Encountering a South African Women’s Rights Pioneer
Noted on March 5, 2009 by Christopher Bennett in
This is the first of two entries in recognition of International Women's Day on March 8. In this entry, Chris Mitchell, interning at the Southern African Media and Gender Institute (SAMGI) in Cape Town, South Africa shares her experience discovering the personal manuscripts of Olive Schreiner, a pioneer in South African gender and human rights. A second posting on March 8 will include excerpts from the article Chris wrote about Olive Schreiner's manuscripts for SAMGI's newsletter.
I went by the National Library during my lunch hour. In the upper gallery there was an exhibit of South Africa’s activist history that I roamed around. I could not believe what I came across! A letter authored by Olive Schreiner! I excitedly introduced myself to the reference librarian and explained that I had seen the letter in the exhibit by Olive Schreiner and asked if the library had more of her letters and manuscripts.
The National Library has the collection cataloged, so I sat down and picked out the boxes I wanted them to bring up from the archives located off-site. I picked two boxes: one containing personal correspondence and one containing some manuscripts. I was soooo thrilled and excited.
The next day I came back to the library to view the manuscripts. I expected the documents to be between sheets of acid-free paper and not to be able to touch the actual pages. WRONG – everything is there in the open to touch. The pages are yellowing and starting to show the rusty spots of deterioration. These documents will not last because they are not being preserved correctly and this very much saddens me. I pick up the first box of manuscripts and can touch her pages and her handwriting – ink and quill pen in cursive script. It’s a solemn but giddy feeling. I realise no one is watching me. I can do whatever I choose with these treasures. I start looking through the items enclosed. “1.1 Remembrances” is missing -- it appears someone already has done what they wanted. I decide to show appreciation and reverence. I handwrite notes on a notebook page so I will not forget.
Most people I’ve spoken with, either South African or American, do not know who Olive Schreiner is. Because of this I get a severe sense of protection for those boxes and their contents. I will not steal; but if there were some possibility, I certainly would spirit the documents off to someplace safe and secure. I wonder how they are preserving Nelson Mandela’s apartheid documents. Is there a blatant show of importance for one and not the other? Is this because she is female? My feelings are very subdued as I leave the library. I wish Olive Schreiner’s letters the best of possible care.