Douglas E Mitchell Papers (1941-1984)

Abstract

Douglas Edgar Mitchell (1896 – 1988)

Douglas Mitchell, a United Party stalwart and Member of the Natal Provincial Council was born in Natal on 8 September 1896.

Mr Mitchell was elected to the Provincial Council in 1933 and set out to improve the infrastructure of the rural areas. In 1939 he became a Member of the Executive Committee and accepted the portfolio of Financial Affairs. After being appointed Administrator of Natal in 1944, he spent a fruitful three years putting his post-war reconstruction plan for Natal into action.

Douglas Mitchell had a lifelong love for nature and an abiding interest in nature conservation. As MEC and later as Administrator he was responsible for introducing provincial legislation to establish proper control and development of the nature reserves and parks in Natal.

He resigned as Administrator in 1947 to take part in the general election of 1948. Mr Mitchell was elected to the South Coast Constituency and served it for 26 years until he left Parliament in 1974. He was also elected chairman of the United Party in 1949 and held this post until 1972 when he resigned. Douglas Mitchell died in 1988.

THE DOUGLAS E MITCHELL PAPERS (5.3 LINEAR METRES)

The Douglas E Mitchell Papers, which were donated by Mr Mitchell in January 1975, is a very important collection in the United Party Archives. The papers denote the distinguished career of a man who played an important part in the political, constitutional, agricultural and nature conservation life and development of Natal.

The bulk of the collection dates from the early 1950s to the early 1970s. It contains correspondence, memoranda, pamphlets, press cuttings and publications. The correspondence clearly shows the concern Mr Mitchell had for his constituents and other citizens of Natal, and the trouble he went to, to try and resolve their problems.

The papers concerning the United Party give insight into the functioning of the Party on provincial level and the leadership style of Mr Mitchell. The relationship between the Torch Commando, the United Democratic Front and the United Party in Natal can also be traced in the material.

The collection is a valuable asset in the wider picture of the history of the United Party and will be of value to researchers.