Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- 1871 - 1985 (Creation)
Level of description
Fonds
Extent and medium
51 boxes and photographs
Context area
Name of creator
Biographical history
Douglas Thompson was born in England on the 8th August 1905 the son of David Chadwick Thompson and Kitty Brettle. David Thompson fought in the Boer War and in 1907 the Thompson family settled in Pretoria.
Douglas Thompson was a restless scholar. He left Pretoria Boys High in form four (192, 3) and became an iron moulding apprentice with the South African Railways and Harbours (1923-1928). The Church strongly influenced his life from an early age and in 1928 he was accepted into the Wesleyan Methodist Ministry. Between 1928 and 1930 he studied at Richmond College, the Divinity School at London University. On his return to the Union he was placed in the Geaina Area of the Pretoria Circuit. From 1937 to 1941 he was sent to Pietersburg and from 1942 - 1950 he was in Johannesburg West. From 1950 onwards he was in Springs
During his late teens Thompson became interested in world politics, local political issues, philosophy and psychology. He was particularly interested in the politics of the Soviet Union as well as the relationship between Christianity and communism. Thompson was of the first "Marxist theologians" in South Africa. He described himself as a Christian humanist and as a man who had a copy of Marx in the one hand and the Bible in the other.
Thompson was Chairman of the South African Peace Council, the Transvaal Peace Council and the Society for Peace and Friendship with Soviet Union. As the result of his involvement in these organisations he travelled to eastern bloc countries and the Soviet Union. He was also active in the Congress of Democrats, the Penal Reform League and the Child Welfare Society.
Douglas Thompson was one of the accused in the 1956 Treason Trial. He was banned from 1962-1967.
Archival history
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
The Rev. D.C. Thompson Papers were deposited in 1986 by his daughter Mrs. Gwen Rogers.
Content and structure area
Scope and content
The papers were built up by Rev. Douglas Thompson during his lifetime and they are particularly strong on the politics of the 1940s and the 1950s. Subjects covered are politics, political trials, justice, detentions, bannings, child welfare, health and church matters.
The Thompson Papers consist of correspondence, diaries, sermons, addresses, minutes of meetings, memoranda, press cuttings and photographs.
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
Item An1 - Summary of the Tomlinson Report - has been digitised and can be accessed online.
Finding aids
Allied materials area
Existence and location of originals
Existence and location of copies
Related units of description
Notes area
Note
Documents relating to Pietersburg and Sekhukhuniland Missions were stolen.
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Description control area
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Dates of creation revision deletion
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Archivist's note
Compiled by Michele Pickover, 1992