Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- c1930- 1991 (Creation)
Level of description
Extent and medium
5 boxes
Context area
Name of creator
Biographical history
Hyman M Basner was born in Russia in 1905, and moved to South Africa at an early age. He trained as a lawyer, and his case work brought him into close contact with Africans and their plight. He joined the Communist Party of South Africa, but resigned in 1938. He stood for Senate as a native representative against J H Rheinallt Jones, and served from 1942-1948. In 1943 he co-founded the African Democratic Party. He left South Africa after the Sharpeville massacre in 1960, and worked in Ghana from 1962-1966. He died in England in 1977.
Repository
Archival history
GB 0101 ICS 88 c1930- 1991 Collection (Fonds) 5 boxes Basner , Hyman M , 1905-1977 , political activist and co-founder of the African Democratic Party.
Hyman M Basner was born in Russia in 1905, and moved to South Africa at an early age. He trained as a lawyer, and his case work brought him into close contact with Africans and their plight. He joined the Communist Party of South Africa, but resigned in 1938. He stood for Senate as a native representative against J H Rheinallt Jones, and served from 1942-1948. In 1943 he co-founded the African Democratic Party. He left South Africa after the Sharpeville massacre in 1960, and worked in Ghana from 1962-1966. He died in England in 1977.
Given by Baruch Hirson, date unknown.
Papers of Hyman Basner comprise manuscripts of the biography "H.M. Basner - 20 Years in South African Politics" by his wife Miriam, the autobiography of A.S. Mopeli-Paulus co-authored with Miriam Basner, Basner's book "The Black Price of Gold in South Africa from 1870-1960" and random chapters from his unpublished autobiography and books on Ghana and "The Union of Smuts and Strydom"; research notes on his time in Ghana and his legal work involving Basutoland/Lesotho and Harrismith; transcripts of an interview of Basner by Brian Willan on South African politics between 1930-1950 and an interview with David Wilcox Bopape; correspondence including those relating to the publication of articles by Basner, political refugees in Swaziland, Connor Cruise O'Brien and Brian Willan and correspondence between Miriam Basner and various others; copies of published articles by Basner and seminar papers by Baruch Hirson and others; bound reports by various departments of the South African government; letters and pamphlets for his election campaign for the Senate and legal and court papers relating to cases Basner was working on (SOME ARE CLOSED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT) and his imprisonment.
- Manuscripts.
- Research Notes.
- Interviews
- Correspondence.
- Articles, Seminar Papers and Publications.
- Reports.
- Election Papers.
- Legal and Court Papers.
Open except for records restricted under the Data Protection Act or the Freedom of Information Act. Please contact the University Archivist for details. At least 24 hours notice is required for research visits.
Copies may be made, subject to the condition of the original. Copying must be undertaken by the Special Collections Reading Room staff, who will need a minimum of 24 hours to process requests.
English and Afrikaans.
Catalogued to file level (see link to repository catalogue).
Tapes of Basner's interview with Brian Willan are held at the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), London. Original of The Black price of gold in South Africa, 1870-1960 is at the University of Witwatersrand
Compiled by Alan Kucia as part of the RSLP AIM25 Project. General International Standard Archival Description ISAD(G), 2nd Edition, 2000. National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997. Oct 2001, April 2012 Africa African Democratic Party Apartheid Basner , Hyman M , 1905-1976 , political activist in South Africa Blacks Chemical elements Communist Party of South Africa Ethnic discrimination Ethnic groups Ghana Gold Interethnic relations Metals Precious metals Racial discrimination Racial prejudice Racial segregation South Africa Southern Africa West Africa Inorganic chemicals Chemicals
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
Given by Baruch Hirson, date unknown.
Content and structure area
Scope and content
Papers of Hyman Basner comprise manuscripts of the biography "H.M. Basner - 20 Years in South African Politics" by his wife Miriam, the autobiography of A.S. Mopeli-Paulus co-authored with Miriam Basner, Basner's book "The Black Price of Gold in South Africa from 1870-1960" and random chapters from his unpublished autobiography and books on Ghana and "The Union of Smuts and Strydom"; research notes on his time in Ghana and his legal work involving Basutoland/Lesotho and Harrismith; transcripts of an interview of Basner by Brian Willan on South African politics between 1930-1950 and an interview with David Wilcox Bopape; correspondence including those relating to the publication of articles by Basner, political refugees in Swaziland, Connor Cruise O'Brien and Brian Willan and correspondence between Miriam Basner and various others; copies of published articles by Basner and seminar papers by Baruch Hirson and others; bound reports by various departments of the South African government; letters and pamphlets for his election campaign for the Senate and legal and court papers relating to cases Basner was working on (SOME ARE CLOSED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT) and his imprisonment.
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling
Accruals
System of arrangement
- Manuscripts.
- Research Notes.
- Interviews
- Correspondence.
- Articles, Seminar Papers and Publications.
- Reports.
- Election Papers.
- Legal and Court Papers.
Conditions of access and use area
Conditions governing access
Open except for records restricted under the Data Protection Act or the Freedom of Information Act. Please contact the University Archivist for details. At least 24 hours notice is required for research visits.
Conditions governing reproduction
Copies may be made, subject to the condition of the original. Copying must be undertaken by the Special Collections Reading Room staff, who will need a minimum of 24 hours to process requests.
Language of material
- English
Script of material
- Latin
Language and script notes
English and Afrikaans.
Physical characteristics and technical requirements
Finding aids
Catalogued to file level (see link to repository catalogue).
Allied materials area
Existence and location of originals
Existence and location of copies
Related units of description
Publication note
Notes area
Note
Alternative identifier(s)
Access points
Subject access points
- Interethnic relations » Ethnic discrimination » Racial segregation » Apartheid
- Chemical elements
- Interethnic relations » Ethnic discrimination
- Ethnic groups
- Metals » Precious metals » Gold
- Interethnic relations
- Metals
- Metals » Precious metals
- Interethnic relations » Ethnic discrimination » Racial prejudice
- Interethnic relations » Ethnic discrimination » Racial segregation
- Chemicals
Place access points
Name access points
Genre access points
Description control area
Description identifier
Institution identifier
Rules and/or conventions used
General International Standard Archival Description ISAD(G), 2nd 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