Barlow World Rand Mines Archive

• Research Repository

The first assessment of the Rand Mines archive at Barlow World was done by Historical Papers in 2009, with the aim to transfer this archive to Wits University, under the Custodianship of Historical Papers. In 2019 Barlow World moved its new HQ to Sandton, and the University had to make a space available for the accommodation of the archive. The basement of the Education Library was identified as its new home, and was fully refurbished with generous funding from Barlow World, including the large compact shelf units. The new archive is now fully air-conditioned, fire protected, and access controlled, thereby providing for an appropriate archival environment.

The archive consists of various parts, or separate collections, each of which have their own listing and inventories. These parts are listed in a specific order, and the numbering preceding the title of these record groups only serves to establish this order in this repository. The various collections that make up the Barlow World Rand Mines archive were re-established in its present location according to the inventories or listings, as far as they were available.

The inventories are accompanied by introductions and notes, which explain each of the various collections as best as possible, given the complex history of this archive. All inventories that are uploaded here were compiled at the Barlow World Rand Mines archive prior to the transfer of the archive to Wits University. Additional comments were included during the unpacking and setting up the archive in its present location. The Rand Mines archive was administered through a database using the application Inmagic Software, which could not be re-created. Therefore, the various listings and inventories provided the only guidance in the setup of this archive.

The archive includes an index card holder, which provides access points to the various collections, mainly the HE - CMJ parts, by subject matter. The index cards relate to newspaper clips and documents/correspondence. The volume number usually equates to a box number; the file number relates to files; and the dates that provide reference. The index cards were discontinued at a certain point.