geographical information, conditions and treatment of prisoners. Lord Nicholas Bethell's interactions with Nelson Mandela. Includes documents about the possible release of Nelson Mandela.

Suzman, Helen

African National Congress German Mission Records

Records of the African National Congress German Mission. The collection has
An interview with Winnie Mandela by Africa Now concerning Nelson Mandela’s imprisonment, December 1982. Correspondence, memoranda, resolutions and working principles of the Release Mandela Campaign (RMC) (1980 - 1988). Letters to Mandela from children in Germany (1988). News clippings concerning Mandela (1985 -1990). Correspondence, memoranda and statements of the Mandela International Release Committee. Correspondence and programmes in relation to Mandela’s visits to Germany (1990 - 1993). Miscellaneous materials concerning international awards conferred on Mandela such as the Nehru Award, published speeches, statements and tributes (including 70th birthday tributes) and a statement by Oliver Tambo on the conferment of the Nehru Award on Mandela.
- News clippings, including reports of CIA involvement in Mandela’s arrest in 1962.
- Nelson Mandela concert in Hamburg
- Nelson Mandela exhibition on the struggle
- Speeches 1961- 1964

African National Congress (ANC) German Mission

Govan Mbeki Papers

The personal papers of Govan Mbeki, including:
Part one of the State’s concluding address at the Rivonia Trial. A memorandum concerning prison conditions on Robben Island. Nelson Mandela’s 1996 address to the British parliament. Supreme court: Govan Mbeki and Nelson Mandela
Mandela visit to Tanzania 1990

Mbeki, Govan Archibald Mvuyelwa

Sylvia Neame Papers

The personal papers of Dr. Sylvia Neame, including a statement delivered by Mary Benson to the Ad Hoc Working Group on Human Rights on Nelson Mandela’s imprisonment and Robben Island prison conditions. The collection also includes biographies of ANC leaders, published statements, articles and news clippings concerning Mandela

Neame, Sylvia

Oliver Tambo Papers

The personal papers of Oliver Tambo. The collection includes:
News clippings from South African and international newspapers concerning the arrest of Nelson Mandela in 1962, his court appearances, and calls for his release from prison (1962 -1988). Correspondence concerning the PAFMECSA conference held in Ethiopia addressed to all member governments, a letter from the ANC London office concerning the arrests of Mandela and Walter Sisulu, and a cable from the Somali Minister of Foreign Affairs to Tambo re: Mandela’s arrest (1962). News clippings in the build up to and aftermath of Mandela’s release from prison (1990 - 1991). News clippings, programmes and itineraries concerning Mandela’s visits to the United States, the United Kingdom, Ireland, India, Japan, Malaysia, Australia, Geneva, Botswana and other countries (1990 - 1991).
Reports on campaigns for the release of political prisoners, including reports from Robben Island, and on Lord Nicholas Bethel's meeting with Mandela. Also includes a 1970 report by Mandela about prison conditions on Robben Island (1970 - 1989). Correspondence from Mandela, written from Pollsmoor Prison, to Oliver Tambo and a number of other individuals. Original letters to Tambo, as well as transcripts of letters written to Nthato Motlana, Mangosuthu Buthelezi, Sheila Weinberg and Desmond Tutu, amongst others. Also included is a letter of thanks to Mrs. Bhalla of the Indian Council for the 1979 Jawaharlal Nehru Award and a letter of sympathy on the death of Seretse Khama (1978 - 1989). Media reports concerning Mandela, including cables. Includes reports by Radio RSA, internal media monitoring, an African National Congress (ANC) statement on Mandela’s health, and of a visit to Mandela by Robert Brown (1985 - 1990). Correspondence, reports and messages concerning international support for Mandela’s release from prison. Subjects covered include tributes on his 60th and 70th birthdays, and awards and honours conferred on Mandela, particularly through the work of the British Anti-Apartheid Movement (1984).
Statements and correspondence concerning the assassination of Chris Hani (1993). Video recordings of various events before and after Mandela’s release from prison. These include the 1990 Free Mandela Concert at Wembley Stadium and Mandela’s 1990 visit to Lusaka (1988 - 1990).
Correspondence, lists and statements by Oliver Tambo concerning awards and honours conferred on Mandela. These include honorary degrees, Freedom of the City awards, artistic attributes and facilities named after Mandela. The correspondence is primarily between Oliver Tambo and heads of / representatives of awarding countries and institutions. The awards include the Simon Bolivar Prize, the naming of a road in Mandela’s honour in Botswana, and awards conferred by the Sandinista National Liberation Front of Nicaragua, the Jamaican Human Rights Organisation, the University of Carabobo of Venezuela, and the Karl Marx University of the German Democratic Republic (1983 - 1990). Correspondence and statements concerning international calls for, and, Mandela’s release from prison. These include correspondence about a resolution passed by the African Symposium on African Orality in Nigeria, and a statement by the president of the Republic of Senegal after Mandela’s release. Other correspondents include Senator Michael J Williams of Trinidad and Tobago, OJ Masire of the Palestinian Liberation Organisation (PLO), and the Communist Party of Sweden (1989 - 1990). Correspondence from Tambo to Mandela and to the Mandela family (1991 - 1992).

Speeches delivered in Mandela’s honour.
Drafts of plays and books written about Nelson Mandela, the drafts include No Easy Walk to Freedom, Nelson Mandela and the Rivonia Trial and What is to be done’.
Published and unpublished statements and speeches of Mandela, 1962 - 1991.
Correspondence and memoranda relating to the Nelson Mandela National Reception Committee (1989 - 1990).
Biographical

Tambo, Oliver Reginald

The Nationalist (Tanzanian newspaper)

1964, Race war in S.A. imminent
S Africa accuses UThant of partiality. Churches urged to act on South Africa. Widespread police raids follow Job bombing. ANC praises Mwalimu's stand on South Africa. Freedom leader asks for S.A. action including the release of Nelson Mandela, South African issue, South African police resume raids on Cape Town Homes increased prison repression on political prisoners. We regret to announce their deaths, Vuyisile Mini, Wilson Khayingo, Zinakile Mkaba ( Dulcie et decorum) Hanged in Pretoria.

Nationalist

The Tanganyika Standard (Daily Newspaper in Tanzania )

Newspaper articles on South Africa 1963
Hard bargaining between western powers and South African States: Arms embargo on South Africa. Liberation a burden for all Africa, More arms support arms embargo to South Africa, End trading with South Africa Nyerere, South Africa urged to heed U.N. and strive for racial harmony: Uthant attacks apartheid, S.A. on brink of disaster, Four escape S.A. police, Escape trio on way, Cell guards coshed in escape - police: SA. Exits watched, Expel S. Africa call to U.N.: Arms blockade suggested, Mystery fire at airport delays Goldreich's arrival in Dar, Escapers due in second freedom flight, Airline doubts over safety: EAA recalls rescue plane: flight To Mbeya, Goldreich and Wolpe fly out: Stops in Federal territory avoided, ANC fearful of another kidnap plot, Beware of the avalanche South Africa told. The Hodgsons in Tanganyika and fighting on, Goldreich and Wolpe "evil traitors, Scandinavians give Verwoed a chance: Find alternative to apartheid. Daily Newspaper in Tanzania on South Africa.

Tanganyika Standard

Ruth First Papers

The personal papers of Ruth First
The collection is made up of background material, correspondence and reviews concerning "No Easy Walk to Freedom" edited by Ruth First. Printed copies of Nelson Mandela’s speech at the Rivonia Trial. Drafts of sections of the book, and a typescript of Mary Benson’s statement before the UN Special Committee on Apartheid in 1964, with handwritten alterations. Correspondence, mainly between Ruth First and Heinemann Publishers, as well as clippings of newspaper reviews.
Material on political detention between 1963 and 1970, including a copy of the 1963 Detention Act, a radio script by Mary Benson entitled "Nelson Mandela and the Rivonia Trial," and notes produced by Ruth First. Press releases and conference papers concerning the Symposium on the exploitation of Blacks in South Africa and Namibia, organized by the United Nations in 1978, with observances of the 60th birthday of Nelson Mandela.
Transcripts of interviews with Robben Island political prisoners. Correspondence from friends and acquaintances, and materials from South African newspapers concerning the Rivonia Trial.

First, Ruth