PAUL AND ADELAIDE JOSEPH ARCHIVE

Anti-Apartheid archive donated to Senate House Library

In May 2022, the University of London’s Senate House Library was honoured to become custodian of the first tranche of the Paul and Adelaide Joseph Archive.

A uniquely personal perspective

The Joseph Archive is a collection of material documenting the South African anti-apartheid campaign, including photos, letters and birthday cards written by Nelson Mandela while he was in Robben Island prison. A second donation of materials for the collection was agreed in July 2023.

The correspondence, which dates from 1962 up until 1985, was sent by Mandela to his close friends and prominent anti-apartheid activists, Paul and Adelaide Joseph. After careful consideration, the Joseph family kindly chose to donate the archive to Senate House Library, so that researchers and the public may benefit from this important collection.

Title image: Paul Joseph and other anti-apartheid campaigners leaving Pretoria Central Prison, August 1960. Second image: Nelson Mandela sitting in a chair at a hotel in London with Paul (left) and Adelaide Joseph (right), c.2008.

Speaking about the archive, Dr Reuben Loffman, Senior Lecturer in African History at the School of History, Queen Mary University of London, commented: “This collection offers a uniquely personal perspective on the anti-apartheid campaign. It consists not only of some fascinating photos of activists, but also of a number of heart-rending letters that shed important new light on Madiba’s long period of incarceration and the ways in which he continued to correspond with many close friends during this painful time.”

You can find out more about the highlights in the collection on the Senate House Library website.

Birthday card/letter to Adelaide Joseph from Nelson Mandela, 1 March 1975.

Title image: Paul Joseph and other anti-apartheid campaigners leaving Pretoria Central Prison, August 1960. Second image: Nelson Mandela sitting in a chair at a hotel in London with Paul (left) and Adelaide Joseph (right), c.2008.

Birthday card/letter to Adelaide Joseph from Nelson Mandela, 1 March 1975.

“Education is key to freedom both physical and spiritual, so our hope is that Senate House Library will be the best custodian of their precious archive and enable the widest possible access to it.”

Nadia Joseph
Daughter of Paul and Adelaide Joseph and active social justice campaigner

Photo postcard of 'Zindzi and Zeni' Mandela from Winnie Mandela, 1965.

Photo of the 156 people accused of treason, 1956.

The centre of the International anti-apartheid movement

Commenting on the donation of the archive, Nadia Joseph, daughter of Paul and Adelaide Joseph and active social justice campaigner, said: “Much of my parents’ collection has never been seen outside of the Joseph family. After a long and considered journey exploring where to donate it, they chose Senate House Library. Not only is London the city they made their home after my father was forced to flee South Africa, it became the centre of the international Anti-Apartheid solidarity movement.

Photo postcard of 'Zindzi and Zeni' Mandela from Winnie Mandela, 1965.

“My sister Tanya studied for her Master’s degree in South African history whilst she was a student at SOAS and spent time studying at Senate House Library. What is more, the archives of a number of my parents’ close friends/comrades, are housed here. These include the papers of Ruth First, Joe Slovo and Mandela’s first biographer, Mary Benson. As a family, we feel that no monetary figure should ever be attached to their archive. Education is key to freedom both physical and spiritual, so our hope is that Senate House Library will be the best custodian of their precious archive and enable the widest possible access to it.”

Photo of the 156 people accused of treason, 1956.

Professor Ndileka Mandela's visit

The collection expands the existing links between the University of London and Nelson Mandela, who studied for a law degree with the University while in prison. In December 2022, the University was honoured to host a visit from Professor Ndileka Mandela, granddaughter of Nelson Mandela and founder of the Thembekile Mandela Foundation, along with Nadia Joseph. Professor Mandela was able to view items in the archive, including photos and letters from her grandfather which she had not seen before. The visit also included the establishment of the Leading Like Mandela Scholarship programme, which supports students studying for the Post Graduate Certificate in International Sports Management at the University of London.

Winnie Mandela (left) and Adelaide Joseph (right), 1963.

The University extends its sincere thanks to the Joseph family for their donation of the archive. Building on existing strengths within the Library’s collections, these items have an extraordinary power and cultural significance which is clear to all who see them.

Mandela handwritten card.

We are proud to continue to support the effort to better understand and bear witness to the horror of Apartheid.

Winnie Mandela (left) and Adelaide Joseph (right), 1963.

Mandela handwritten card.

Adelaide Joseph 1932–2022

University of London and Senate House Library staff were saddened to learn of the death of Adelaide Joseph in October 2022 at 89 years old. The University was honoured to host Adelaide’s memorial service in March 2023.