Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- 1974-1985 (Creation)
Level of description
Extent and medium
1 folder
Context area
Name of creator
Biographical history
Neil Alcock was born in 1919 at Underberg, Natal. After war service, he became a farmer in Natal. In 1962, he founded Kupugani, a national welfare organisation whose object was to increase the amount of South African food available to the country's African population. From 1967 until his death he devoted his life to helping Africans with rural agricultural schemes, developing agricultural training and encouraging African ownership, home industry and literacy. In 1967 he established a Church Agricultural Project among Zulu farm people at the Maria Ratschitz Mission farm in northern Natal. In 1975 he moved to another farm, Mdukutshani, in the Msinga district near Weenen in the Kwa Zulu `bantustan'. Work at the farm, which included innovations to combat drought and pests, was described in regular newsletters from Alcock and his wife, Creina (Bond), a well-known writer on South African wild life and conservation. Alcock also acted as a representative of Africans in their dealings with white farmers and as a peace maker in local feuds. He died in an ambush on 28 September 1983 when returning with elders from a meeting he had organised to end fighting between factions.
Repository
Archival history
GB 0101 ICS 3 1974-1985 Collection (Fonds) 1 folder Alcock , Neil L , 1919-1983 , farmer and teacher
Neil Alcock was born in 1919 at Underberg, Natal. After war service, he became a farmer in Natal. In 1962, he founded Kupugani, a national welfare organisation whose object was to increase the amount of South African food available to the country's African population. From 1967 until his death he devoted his life to helping Africans with rural agricultural schemes, developing agricultural training and encouraging African ownership, home industry and literacy. In 1967 he established a Church Agricultural Project among Zulu farm people at the Maria Ratschitz Mission farm in northern Natal. In 1975 he moved to another farm, Mdukutshani, in the Msinga district near Weenen in the Kwa Zulu `bantustan'. Work at the farm, which included innovations to combat drought and pests, was described in regular newsletters from Alcock and his wife, Creina (Bond), a well-known writer on South African wild life and conservation. Alcock also acted as a representative of Africans in their dealings with white farmers and as a peace maker in local feuds. He died in an ambush on 28 September 1983 when returning with elders from a meeting he had organised to end fighting between factions.
The papers were collected by Baruch Hirson, and deposited at ICS in 1986.
Papers of Neil Alcock on agricultural training in South Africa, 1974-1985, comprising newsletters from Alcock's farm, 'Mdukutshani', near Weenen, Kwazulu, on the training of Bantu farmers, 1975-1985; typescript article 'An experiment in agricultural training' by Neil Alcock, Mar 1974; press cuttings on Alcock's death in an ambush, Sep 1983; order of service for Alcock's memorial servive, Emmanuel Cathedral, Durban, Oct 1983.
As above
Open although advance notice should be given.
Usual conditions apply
English
See link to repository catalogue. Desciptive list also available in the Library.
Relevant publications available in the ICS Library.
Compiled by Alan Kucia as part of the RSLP AIM25 Project. Compiled in compliance with General International Standard Archival Description,ISAD(G), second edition, 2000; National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997. Created 3/09/2001 AIM25, modified 6/09/2001 Agricultural education Alcock , Neil L , 1919-1983 , farmer and teacher Blacks Ethnic groups South Africa Southern Africa Vocational education
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
The papers were collected by Baruch Hirson, and deposited at ICS in 1986.
Content and structure area
Scope and content
Papers of Neil Alcock on agricultural training in South Africa, 1974-1985, comprising newsletters from Alcock's farm, 'Mdukutshani', near Weenen, Kwazulu, on the training of Bantu farmers, 1975-1985; typescript article 'An experiment in agricultural training' by Neil Alcock, Mar 1974; press cuttings on Alcock's death in an ambush, Sep 1983; order of service for Alcock's memorial servive, Emmanuel Cathedral, Durban, Oct 1983.
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling
Accruals
System of arrangement
As above
Conditions of access and use area
Conditions governing access
Open although advance notice should be given.
Conditions governing reproduction
Usual conditions apply
Language of material
- English
Script of material
- Latin
Language and script notes
English
Physical characteristics and technical requirements
Relevant publications available in the ICS Library.
Finding aids
See link to repository catalogue. Desciptive list also available in the Library.
Allied materials area
Existence and location of originals
Existence and location of copies
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Publication note
Notes area
Note
Alternative identifier(s)
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Genre access points
Description control area
Description identifier
Institution identifier
Rules and/or conventions used
Compiled in compliance with General International Standard Archival Description,ISAD(G), second edition, 2000; National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997.
Status
Level of detail
Dates of creation revision deletion
Language(s)
- English