- ZA MR-RT-097
- Collection
- 1946 - 1997
Part of Rivonia Trial
Suzman, Helen
Part of Rivonia Trial
Suzman, Helen
Part of Anti-Apartheid Movement Archives
South African Institute of Race Relations
Part of Mandela Materials
South African Institute of Race Relations
Church of Sweden Aid : Swedish National Committee of the Lutheran World Federation [Lutherhjälpen]
Part of Anti-Apartheid Movement Archives
Part of Rivonia Trial
The documents related to the Rivonia Trial described below are from Record Group 59 which reflects the diplomatic work of the Department of State and embassies in southern Africa, particularly in South Africa. References to these records were identified, inventoried and made searchable as part of the South African Research and Archival Project (SARAP) at Howard University in Washington, D.C. designed to identify, locate, inventory and disseminate information pertaining to the involvement of Americans in the liberation struggle of South Africans, especially during the anti-apartheid movement. The records themselves can only be accessed at the National Archives repository listed below. These may not be a comprehensive listing of all State Department records related to the Rivonia Trial.
Box 2637: Political 30-2 S AFR: Documents pertaining to various individuals and organizations, including ANC, UNIAS, OAU, African Liberation Committee [ALC], PAFMECA, ANC, SWAPO, SWANU, and PAC. A report on ANC's statement on the Rivonia Trial and a PAC representative in Ghana, Matthew Nkoana. Airgram memoranda with the following subjects, "First Issue of Pan Africanist Congress Information Bulletin," "ANC Statement on Rivonia Trial Verdict," "Report on Political Exiles from South and South-West Africa," and "Representative of Pan Africanist Congress Begins Writing for Ghanaian Newspaper" (1964-1966). Discussed or referenced: James Hadebe, Jacob, Nyoase, E.L. Ntloedibe, Raymond Kunene, Robert Resha, Tennyson Makewane, Jacob Nyoase, Colin Legum, Jariretundu Kozunguizi, Sam Nujoma, and John Eldridge of the African-American Institute.
Box 2636: POL 29 S AFR 8/1/64: Documents pertaining to the Rivonia Trial, including a memorandum of conversation with Abraham Fischer, Attorney General for convicted saboteurs; kidnapping of Rosemary Wentzel from Swaziland to South Africa; Eastern Cape communism trial of 74 Africans; and sentencing of Pascal Ngcane, Chief Albert Luthuli's Son-in-Law.
Box 2636:POL 29 S AFR 6/1/64: Documents pertaining mostly to the Rivonia Trial; reactions from around the world on the trial, including protests from the US National Council of Churches and ANC statement from Tanzania on the trial; criticism from Jomo Kenyatta of Britain and US support for South Africa.
Box 2636: POL 29 Arrests, Detention S AFR 5/1/64: Documents pertaining to trials and detentions in South Africa including the Rivonia trial and detention of Chief Albert Luthuli; mentioned in the reports include Raymond Mhlaba, Ahmed Kathrada, Walter Sisulu and Lionel Bernstein; a report on a Nigerian government official regarding problems that would erupt if Mandela and others were given death sentences; a letter to the President of the UN Special Committee on Apartheid regarding trials in South Africa and memorandum on the reply from the President. A confidential memorandum and report on "The Apartheid Trials in South Africa," including a discussion of the Rivonia Trial. Several telegrams concerning the Rivonia trial. Discussed or referenced: Govan Mbeki, Albert Luthuli, Nelson Mandela, Lionel Bernstein, Ahmed Mohamed Kathrada, Walter Sisulu, African National Congress, the Pan Africanist Congress, and the Communist Party of South Africa. A telegram with abridged statistics on black and white land use, salaries, malnutrition, and morbidity in South Africa. (1963).
US State Department
Council on Ecumenical and International Relations, Church of Norway [Mellomkirkelig råd] : [Part 1]
Part of Anti-Apartheid Movement Archives
Council on Ecumenical and International Relations, Church of Norway [Mellomkirkelig råd] : [Part 2]
Part of Anti-Apartheid Movement Archives
Part of Rivonia Trial
Mainly correspondence between Benson and fellow South African activists and large amounts of newspaper cuttings collected by Benson relating to South Africa and the struggle against Apartheid.
Records related to the Rivonia Trial:
-Nelson Mandela’s statement from the dock at the Rivonia Trial (ICS6/5/3)
-Elias Motsoaledi's statement (ICS6/5/7)
- Correspondence, reports and statements about the treatment of political prisoners in South Africa, including reports by the International Committee for the Red Cross (ICRC) and Amnesty International
- Papers related to Nelson Mandela’s imprisonment, collected by Benson when writing her biography of Mandela, "Nelson Mandela: the Man and the Movement."
- Correspondence between Mandela and Mary Benson. There is also correspondence between Benson and others, mainly related to Mandela and campaigns for his release from prison. Correspondents include Helen Suzman, Elinor Birley, Hilda Bernstein, Oliver Tambo, Winnie Mandela, Denis Healey and Ismail Ayob.
- Typed notes on Mandela and other prisoner
-News clippings concerning Mandela, mainly from British newspapers. Subjects covered in particular detail include the Rivonia Trial and campaigns for Mandela's release (ICS6/8)
Benson, Mary
Part of Anti-Apartheid Movement Archives
Part of Rivonia Trial
International Confederation of Free Trade Unions (ICFTU)
International Confederation of Free Trade Unions
Part of Anti-Apartheid Movement Archives
Records of the ANC French Mission
Part of Rivonia Trial
African National Congress (ANC) French Mission
Part of Mandela Materials
Bunting, Brian Percy
Part of Mandela Materials
Vasson, Mukesh
University of Witwatersrand Student Representative Council, Resource Centre
Part of Mandela Materials
University of the Witwatersrand
Part of Rivonia Trial
Strassburg, Toni
Digital Innovation South Africa (DISA)
Part of Rivonia Trial
DISA is a freely accessible online scholarly resource focusing on the socio-political history of South Africa, particularly the struggle for freedom during the period from 1950 to the first democratic elections in 1994.
A search for 'The State versus Nelson Mandela' yields the following scanned documents:
Bruno Mtolo's extract of evidence (vol. 15 and vol. 16), Walter Sisulu's extract of evidence (vol. 20), Ahmed Kathrada's extract of evidence (vol. 24), Raymond Mhlaba's extract of evidence (vol. 25), Lionel Bernstein's extract of evidence (vol. 26), Govan Mbeki's extract of evidence (vol. 28), judgement, judge's remarks when passing sentence. These documents were selected and scanned from the collection at Historical Papers, University of Witwatersrand (AD1844).
A search for 'Rivonia Trial' yields a poster (linked from SAHA Poster Collection entry) and an extract from the Rivonia Trial Statement made by Nelson Mandela which appeared in the journal Dawn (Volume 7 Number 6 June 1983 page 20). There are other articles too which make mention of the significance of the Trial in passing, mostly from the African Communist magazine.
Digital Innovation South Africa (DISA)
Part of Rivonia Trial
Gathered from various repositories and private sources to preserve records and memories of activism in the United States in support of the struggles of African peoples against colonialism, apartheid, and social injustice from the 1950s through the 1990s.
A search for Rivonia Trial material yields:
-Photographs of demonstrations outside the South African Consulate in New York protesting the outcome of the Rivonia Trial (from private collections and American Committee on Africa)
-Buttons: "Free Motsoaledi", "Free Kathrada" "Free Mandela", "Happy birthday Motsoaledi" (from Netherlands Institute for Southern Africa)
African Activist Archive Project
South African Institute of Race Relations
Part of Mandela Materials
South African Broadcasting Corporation [DO NOT USE]
Papers of Justice ( British Section of the International Commission of Jurists)
Part of Mandela Materials
Sargant, Tom
Part of Mandela Materials
Grant, Bernie
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
Part of Anti-Apartheid Movement Archives
Part of Mandela Materials
Roskam, Karel
Part of Mandela Materials
September, Reg
Part of Mandela Materials
Pogrund, Benjamin
Part of Mandela Materials
Strassburg, Toni
Part of Mandela Materials
Storey, Peter
Bailey's African History Archive
Part of Rivonia Trial
The entire collection at Bailey's emanates from Drum Magazine. It includes a full set of South African Drum (1951-1984), issues of its sister publications, Drum from other African countries, and an extensive archive of Drum photographers.
A number of articles in various issues of South African Drum relate to the Rivonia Trial:
-August 1963 "The Raid" accompanied by artist Lennie Saks' drawings, re the arrests at Liliesleaf.
-December 1963 "South Africa goes on Trial" with photos and text about main protagonists (Vorster, Mandela)
-January 1964 entitled "They made the news in 1963" and "While the world watches 40 fight for their lives" about the three sabotage trials (Rivonia Trial in Johannesburg, Cape Town, Pietermaritzburg) with photographs and captions about each person (available online).
-June 1964 "The Rivonia men" with a profile of Mandela, Kathrada, Bernstein, Goldberg, Sisulu, Mbeki and "Rivonia - the three mystery men" profiling Mhlaba, Mlangeni, Motsoaledi.
-July 1964 "After the Trial - Sabotage!" and "I'll never forget Rivonia" by Aggrey Klaaste
-August 1964 "The strange world after Rivonia"
An article in the Post related to Rivonia:
-September 1963 "Kill Goldreich Plot - The one who got away" (available online)
Photographs are arranged under subject headings and are by Drum photographers:
Envelope under subject of "Rivonia Trial/Winnie Mandela/Liliesleaf Farm, Drum December 1963-January 1964":
-Includes photos of family members outside the court in 1963, mostly Winnie Mandela, Mrs Mandela (Mandela's mother), contact sheets, various shots of the crowd and police cordoning off crowd with dogs, policemen at Liliesleaf Farm entrance.
Two envelopes under subject " Winnie Mandela"
-Various pictures of Winnie Mandela and children at different times, these include some from the outside the court during Rivonia Trial (mostly same as in Rivonia Trial envelope)
No Rivonia Trial photos were found under other trialists' names in subject folders. The photographs that exist of them come mostly from the Treason Trial.
Photographs online include ones mentioned above and photo of Lionel Bernstein and photographs of Liliesleaf Farm (search "Rivonia" in online search).
Drum Magazine
Files of United Nations Secretary-General, U Thant
Part of Mandela Materials
U Thant
The Apartheid era:The defiance campaign
Part of Mandela Materials
Transvaal Provincial Division of the Supreme Court (Pretoria)
Part of Mandela Materials
Transvaal Provincial Division of the Supreme Court (Pretoria)
Norwegian Labour Movement: Press Clippings Collection
Part of Rivonia Trial
Untitled
Part of Rivonia Trial
Court records and other documents relating to trials in which Kuny (an advocate) was involved, including the Rivonia Trial where Denis Kuny was junior counsel. One box of Rivonia Trial material contains: A1.1 Indictments 1963 ; A1.2 Motion to quash the indictment 1963 ; A1.3 Defence requests for further particulars and the State's reply thereto; A1.4 Documents relating to Accused no 8 (James Kantor) including affidavit, request for particulars, petition, notes and a press cutting.
Records still in process.
Kuny, Denis
Drum Magazine Photographic Archive
Part of Mandela Materials
Drum Magazine
Part of Mandela Materials
Joseph, Helen
Part of Mandela Materials
[Unknown]
Jurgen Schadeberg Photographic Archive
Part of Mandela Materials
Schadeberg, Jürgen
Part of Mandela Materials
PC2/3/3/1
National Office correspondence 1952-1959: Correspondence on Elections, funding, overseas press liaison, LPSA policies, meeting plus Nelson Mandela's article in Liberation criticising LPSA.
PC 2/4/6/4
Signed letter from Nelson Mandela as Hon. Secretary of the All in Africa National Council, 22.05.1961
PC 2/4/16/2
Rivonia trial June 1964. State vs. Nelson Mandela and others. Section SV6 of the trial. Evidence and
address in Mitigation of sentence by Alan Paton
Description of Alan Paton 's evidence and address( seems to be a typed chapter from a book)
Paton, Alan
Norwegian Labour Movement Archives and Library: Press Clippings Collection
Part of Mandela Materials
Norwegian Labour Movement Archives and Library
Part of Mandela Materials
Department of Justice
Part of Anti-Apartheid Movement Archives
Part of Anti-Apartheid Movement Archives
Records of the American Committee on Africa (ACOA)
Part of Rivonia Trial
American Committee on Africa
Records of the American Committee on Africa (ACOA)
Part of Rivonia Trial
Documents the pioneering anti-apartheid group in the US from its establishment in the 1950s. Documents related to Rivonia Trial are:
-Campaign against South African Apartheid: Memos, draft letters to and lists of sponsors, resolutions and declarations, flyers, clippings and notes 1963 (1960-1964). Major topics: Appeal for action against Apartheid, Rivonia arrests and trials, international boycott of South African goods etc.
-African National Congress Pamphlets. Includes: South African on Trial: Behind the Rivonia Case (no date).
-Mandela, Nelson (ca. 1964). Major topic: Rivonia trial.
-World Campaign for the Release of South African Political Prisoners: Rivonia Trial: Newsletters, statements, press releases, brochure (1963-1964).
-Writings: Chief Albert Luthuli (1957 and 1964). Major topics: Racial situation, Rivonia trial, ANC.
-Writings: Nelson Mandela (1961 and 1964). Major topics: 1961 Stay-at-home demonstration, Rivonia trial.
Microfilm versions available at Manuscripts and Archives, University of Cape Town.
American Committee on Africa
Nelson Mandela Speeches and writings
Part of Mandela Materials
Mandela, Nelson Rolihlahla
Part of Mandela Materials
Weinberg, Eli
Part of Mandela Materials
Part of Rivonia Trial
Sisulu, Walter Max Ulyate
Part of Mandela Materials
Kuny, Denis
Part of Mandela Materials
University of the Witwatersrand
American Committee on Africa : [Part 2]
Part of Anti-Apartheid Movement Archives
Part of Mandela Materials
American Committee on Africa : [Part 1]
Part of Anti-Apartheid Movement Archives
American Committee on Africa : [Part 4]
Part of Anti-Apartheid Movement Archives
American Committee on Africa : [Part 3]
Part of Anti-Apartheid Movement Archives
American Committee on Africa : [Part 5]
Part of Anti-Apartheid Movement Archives
American Committee on Africa : [Part 6]
Part of Anti-Apartheid Movement Archives
Part of Anti-Apartheid Movement Archives
Part of Mandela Materials
Sobukwe, Robert Mangaliso
South African Institute of Race Relations
Part of Mandela Materials
South African Institute of Race Relations
Part of Mandela Materials
International Defence and Aid Fund (IDAF) Papers
Part of Mandela Materials
International Defence and Aid Fund (IDAF)
Federation of South African Women (FSAW)
Part of Mandela Materials
Part of Rivonia Trial
This collection is in two accessions. The first accession contains mainly prison correspondence, study materials from jail, other manuscripts and documents from Kathrada’s prison years, a large number of ANC and other documents from the years following his release, as well as a number of books and artefacts. There are microfilm copies of the prison letters. The only material related directly to the Rivonia Trial in this section is 11. 5, a copy of part of the Rivonia Trial record signed by Mandela, Sisulu, Kathrada and Motsoaledi given to them after their move to Pollsmoor Prison.
The second accession consists of prison artefacts, correspondence, documents and study materials from imprisonment (1964- 1989), as well as records from his release reflecting a number of the positions he held in public office and his various interests (1989-2002). There are only a few items from the period prior to his imprisonment. Records related to the Rivonia Trial are: A2.8: part of Rivonia Trial record (unsigned and unbound) with Robben Island Prison stamp on it (Judgement); A1.6.3.10: Letter to The Head of Prisons Pollsmoor Maximum Prison requesting permission to spend his 60th birthday with Rivonia Trial colleagues (4 August 1989) and follow-up letter (20 August 1989); and B3.6.3: Information re documentary called "Rivonia" from 1990s.
Kathrada, Ahmed Mohamed (Kathy)
International Defence and Aid Fund (IDAF) Papers
Part of Mandela Materials
International Defence and Aid Fund (IDAF)
Part of Mandela Materials
Kathrada, Ahmed Mohamed (Kathy)
Transvaal Provincial Division of the Supreme Court (Pretoria)
Part of Mandela Materials
Transvaal Provincial Division of the Supreme Court (Pretoria)
Part of Mandela Materials
Shore, Herbert
Part of Mandela Materials
Black Sash Movement
International Defence and Aid Fund (IDAF) Oral History and Sound Archive
Part of Rivonia Trial
International Defence and Aid Fund (IDAF)
International Defence and Aid Fund (IDAF) Film Archive
Part of Rivonia Trial
International Defence and Aid Fund (IDAF)
Part of Mandela Materials
Huddleston, Trevor
Part of Rivonia Trial
Manuscript of "South African Political Prisoners: The Life We Led 1963-1966" by Mahlubi L Mrwetyana. Reference to Robben Island prison conditions including for Rivonia Trialists. File on Race Relations with completed questionnaires and extensive notes on prison conditions in South Africa 1956-1961; file with material on families; biographical notes on some of the persons persecuted by the government of the Republic of South Africa for their opposition to the policies of apartheid, 30 May 1964. The list includes Nelson Mandela and other Rivonia Trialists. The list is fairly extensive. File re IRC visits to South African prisons 1964; copies of the letter and reports sent to B J Vorster (Minister of Justice) by the ICRC, June 18 1964 re: conditions in South African prisons (Robben Island, State farm prison, Victor Verster, various police stations in Pretoria and Johannesburg, Pretoria Prison, Leeuwkop, Prison Vooruitsig, Kroonstad, Pretoria Prison, T B Hospital Sonderwater).
Not available for inspection at time of this audit.
International Defence and Aid Fund (IDAF)
International Defence and Aid Fund (IDAF) Papers: Trials
Part of Rivonia Trial
Drafts, memos, Treason Trial Defence Fund correspondence, various Treason Trial documents. Apparently also includes Rivonia Trial brief, Rivonia Trial extracts of records.
Not available for inspection at time of this audit.
International Defence and Aid Fund (IDAF)
Part of Mandela Materials
United Democratic Front (UDF)
Part of Mandela Materials
Witwatersrand Local Division of the Supreme Court (Johannesburg)
International Defence and Aid Fund (IDAF) Papers
Part of Mandela Materials
International Defence and Aid Fund (IDAF)
International Defence and Aid Fund (IDAF) Papers
Part of Mandela Materials
International Defence and Aid Fund (IDAF)
International Defence and Aid Fund (IDAF) Papers
Part of Mandela Materials
International Defence and Aid Fund (IDAF)
Witwatersrand Local Division of the Supreme Court (Johannesburg)
Part of Mandela Materials
Witwatersrand Local Division of the Supreme Court (Johannesburg)
Soviet Afro-Asian Solidarity Committee : [Part 1]
Part of Anti-Apartheid Movement Archives
Soviet Afro-Asian Solidarity Committee : [Part 4]
Part of Anti-Apartheid Movement Archives
Soviet Afro-Asian Solidarity Committee : [Part 6]
Part of Anti-Apartheid Movement Archives
Soviet Afro-Asian Solidarity Committee : [Part 2]
Part of Anti-Apartheid Movement Archives
Soviet Afro-Asian Solidarity Committee : [Part 5]
Part of Anti-Apartheid Movement Archives
Part of Rivonia Trial
Untitled
African National Congress (ANC) Collection
Part of Mandela Materials
African National Congress (ANC)
International Defence and Aid Fund (IDAF) Papers
Part of Mandela Materials
International Defence and Aid Fund (IDAF)
Witwatersrand Local Division of the Supreme Court (Johannesburg)
Part of Mandela Materials
Witwatersrand Local Division of the Supreme Court (Johannesburg)
Archive of the Anti-Apartheid Movement (AAM)
Part of Rivonia Trial
Archive of the Anti-Apartheid Movement (AAM) and predecessor material including the Boycott Movement. Material directly related to the Rivonia Trial includes:
O.7 Political Prisoners Campaigns, 1956-95:
-O.7.1.b Correspondence, 1962-70: Correspondence concerning the Rivonia trialists and other condemned South African leaders, 1964 (MSS AAM 1791)
-O.7.5.e General files, 1961-95: Information on the Rivonia trial and trialists, 1963-90 (MSS AAM 1953)
W.2 African National Congress (ANC) posters, 1978-95:
'We salute our leaders. Sentenced to life imprisonment. Rivonia 1963. Mandela, Sisulu, Mbeki, Mhlaba, Motsoaledi, Mlangeni, Kathrada, Goldberg.' 1980s? Mainly black and white; photographs (MSS AAM 2512/2/4), 1 poster
Rivonia Trial references might also appear in other parts of this collection for example, the campaigns the AAM took relating to the Trial might appear in the minutes of the Executive Committee and in annual reports.
British Anti-Apartheid Movement (AAM)
Part of Mandela Materials
Anti-Apartheid Beweging Nederland
International Defence and Aid Fund (IDAF) Papers
Part of Mandela Materials
International Defence and Aid Fund (IDAF)
Central Black Appeal and Divorce Court (Johannesburg)
Part of Mandela Materials
Central Black Appeal and Divorce Court (Johannesburg)
Soviet Afro-Asian Solidarity Committee : [Part 3]
Part of Anti-Apartheid Movement Archives
International Defence and Aid Fund (IDAF) Papers
Part of Mandela Materials
International Defence and Aid Fund (IDAF)
Part of Anti-Apartheid Movement Archives
Episcopal Church People for Southern Africa
Part of Rivonia Trial
Rivonia Trial materials include:
Unit 66 Ref 0398
-News clippings in English from newspapers in the US and UK concerning the situation in South Africa during the 1960's
-Text of Nelson Mandela's Rivonia Trial speech published by Christian Action and printed by A G Bishop & Sons Ltd (Kent, UK)
Unit 85 Ref 0494
-Correspondence on "Free Mandela" appeals from the Committee of Southern Africa and responses from the US Department of State
-Correspondence on "Free Mandela" appeals from Centre against Apartheid
-Correspondence "Free Mandela" appeals from Africa Resource Center (CA, USA)
-Correspondence "Free Mandela" appeals from General Theological Seminary (NY, USA)
-Correspondence from The Episcopal Churchmen for Southern Africa (NY, USA) to among others, the US President, advocating for freeing of South African and Namibia political prisoners
-Several leaflet copies of the "Free Mandela" campaign
-Text of Nelson Mandela's Rivonia Trial speech published by Christian Action and printed by A G Bishop & Sons Ltd (Kent, UK)
-News clippings on Mrs. Helen Suzman's visit of Robben Island and meeting Mr. Nelson Mandela and Mr. Toivo Ja Toivo, restricted family visits by Winnie Mandela, free Mandela campaigns conducted both in South Africa and around the world.
Episcopal Churchmen For South Africa
Episcopal Church People for a Free South Africa (USA)
Part of Mandela Materials
Episcopal Church People for a Free South Africa (USA)
Episcopal Church People for Southern Africa
Part of Mandela Materials
Episcopal Church People for Southern Africa
Part of Anti-Apartheid Movement Archives