UNITED PARTY NATAL PROVINCIAL OFFICE: 1932-1988

Abstract

In terms of an agreement with the United Party in 1969, Unisa Library became the official custodian and processor of the Party’s political archives. The Archive also includes the United Party’s predecessors and its successor the New Republic Party and the records of parties which broke away from the UP e.g. the Progressive Party (later the Progressive Federal Party). The scope of the archival records The Natal Provincial Office, councils, constituencies and information files consist of 15 linear metres of records (115 boxes) . The Natal Provincial Office is part of the larger - approximate 500 linear metes - United Party Archive which is available to national as well as international researchers. The Archive is of particular value in that the records are the official documents of a white South African political party who ruled for 38 years and who were the official opposition for 39 years. The Natal Division collected information resources on issues and persons who played a role in South African politics and society. The biographical files include information on FH Acutt, Sir de Villiers Graaff, Gen. Selby, JGN Strauss; G Heaton Nicholls, TJA Gerdener and Adele van der Spuy. Information on subjects such as the Broederbond, United Democratic Front, Union Federal Party, Indian affairs, Ossewabrandwag, Anti-Republican League, Liberal Party, Dominion Party and many others, were also collected. The 27 constituency files are important as they show the effect of urbanization on communities over time.