Private Archives in South Africa: Their Protection and Access with Particular Reference to the now Defunct Lutheran Theological Institute Library and Archives

Abstract

This treatise is a case study that provides an insight into the status of private archives in South Africa with regards to their protection and access provisions. The paper is based on the author’s experiences as a manuscript librarian at the now defunct Lutheran Theological Institute (LTI) Library and Archives and research on faith-based archives which this institution was endowed with. The thesis of this paper is that records and archives legislation in South Africa as far as it applies to private archives is lethargic and not comprehensive enough to provide an enabling environment for their stewardship which is leading to loss of documentary heritage. The demise of this institution and the subsequent loss of the collection is testimony. In consequence, faith based collections (religious archives) need to be legislated like their counterparts public archives for protection and access in terms of the law.