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Archival description
Robben Island Trials
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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

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

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

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.

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

NIZA Photograph Collection

An album of photographs of Nelson Mandela, including:
Portrait photographs of Nelson Mandela, many of which were taken by Eli Weinberg. There are photographs with Kaiser Matanzima, and of Nelson Mandela together with his son, Thembekile, as well as Nelson and Winnie Mandela on their wedding day. Includes photographs of Nelson Mandela wearing traditional beads, Mandela in boxing gear, at his law office, burning his pass, and in disguise while in hiding from the police as the "Black Pimpernel." (1950s - 1960s). Nelson Mandela after his acquittal at the treason trial, with Essop Pahad in the background. Nelson Mandela addressing the All-in-Africa Conference in Pietermaritzburg in 1961. Photographs are by Joe Gqabi. Photographs of Nelson Mandela with military officers in Algiers, and with Oliver Tambo in Addis Ababa, during his secret Africa trip in 1962. Nelson Mandela in Parliament Square, London, 1962. Photographs by Mary Benson. Nelson Mandela and Walter Sisulu on Robben Island in 1966.The concert in celebration of Mandela's 70th birthday. The 1988 artist's impression of Nelson Mandela.
Nelson Mandela's release from prison, including a scene of him addressing a mass gathering in Cape Town on the day of his release from prison. Also featured in these photographs are Winnie Mandela, Walter Sisulu and Cyril Ramaphosa. Photographers include Yunus Mohamed. Post-release portraits, some that originates from the International Defence and Aid Fund. Photographers include Pieter Boersma and Piet den Blanken. Nelson Mandela addressing meetings on his visit to the Netherlands in June 1990. Also featured in these photographs are Winnie Mandela and Thabo Mbeki. Photographers include Jan Stegeman, Pieter Boersma and Kadir van Lohuizen. Nelson Mandela being awarded an honorary doctorate at the University of the Western Cape. Featured in the photographs are Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Professor Jaap Durand and Professor Stanley Ridge. Photographs are by Rashid Lombard. Nelson Mandela alongside a mural in Cape Town. Photograph by the Cape Argus. Nelson Mandela on the platform with Tokyo Sexwale and others at an ANC election mass meeting held at the Kwamazizi Stadium, 12 March 1994. Photographs are by B. Bohler. Photographs of Winnie and Zindzi Mandela, including Winnie in traditional dress, her attendance of political funerals in South Africa in 1985, and Zindzi addressing the crowd at a mass gathering at Jabulani Stadium in 1985. Photographers include Alf Kumalo and Gideon Mendell.

Anti-Apartheid Beweging Nederland

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

Jurgen Schadeberg Photographic Archive

Collection of photographs of Nelson Mandela, including: An early photograph of Mandela in his law office that he shared with Oliver Tambo. Nelson Mandela at the Defiance Campaign Trial 1952.
Photographs taken during the Treason Trial 1956 -1961. Mandela’s return visit to his cell on Robben Island (1994).
Portraits of Mandela.
Featured alongside Mandela in the photographs are Moses Kotane, James Moroka, Yusuf Dadoo and Ruth First.

Schadeberg, Jürgen

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

Radio RSA: English Service

A recording of proceedings at the Rivonia Trial, the State versus Nelson Mandela and nine others, including the verdict and passing of sentences, as well as FW De Klerk's announcement of Nelson Mandela's release from prison in 1990.

South African Broadcasting Corporation [DO NOT USE]