B. Independent, struggle, research and civil society archives: Over and above these various government archives there are a number of independent archives, who have over the years collected substantial records on behalf of civil society, thereby compensating and filling the gaps in many areas of public interest. Some leading examples of these are:
GALA (Gay and Lesbian Archive)
is predominantly paper based, consisting of letters, photographs, diaries, legal documents, organisational material, etc. The archive is frequented by researches, academics and students, both local and international.
Link: GALA
NAHECS - The National Heritage & Cultural Studies Centre, at Fort Hare University, has been designated the
custodian of the Liberation Movement Archives. These archives of the African National Congress (ANC), the Pan African Congress (PAC), the Black Consciousness Movement (BMC), and many others, reflect the history and development of these organisations as well as the political struggle for democracy in South Africa. These documents cannot be viewed on line.
Link: NAHECS/ University of Fort Hare
Nelson Mandela Foundation - Centre of Memory holds an archive of the life and time, works and
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writings of its founder, the late Nelson Mandela. It includes handwritten papers, official records and unique artefacts from the personal archive of Nelson Mandela, and records of related significant organisations and individuals.
Link: Archival Collections at the Nelson Mandela Foundation
