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Democracy, Representation and
ArchivesAcquisition Policies in South African University
Archives
Harrison W. InefukuOctober 28, 2010
Honolulu, HI
Overview of Presentation
1. Introduction
2. Overview of South African archives
3. Discussion of research
Introduction
Student Dual MAS/MLIS
Program, University of British Columbia
Graduate Research Assistant Digital Records
Forensics InterPARES 3 Project University
Institutional Repositories: Copyright and Long-Term Preservation
Where I Am
Introduction
Alumni University of the
Pacific, BA/BFA (Stockton, CA)
Punahou School
Previous Work Experience Belkin Art Gallery
Archives (Vancouver, BC)
National Library of Medicine (Bethesda, MD)
University of the Pacific Archives and Special Collections
Punahou School Archives
Where I’ve Been
Introduction
Archival Policies and Procedures Electronic records
management Digital preservation
Diversity and Archives Diversity in staffing Diversity in users Diversity in archival
record
Research Interests
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Archives in South Africa
Apartheid Era (1962–1991)Transition (1991–1994)
Democracy (1996–present)
Brief Introduction to Apartheid
Afrikaans for “apartness”
Four Racial Groups White Black Asian Coloureds
Segregation Homelands “Independence” Public Services
Archives Act, 1962
Gave director of archives broad control over management of public records in all government agencies
Government records were to be transferred to the custody of the archives after 30 years Later amended to 50
years
Access During Apartheid
Obstacles to public access: Time Permission Minister able to
restrict access Social inequality
Apartheid’s Impact on Records
Acquisition policy aimed at capturing historical milestones
Acquisition Policies
Homelands Policies
Security
Apartheid’s Impact on Records
Homelands in charge of maintaining its own archives
Lack of support from State Archives Service
Only one—Transkei—had an established archives service
Acquisition Policies
Homelands Policies
Security
Apartheid’s Impact on Records
Persecution of anti-apartheid groups: Destruction of
records by security officers
Fear of creating records
Acquisition Policies
Homelands Policies
Security
Transition and Records Destruction
Illegal destruction of government records to cover up human rights abuses
Truth and Reconciliation Commission
African National Congress
ContemporaryArchival Legislation
Established the National Archives and Records Service of South Africa
“Total archives”
Recognition of need to fill gaps in the archival record
Cooperation between national archives and other archival organizations
Closed period reduced from 50 to 20 years
National Archives and Records Service of South Africa Act (1996)
Constitution (1996)
Promotion of Access to Information Act (2001)
ContemporaryArchival Legislation
30 rights are guaranteed in the Constitution
Emphasis on equality
Includes Access to Information as a guaranteed right
Archives Act (1996)
Constitution (1996)
Promotion of Access to Information Act (2001)
ContemporaryArchival Legislation
Fulfills the constitutional right of access to information
Scope includes both public and private records
Archives Act (1996)
Constitution (1996)
Promotion of Access to Information Act (2001)
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University Archives and Special Collections
Acquisition Policies
Background
Postmodernism, Social History and Archives
Calls for a representative archival record Documentation Strategy (Helen Samuels)
Background
What role, if any, do South African university archives play in the filling of archival gaps?
Is the desire to fill archival gaps evident in the policies of South African university archives?
Zofia Sulej, “[South African university archives’] involvement in different community projects and contributions towards forming a new national history is still not often discussed in an open arena.”
Methodology
Survey sent to university archives and special collections in South Africa
Analysis of acquisition policies (written and unwritten)
Site visits (February 2011)
Research Questions
How do university archives and special collections contribute to the creation of a representative archival record?
Do university archives and special collections view the development of a representative archival record as important?
If university archives and special collections acquire materials beyond university records, how are areas of acquisition focus determined? Who determines areas of acquisition? (Archivist, university
librarian/dean, university’s academic strengths, external researchers/consultants, archives/special collections mandate)
How are areas of acquisition defined? (Geographical region, racial group, chronological period)
If university archives and special collections do not acquire materials beyond university records, why?
Acknowledgements
Association of Hawaii Archivists, UHM Hamilton Library, UHM Graduate Certificate in Museum Studies
Maja Clark, Stu Dawrs
Supervisor: Dr. Lisa Nathan
Archival Adviser: Dr. Luciana Duranti
Consultaton/Advice: Jeanette Bastian, Graham Dominy, Terry Eastwood, Verne Harris, Shadrack Katuu, Victoria Lemieux, Francesca Marini, Laura Millar, Anne Thurston
Aidan Collier, Tracey Collier, Andrew Hill, Kedibone Leubane, Samara Pillay, Ryan Schwartz, Marli Vlok
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