Running in and away from the archives
Francois Cleophas
Stellenbosch University
SASHT Conference
10- 11 October 2014
Wits University
Definitions
Archivesives
Official
Unofficial
sanctioned by state/ organisation
broader than state sanctioned
documents
variety of evidence
Open a social-historical window through asking questions
Sources for establishing the narrative
• 20 letters of correspondence between WPAA & CU
(Coloured) (1902 – 1905). Eight were used.
• Secondary sources (books, thesises, newspapers,
etc.)
Letter 1 (Nature of athletic meetings)
• Purpose of letter
• Date of letter
• Writing style
• Address of secretary
• Nature of intended sports
day
Nature of intended sports day
• Dimaond
Field
News
17 May
1902
Letters 2 & 3 (Use of Green Point Track)
• Purpose of
letters
• Time of response
• Possible reasons
for delay in
response
Letters 4 & 5 (Different controlling bodies)
Why would letter 4 be
sent to the
organisation
represented in letter
5?
Letter 6
(Segregation)
• Who suggested
segregation with dressing
rooms?
• Does the City Council
support segregation ?
Letter 7 (Segregation)
What was the revenue of
cricket compared to athletics?
Is Walter Light’s opinion
personal or part of official
atmosphere?
Letter 8 (segregation)
• Why segregation?
• Were there any immediate
ripple effects?
Conclusions
• 1902-1905
– Athletics was organised from District Six
– Presidentialism
– Fermentation of segregation in Cape Town society
reflected in sport