UFS Archives & Special Collections ARCA (Archive for Contemporary Affairs), University of the Free State

History and Overview

UFS Archives and Special Collections is the archival and special collections division of the University of the Free State (UFS) Libraries in Bloemfontein, South Africa. The core of its archival holdings is the Archive for Contemporary Affairs (ARCA), which specializes in the political, cultural, and economic history of South Africa, assembled primarily from private collections. ARCA is housed in the Stef Coetzee Building at the center of the UFS campus.

Collections and Holdings

ARCA holds one of the most significant collections of South African political party papers in the country, spanning the full political spectrum of the twentieth century. Collections include the personal and official papers of prime ministers and state presidents—including H. F. Verwoerd, B. J. Vorster, and P. W. Botha—as well as party archives of the National Party (NP), the African National Congress (ANC), the Democratic Party, the Inkatha Freedom Party, the Conservative Party, and numerous other parties from the United Party to the Freedom Front. Notable collections also include the papers of Nelson Mandela's prison correspondence (donated by Vorster), records of the Institute for Democracy in South Africa (IDASA), and materials related to transition-era figures such as Roelf Meyer, Kobie Coetsee, and 'Pik' Botha. Cultural collections include materials from the FAK (Federation of Afrikaans Cultural Associations) and the Federale Vroueraad (Federal Women's League). The archive also holds papers of prominent journalists and political commentators.

Notable Materials Related to Journalism and Media

The archive holds materials directly relevant to journalism history, including the papers of Justice Molala—founding editor of This Day newspaper, publisher of the Sowetan and Sunday World, and Sunday Times correspondent. The political papers collection includes press correspondence, speeches, and constituency reports that shed light on the relationship between politics and media in South Africa.

Access and Usage

ARCA is open to international and local researchers. Researchers from Alaska, Australia, Brazil, Germany, New Zealand, the UK, France, Ireland, Canada, South Korea, Russia, Sweden, the USA, and Southern Africa have used the collection. The archive is accessible via the AtoM-based finding aids portal at arca.ufs.ac.za. Contact: mestileld@ufs.ac.za, phone +27 51 401 2418.