UNITED PARTY DIVISION OF INFORMATION: 1905-1990

Abstract

A year after losing the 1948 election against the National Party, the United Party established the Division of Information and Research in Johannesburg. Party officials were sent on official study tours to the United States and the United Kingdom to research marketing, fundraising and campaigning techniques and strategies abroad. On their return, the Division actively launched marketing campaigns, created publicity materials and conducted surveys on behalf of the UP. The marketing campaigns carried slogans such as Election Victory, UP Symbol, Car Sticker and Freedom Cavalcades. New marketing materials were created including United Party ties, tie pins, cuff links, brooches, earrings, table cloths and wall hangings. Fundraising fêtes were organised countrywide to fund elections campaigns. The Division also created, designed and distributed many publications, pamphlets, posters, newspapers and newsletters such as Die Volkstem, Politics Today and Speakers’ Notes to keep party members informed about the political issues of the day.

At the same time the Division of Information created an Archive of records, biographical information, materials on other political parties and information resources on issues and persons who played a role in South African politics and society. These files contain valuable reports, pamphlets, press cuttings and photographs. They include interesting information on subjects such as apartheid, banned persons and detentions, church and politics, university education, evidence and photos from commissions of enquiries such as the Snyman Commission on the POQO PAC Paarl riots, Sharpeville, commonwealth issues, race relations and race classification, trade unions, the Freedom Charter, terrorism and sabotage, Springbok Legion and the War Veterans Torch Commando to name but a few. To date about 375 files of the Division’s files on subjects and individuals have been processed. The available files listed, include materials on UP Party leaders General JC Smuts, General Louis Botha, JGN Strauss, Sir De Villiers Graaff and Vause Raw; prime ministers Dr DF Malan, Dr HF Verwoerd, BJ Vorster and PW Botha; politicians Helen Suzman, Cathy Taylor, Anna Scheepers, Dr Moroka, Kaiser Matanzima and Nelson Mandela; religious leaders such as the Rev Beyers Naudé and Bishop Lekganyane and many others.