Gandhi-Luthuli Documentation Centre GLDC University of KwaZulu-Natal

Overview

The Gandhi-Luthuli Documentation Centre (GLDC) is a special collections library, museum, and documentation centre at the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN), located on the Westville Campus in Durban, South Africa. It is dedicated to preserving and showcasing the heritage of South Africa's Indian community, with a particular focus on the role of that community in KwaZulu-Natal's history, including the colonial, indentured labour, and apartheid eras.

History and Founding

The Centre was established in 1979 at what was then the University College for Indian Students (later the University of Durban-Westville), which had been founded in 1965 to serve the Indian community under the apartheid government's separate development policy. When the University of Durban-Westville merged with the University of Natal in 2004 to form UKZN, the GLDC was integrated into UKZN's Libraries and Special Collections alongside other units including the Killie Campbell Africana Library and the Alan Paton Centre and Struggle Archives.

Collections and Holdings

The GLDC holds an invaluable collection of manuscripts, books, artifacts, newspaper cuttings, newspapers, photographs, and audiovisual material relating to South Africa's Indian community and the broader anti-apartheid struggle. The collections were assembled over the 20th century by donors, collectors, and activists. Among the most significant holdings is the Mahatma Gandhi collection, documenting Gandhi's formative years in South Africa. Ship records and indentured labour documentation make the GLDC a primary resource for genealogical research among South African Indians tracing their heritage back to India. The Centre is also a contributor to the Digital Innovation South Africa (DISA) digital archive.

Notable Materials for Journalism and Media Research

The Centre holds newspapers, newspaper cuttings, and periodicals relating to the Indian community in South Africa, the anti-apartheid movement, and South African politics, providing important primary source material for media history researchers.

Access and Usage

The GLDC is located in the basement of the University Library on the Westville Campus, opposite the Main Hall. It is open to students, researchers, and the public. Enquiries can be directed to the Centre by phone or email.