Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- 1877 - 1981 (Creation)
Level of description
Fonds
Extent and medium
321 items
Context area
Name of creator
Biographical history
John Gubbins was an Africana book collector, antiquarian and writer. He donated his Africana collection of old books, pictures and manuscripts to the University of the Witwatersrand. A disastrous fire in 1931 at the University's central block destroyed thousands of books, and a large part of Gubbins' Africana collection. Gubbins and his patrons, including the South African Institute of Race Relations, started on a new collection which eventually became the 'Gubbins Library' and which he donated to the William Cullen Library at the University of the Witwatersrand, and the Johannesburg's Africana Museum. The University conferred an honorary D.Litt. on him.
Archival history
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
Content and structure area
Scope and content
Correspondence, personal documents, biographical notes, memoranda, photographs and a scrap-book relating primarily to the acquisition of his Africana library, its transfer to the University of the Witwatersrand and destruction by fire in 1931 and to his voyage round the world in 1932-1933 to try and make good his losses. Correspondence is mainly with H.R. Raikes, Principal of the University of the Witwatersrand, but other correspondents include Sir William Dalrymple, M.W. Gray, J.D. Rheinallt Jones, P.W. Laidler, J.H. Pim and General J.C. Smuts.
Also correspondence of Dr. P.H. Butterfield re., his biography of Dr. Gubbins.
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling
Accruals
System of arrangement
Conditions of access and use area
Conditions governing access
Conditions governing reproduction
Language of material
Script of material
Language and script notes
Physical characteristics and technical requirements
Finding aids
Uploaded finding aid
Allied materials area
Existence and location of originals
Some of the letters are photocopies of originals in the archives of the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg.