Alan Paton Centre and Struggle Archives: University of KwaZulu-Natal's Anti-Apartheid Record

History and Founding

The Alan Paton Centre and Struggle Archives (APC) is a special collections repository located on the Pietermaritzburg campus of the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN). It takes its name from Alan Paton (1903–1988), the celebrated South African author of Cry, the Beloved Country (1948) and a founding member of the Liberal Party of South Africa (LPSA) in 1953. The core collections were donated to the then University of Natal by Paton's wife, Anne Paton, and consist of his original literary manuscripts, correspondence, and personal papers. The Centre's mandate expanded over the years to encompass the broader history of resistance to apartheid, particularly among individuals and organisations active in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands region from 1948 to the democratic elections of 1994.

Following the merger of the Universities of Durban-Westville and Natal on 1 January 2004 to form UKZN, the Centre became one of four units within the University of KwaZulu-Natal Special Collections, alongside the Killie Campbell Africana Library, the Gandhi-Luthuli Documentation Centre, and the Centre for African Literary Studies.

Collections and Holdings

The APC houses thirteen core archival collections covering:

• Alan Paton's literary works, poetry, short-story manuscripts, and correspondence
• Records of the Liberal Party of South Africa (LPSA), active 1953–1968
• Papers of individual political activists based in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands
• Documentation on political violence in KwaZulu-Natal
• Records relating to the Black Sash organisation in the region
• Materials on blackspots and forced removals under apartheid
• An Oral History Project (1995–1998) recording the experiences of anti-apartheid activists
• Natal Society Special Collections, including rare Africana, pamphlets, and historical photographs
• Collections on peace, reconciliation, and community reconstruction
• A significant photographic collection

More recent accessions include two oral history collections: Memories of AIDS, featuring interviews with HIV/AIDS community workers in KwaZulu-Natal, and an oral history of the Mpophemeni community near Howick covering experiences of apartheid, political violence, and reconstruction.

Journalism and Media Materials

The APC holds periodicals, newspaper clippings, and press materials documenting the anti-apartheid movement and political discourse in KwaZulu-Natal, including copies of activist publications, community newspapers, and media commentary related to Alan Paton and LPSA activities. These materials are of value to researchers studying media coverage of South African political history.

Access and Usage

The archive is freely open to researchers, students, and members of the public on weekdays. Special collections may be accessed by appointment with the archivist. The Centre provides a reading room and research assistance. Selected items have been digitised and are accessible through the Digital Innovation South Africa (DISA) platform. Physical address: University of KwaZulu-Natal, 165 King Edward Avenue, Scottsville, Pietermaritzburg, 3209, South Africa.