The Manuscripts Section in Special Collections houses approximately 460 documentary heritage collections covering a wide range of subjects. These unique primary sources contribute towards research into and preservation of South Africa’s cultural heritage.
Joanna Marx was a leading South African heritage conservationist who dedicated decades of her life to preserving Mostert’s Mill, the oldest working traditional windmill in Africa. After her death, her documents were donated to the Library. The collection was received in September 2012 and the inventory was completed in June 2023 to provide researchers with easy access to the diverse documents within this valuable collection.
The wealth of information in this collection, which comprises approximately 24 metres of documentary material, has not yet been fully explored. It consists, among other things, of her own research, correspondence, articles, lectures, talks and conference contributions on heritage in South Africa, as well as in the Netherlands and Britain. Documents on national and international mills also comprise a large part of the collection.
Her research outputs are supplemented by documents such as legislation, illustrations, maps, photographs, slides, plans, newspaper clippings, pamphlets and brochures on towns, buildings, museums and monuments.
This collection is an excellent example of the unique documents used in interdisciplinary research. It is regularly used by staff as an example to make researchers and students aware of and introduce them to the diversity within collections and the value of preserving documents that form the basis for the protection of South Africa’s cultural heritage.
The Joanna Marx collection has many points of contact with and is supplemented by other collections in Special Collections, including the James Walton, André Pretorius, Marthinus van Bart, H.B. Thom and Frans Smuts collections.
Author: Marieta Buys