Catalogue of papers of Stephen Clingman, [1908-98], relating to Bram Fischer (1908-75)

Bodleian Library, University of Oxford

Marion Lowman

©2008

Bodleian Library of Commonwealth & African Studies at Rhodes House
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Table of Contents

Introduction
A    Fischer family papers, [1908-76]
B    Legal and political papers, 1935-66, [1990-8]
C    Bram's arrest, trial, imprisonment and death, 1964-85

Papers of Stephen Clingman relating to Bram Fischer, [1908-98]

Abstract:
Papers of Stephen Clingman relating to Bram Fischer, South African lawyer and anti-apartheid activist. The papers were collected by Clingman while researching his biography Bram Fischer: Afrikaner Revolutionary (published 1998).

Shelfmarks: MSS. Afr. s. 2444

Extent: 25 boxes

Biographical History

Stephen Clingman was born in South Africa and studied at the University of the Witwatersrand and at Oxford University. In 1989 he joined the teaching staff at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Clingman's biography Bram Fischer: Afrikaner Revolutionary was published in 1998 (Cape Town: David Philip; Bellville: Mayibuye; Amherst, Massachusetts: University of Massachusetts Press). It won the 1999 Sunday Times Alan Paton Award, South Africa's premier prize for non-fiction.

Abram (Bram) Louis Fischer (1908-75) was born in South Africa into a prominent Afrikaner nationalist family. He was called to the Johannesburg bar in 1935 and was appointed King’s Counsel in 1951. A distinguished lawyer, Fischer was involved in many political trials; he worked on the defence team in the Treason Trial (1957-61) and led the defence team at the Rivonia Trial (1963-4).

Shortly after the Rivonia Trial ended, Fischer was arrested for being a member of the illegal Communist Party. He was granted bail and permitted to go to London to argue a case before the Privy Council. He returned to South Africa to stand trial in November 1964 but one day absconded to continue his political activities underground.

In November 1965 Fischer was disbarred by the General Bar Council of South Africa and struck off the Roll of Advocates. He was captured the same month and tried on the more serious charge of conspiracy to commit sabotage as well as being a member of the Communist Party. In May 1966 he was convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment.

In 1974 Fischer was diagnosed with cancer. In April 1975, following a public campaign appealing for his release, the government placed Fischer under house arrest at his brother's home in Bloemfontein. He died there the following month. Because Fischer had died a prisoner, the authorities demanded that his ashes were returned to them after the funeral.

In October 2003 Fischer was posthumously reinstated to the Roll of Advocates by a full bench of South Africa's high court.

Fischer married Susanna Johanna (Molly) Krige (1908-64) in 1937. They had three children.

Scope and Content

The collection comprises papers relating to the Fischer family (boxes 1-19), papers relating to legal and political cases in which Bram Fischer was involved (boxes 20-21) and papers relating to Bram Fischer’s trial, illness and death (boxes 22-25). The papers are in English and Afrikaans. Covering dates [1908-98].

Note: The papers are mainly photocopies of correspondence and newspaper cuttings.

Bram Fischer: Afrikaner Revolutionary (Cape Town: David Philip; Bellville: Mayibuye; Amherst, Massachusetts: University of Massachusetts Press, 1998).

Arrangement

The original arrangement and description of the papers has been retained where possible.

Restrictions on Access

An Oxford University Card / OULS Reader's card which gives access to manuscripts is required: http://www.bodleian.ox.ac.uk/services/admissions/.

Restrictions on Use

No reproduction or publication without permission. Contact the Library in the first instance.

Preferred Form of Citation

Oxford, Bodleian Library [followed by shelfmark and folio or page reference, e.g. MSS. Afr. s. 2444, Box 1, fols. 1-2].

Personal names (NCA Rules)

Clingman | Stephen | fl 1998 | author and academic
Fischer | Abram Louis | 1908-1975 | communist revolutionary and barrister in South Africa

Place names (NCA Rules)

South Africa

Subjects (LCSH)

Apartheid -- South Africa
Communism -- South Africa
Communists -- South Africa -- Biography
Government, Resistance to -- South Africa
Lawyers -- South Africa -- Biography
Political activists -- South Africa -- Biography
Political prisoners -- South Africa -- Biography
South Africa -- Politics and government -- 20th century

A   Fischer family papers, [1908-76]

Shelfmarks: MSS. Afr. s. 2444 / 1-19


Letters from Bram to Molly, 1930-4
Shelfmark: MSS. Afr. s. 2444 / 1
Extent: 1 box (426 folios)
Restrictions on Access: CLOSED

Letters from Bram to Molly, 1935-6
Shelfmark: MSS. Afr. s. 2444 / 2
Extent: 1 box (436 folios)
Restrictions on Access: CLOSED

Letters from Bram to Molly, 1937-62
Shelfmark: MSS. Afr. s. 2444 / 3
Extent: 1 box (483 folios)
Restrictions on Access: CLOSED

Letters from Bram to his parents, 1916-31
Shelfmark: MSS. Afr. s. 2444 / 4
Extent: 1 box (306 folios)

Letters from Bram to his parents, 1932-4
Shelfmark: MSS. Afr. s. 2444 / 5
Extent: 1 box (435 folios)

Letters from Bram to his parents, 1935-8
Shelfmark: MSS. Afr. s. 2444 / 6
Extent: 1 box (409 folios)

Letters from Bram to his parents, 1939-48
Shelfmark: MSS. Afr. s. 2444 / 7
Extent: 1 box (396 folios)

Letters from Bram to his parents, 1949-60
Shelfmark: MSS. Afr. s. 2444 / 8
Extent: 1 box (311 folios)

Letters from Bram and Molly to their children, 1954-72
Shelfmark: MSS. Afr. s. 2444 / 9
Extent: 1 box (246 folios)

Scope and Content:

Comprises:

  • (fols. 1-139) letters from Bram (1961-72)
  • (fols. 140-246) letters from Molly (1954-64)

Letters from Molly to Bram, 1930-3
Shelfmark: MSS. Afr. s. 2444 / 10
Extent: 1 box (502 folios)
Restrictions on Access: CLOSED

Letters from Molly to Bram, 1935-6
Shelfmark: MSS. Afr. s. 2444 / 11
Extent: 1 box (531 folios)
Restrictions on Access: CLOSED

Letters from Molly to Bram, 1937-62
Shelfmark: MSS. Afr. s. 2444 / 12
Extent: 1 box (329 folios)
Restrictions on Access: CLOSED

Letters from Molly to Bram's parents, 1936-42
Shelfmark: MSS. Afr. s. 2444 / 13
Extent: 1 box (424 folios)

Letters from Molly to Bram's parents, 1943-50
Shelfmark: MSS. Afr. s. 2444 / 14
Extent: 1 box (465 folios)

Letters from Molly to Bram's parents, 1951-60
Shelfmark: MSS. Afr. s. 2444 / 15
Extent: 1 box (400 folios)

Letters from Mrs. Fischer (Bram's mother) to Bram, [1920]-32
Shelfmark: MSS. Afr. s. 2444 / 16
Extent: 1 box (298 folios)

Letters from Mrs. Fischer to Bram, 1933-63
Shelfmark: MSS. Afr. s. 2444 / 17
Extent: 1 box (240 folios)

Miscellaneous correspondence, [1908-76]
Shelfmark: MSS. Afr. s. 2444 / 18
Extent: 1 box (310 folios)

Scope and Content:

Includes:

  • (fols. 1-28) letters from Bram (1932-59)
  • (fols. 29-45) letters to Bram (1936-65)
  • (fols. 46-81) letters to Molly (1937-38, 1954)
  • (fols. 82-91) letters from Bram to his siblings (1923-32)
  • (fols. 92-138) letters to Bram from his siblings (1931-2)
  • (fols. 139-156) letters from Mrs. Fischer to her children (1916-17, 1935)
  • (fols. 157-193) letters to Mrs. Fischer (1917-57)
  • (fols. 194-208) letters from Percy Ulrich Fischer (Bram's father, 1932, 1938, 1940s-50s)
  • (fols. 223-266) letters relating to Molly's detention (1960)

Documents, [1913-73]
Shelfmark: MSS. Afr. s. 2444 / 19
Extent: 1 box (367 folios)

Scope and Content:

Comprises:

  • (fols. 1-53) papers relating to Bram as a student in South Africa (1920-9). Includes:
    • a certificate from Grey College School, Bloemfontein (1920)
    • two editions of The NUSAS / Die NUSAS, the official organ of the National Union of South African Students, which list Bram as Chief Editor (1928)
  • (fols. 54-73) papers relating to Bram as a Rhodes Scholar at Oxford University (1930-4). Includes:
    • newspaper cutting about Bram’s selection (1930)
    • letters of congratulation on Bram being selected as a Rhodes Scholar (1930)
  • (fols. 74-93) papers relating to births and deaths (1913-71). Includes:
    • obituary of Abraham Fischer, Bram’s grandfather (1913)
    • typescript of the memorial for Paul Fischer, Bram's son, given by Arthur Chaskalson (1971)
  • (fols. 94-261) papers relating to the engagement and wedding of Bram and Molly (1936-7)
  • (fols. 262-367) Miscellaneous documents [1913-73]. Includes:
    • family trees [1951]
    • a poem entitled 'Children and their Parents' attributed to Molly (1936)

B   Legal and political papers, 1935-66, [1990-8]

Shelfmarks: MSS. Afr. s. 2444 / 20-21


Legal and political papers, 1936-62, [1990-8]
Shelfmark: MSS. Afr. s. 2444 / 20
Extent: 1 box (246 folios)

Scope and Content:

Mainly newspaper cuttings. Includes papers relating to the:

  • (fols. 7-30) Communist Party (1945)
  • (fols. 54-62) Matthias Alexander defamation of character case (1948-9)
  • (fols. 63-75) Vienna Peace Congress (1952)
  • (fols. 76-79) National Day celebrations in China. Molly attended the celebrations at the invitation of the All China Democratic Women's Federation (1954)
  • (fols. 82-246) Sharpeville, the State of Emergency and the detention of Joe Slovo (1960)

Legal and political papers, 1935-66, [1990-8]
Shelfmark: MSS. Afr. s. 2444 / 21
Extent: 1 box (285 folios)

Scope and Content:

Comprises papers relating to:

  • (fols. 1-157) the Rivonia Trial (1963-6). Includes newspaper cuttings and typescripts entitled:
    • 'Operation Mayibuye'
    • 'The Voice of the African National Congress'
    • 'A Call To The Youth' (issued by the Johannesburg District of the South African Communist Party)
  • (fols. 158-285) miscellaneous legal and political papers. Includes:
    • a few papers relating to the Treason Trial [1956-61]
    • letters of congratulation on Bram's appointment as King's Counsel (1951)
    • a paper by Bram entitled ‘The threat to the legal profession in South Africa’ (1965)

C   Bram's arrest, trial, imprisonment and death, 1964-85

Shelfmarks: MSS. Afr. s. 2444 / 22-25


Papers relating to Bram's arrest, trial, imprisonment and death, [1964]-75
Shelfmark: MSS. Afr. s. 2444 / 22
Extent: 1 box (489 folios)

Scope and Content:

Comprises:

  • (fols. 1-14) the charges against Bram [1965]
  • (fols. 15-138) Bram’s removal from the Roll of Advocates (1965)
  • (fols. 139-168) Bram’s speech from the dock. Includes the speech as published in two United Nations documents (1966, 1975)
  • (fols. 169-175) biographies of people who were charged with Bram under the Suppression of Communism Act [1964]
  • (fols. 176-218) letters of support sent to Bram and/or his family following his trial and conviction (1966). Includes:
    • letters from Communist Parties worldwide
    • a letter sent to B. J. Vorster, the Minister of Justice, by individuals and groups in Norway
  • (fols. 219-246) appeals for Bram’s release from prison. Mainly relating to the appeal made in 1973 at the time of his sixty-fifth birthday (1973-5)
  • (fols. 247-353) letters relating to Bram’s illness and his release from prison (1974-5)
  • (fols. 354-489) letters of condolence on Bram’s death (1975)

Papers relating to Bram's arrest, trial, imprisonment and death, 1964-85
Shelfmark: MSS. Afr. s. 2444 / 23
Extent: 1 box (362 folios)

Scope and Content:

Comprises:

  • (fols. 1-44) memorial material and tributes to Bram (1975-6)
  • (fols. 45-202) papers collected by Mary Benson relating to Bram (1964-75). Includes:
    • an article by Bram written immediately before he went underground. Extracts of the article were published in The Observer (1965)
    • an article by Bram from The African Communist entitled 'A Message from Underground' (1965)
    • letters from Bram and Paul Fischer to Mary Benson (1964-74)
  • (fols. 203-362) miscellaneous correspondence and documents (1964-85). Includes:
    • sketches of Lewis Baker, Norman Levy, Costa Gazidis, Paul Trewelha, Eli Weinberg and Ivan Schermbrucker who were charged with Bram under the Suppression of Communism Act [1964]

Newspaper cuttings, 1964-6
Shelfmark: MSS. Afr. s. 2444 / 24
Extent: 1 box (257 folios)

Scope and Content:

Comprises cuttings relating to:

  • (fols. 1-11) Bram’s detention under the 90-day clause (July 1964)
  • (fols. 12-31) Bram’s arrest, bail and the Privy Council case in London (September-November 1964)
  • (fols. 32-169) Bram’s trial, disbarring and underground activities (November 1964-November 1965)
  • (fols. 170-257) Bram’s capture and trial (November 1965-May 1966)

Newspaper cuttings, 1966-75
Shelfmark: MSS. Afr. s. 2444 / 25
Extent: 1 box (210 folios)

Scope and Content:

Comprises cuttings relating to:

  • (fols. 1-75) the aftermath of Bram’s trial and his imprisonment (May 1966-February 1975). Includes:
    • cuttings relating to the appeal for Bram’s release from prison which was made at the time of his sixty-fifth birthday in 1973
  • (fols. 76-168) Bram’s release from prison and his death (March 1975-June 1975)
  • (fols. 169-210) miscellaneous cuttings [1966-75]
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29 June 2011