Finding aid to the Alex Hepple papers (1937-1964) Entire Finding Aids Information, Finding Aids, Northwestern University Library

Collection Summary

Collection Title: Alex Hepple papers 1937-1964
Call number/identifier: 2
Origination: Alex Hepple
Extent: 15 boxes
Physical location: Melville J. Herskovits Library of African Studies
Languages: All materials are in English unless otherwise noted.
Repository: Melville J. Herskovits Library of African Studies , Evanston, IL, 60208-2300

Abstract: The Alex Hepple Papers contain materials about his association with South African trade unions, particularly the Garment Workers' Union. Hepple's concern for equality of opportunity, especially for the African labor force, is evidenced in his newspaper articles and other writings, and in the parliamentary debate records.

Subjects

Hepple, Alexander, 1904-
Garment Workers Union (South Africa)
Labor unions--Organizing--South Africa
Labor laws and legislation--South Africa
Apartheid--South Africa
South Africa--Politics and government

Administrative Information

Separated material

294 pamphlets

71 magazines
Illustrated bulletin, Johannesburg: Labour Party Editorial Board, Sept. 26, 1945 - Feb. 27, 1946 (Fourteen issues) Race relations news, Johannesburg: S.A. Institute of Race Relations, 1940-1961 (Twelve issues) The anti-slavery reporter and aborigines’ friend, London: The Anti-Slavery & Aborigines Protection Society (Eleven issues) Race relations journal, Johannesburg: S.A. Institute of Race Relations, 1955-1962 (Seven issues) Labour-Arbeids bulletin, Johannesburg: South African Labour Party, June - August 1944 (Six issues) Unitas, Johannesburg: Unity Publications Ltd., 1958 (Four issues) The Democrat, Johannesburg: Proprietor of the Democrat, Jan. 11, 1947, Nov. 25, 1947, Jan, 1948 Journal of racial affairs, Stellenbosch: SABRA, Jan. 1951, July 1951, April 1952 Bantu education journal, Pretoria: Union of S.A., Government Printer, Sept. 1955, Oct. 1955 Optima, Johannesburg: Anglo-American Corp. of S.A., March 1956 Socialist review, Johannesburg: Delta Publishing Co. June 1945, Oct. 1945 The South African tatler, Johannesburg, July 1962 The forum, Johannesburg: Central News Agency, April 3, 1948 The Black Sash, Cape Town: Black Sash, June/July 1959 Veldtrust Johannesburg: National Veld Trust, Vol. XV, No. 11

61 "Fact Papers" - Digest of South African Affairs and South African Institute of Race Relations

All items included in the Separation List can be found in the Africana Collection and in the Northwestern University Library.

Abstract: The Alex Hepple Papers contain materials about his association with South African trade unions, particularly the Garment Workers' Union. Hepple's concern for equality of opportunity, especially for the African labor force, is evidenced in his newspaper articles and other writings, and in the parliamentary debate records.

Biography

Alex Hepple was a member of the South African Parliament from 1948-1948. He was Parliamentary leader of the South African Labour Party and closely associated with the South African trade union movement for many years. Because of his practical experience in collective bargaining and labor affairs Hepple is a recognized authority on labor legislation and trade unionism.

In 1957 Hepple participated in a parliamentary tour of South West Africa.

Hepple served as chairman of the Defence and Aid Fund Committee in 1960, and was also a member of the Education League and the Campaign for Right and Justice.

He was manager of Azet Products (Pty) Ltd. in Johannesburg (dates unknown); Azet Products being a bacon and small goods manufacturers.

In addition to several articles for Forward and other newspapers, Hepple was the author of the following books: South Africa, a political and economic history and Verwoerd and the following pamphlets: A trade union guide for South African Workers , Censorship and press control in South Africa , Trade unions in Travail , The African worker in South Africa and South Africa: workers under apartheid .

Alex Hepple died November 16, 1983.

Source: South Africa: workers under apartheid, by Alex Hepple, London: International Defence and Aid Fund, 1971.

Scope and Content note

The Alex Hepple Papers are divided into seven main categories: Biographical, Correspondence, Writings and Speeches, Conferences and Tour, Governmental, Committees and Research, and are housed in 15 boxes.

A folder of news clippings, dating from 1948 to 1957, provides information on Hepple's governmental activities.

The Correspondence category of four folders contains a considerable amount of correspondence between Hepple and E.S. Sachs (Secretary of the Garment Workers' Union), Ambrose Johannesburg, H.F.C. Thorpe, J. Lewsen and Jessie McPherson. Other correspondence is from organizations such as SABRA, the Campaign for Right and Justice, Defence and Aid Fund, Congress of the People and the African National Congress; also a small amount from trade unions, such as S.A. Typographical Union, S.A. Tin Workers Union and Amalgamated Union of Building Trade Workers of S.A. Topics covered are the Industrial Conciliation Bill and the Industrial Legislation Commission Report, Native Law Amendment Bill of 1957, the Group Areas Bill, among other bills, and also several telegrams concerning the May 1, 1950 workers demonstration.

Included among Hepple's Writings and Speeches are six folders of newspaper articles by Hepple, an incomplete manuscript of a book, several unidentified typed manuscripts by Hepple, debate questions (printed transcripts of House of Assembly debates), speeches (incomplete) on the colored vote and a folder of handwritten and typed notes and charts pertaining to Hepple's articles and books. Along with the published news articles are the appropriate typed manuscripts of these articles, which appeared in newspapers as Forward, The Democrat, Fighting Talk, Sunday Times and Natal Mercury and cover topics such as housing, native representation, legislation, Tomlinson Report, and education.

Conference materials include a folder of programs for SABRA conferences dating from 1951-1957 and reports from the African National Congress and Transvaal Indian Congress Conference (1957-1962). There is also a folder in this category which includes an itinerary, maps and mimeographed notes and reports (in Afrikaans) relating to Hepple's 1957 tour of South West Africa. Hepple's Governmental papers consist of three boxes of a mimeographed transcript of the Garment Workers Union case presented to the Garment Workers Union Commission of Enquiry, appointed on Sept. 9, 1948, and related statements from E.S. Sachs and the Garment Workers Union, and a report from the Department of Labour. Following are seven folders containing memos and reports relating to the Industrial Legislation Commission; agenda and minutes of a Special Conference on the Commission's Report; materials from the Trade Union Unity Committee of 1953, which was formed to consider provisions of the Industrial Conciliation Bill; and lastly a draft of the Bill, annotated by Hepple, the Minister of Labour's second reading of the Bill (1956) and a memo, notes and Assembly debates of 1955, relating to the Bill.

The following box contains eight folders of Committee materials. This includes notes and reports from the Native Areas Zoning Committee, which are in Afrikaans, and newsletters, memos, minutes of meetings and agendas, and other similar materials from the following: Defence and Aid Fund, Campaign for Right and Justice, Home and School Council and the Education League – all groups which Hepple was involved or interested in. The remaining two folders in this box and the next 10 boxes contain research files of Hepple's.

Newspaper and magazine clippings occupy eight out of these 10 boxes and are arranged chronologically under subject headings designated by Hepple. News clips can be found in the front of each subject file, with magazine clips following. A few of the clippings are in Afrikaans. The majority of the clippings are from newspapers such as the Rand Daily Mail, the Star, Forward, Evening Post, Die Transvaler, Cape Argus, Die Burger, Cape Times, Tribune, World, and Saamtrek; and from magazines as Bantu, Drum, The Forum, Fighting Talk, The Garment Worker and Optima.

In addition, there are five folders containing clippings from the House of Assembly debates, also arranged by subject (designated by Hepple) and one folder of clips from the Government Gazette Staatskoerant, which is arranged chronologically from 1941 to 1963.

Included in the Research files is one box of published official memoranda, bills and reports relating to legislation, such as the Group Areas Bill of 1950, Native Laws Amendment Bill of 1957, Native Consolidation Act of 1945, the South African Constitution, and also South West African reports of the discussion and proceedings of the United Nations (1947-1955). A folder of complete issues of the Government Gazette Staatskoerant, from 1954-1964, can also be found in this box.

Lastly are nine folders of miscellaneous materials, including South African Institute of Race Relations publications, some annotated by Hepple, and dating from 1950 to 1964; a few pamphlets, also annotated; mimeographed statements and speeches; printed flyers, typed book excerpts, and other miscellaneous items.

See also separation record for listing of items removed from the collection.

Container list

Series: Clippings

Clippings, 1948-1957 [ Box 1 Folder 1 ]

Series: Correspondence

General correspondence, 1942-1949 [ Box 1 Folder 2 ] General correspondence, 1950-1955 [ Box 1 Folder 3 ] General correspondence, 1956-1959 [ Box 1 Folder 4 ] General correspondence, 1960-1964 [ Box 1 Folder 5 ]

Series: Writings and speeches

Newspaper articles written by A. Hepple, 1941-1959 [ Box 1 Folder 6 ] Apartheid & The African worker, by Hepple, 1955?, incomplete [ Box 1 Folder 7 ] By A. Hepple, 1954-1959, incomplete [ Box 1 Folder 8 ] Miscellaneous notes by A. Hepple [ Box 1 Folder 9 ] A. Hepple speeches on colored votes, 1955-1958, incomplete [ Box 1 Folder 10 ] House of Assembly debate questions by A. Hepple, 1951-1958 [ Box 1 Folder 11 ]

Series: Conference and tour materials

Conference programs, agendas & reports, 1951-1962 [ Box 1 Folder 12 ] Parliamentary tour of South West Africa, 1957 [ Box 1 Folder 13 ] Language: Afrikaans

Series: Governmental papers

Case of the Garment Workers' Union, Sept. 24, 1948 -- #1 [ Box 2 Folder 1 ] Case of the Garment Workers' Union, Sept. 24, 1948 -- #2 [ Box 2 Folder 2 ] Case of the Garment Workers' Union, Sept. 24, 1948 -- #3 [ Box 2 Folder 3 ] Case of the Garment Workers' Union, Sept. 24, 1948 -- #4 [ Box 2 Folder 4 ] Case of the Garment Workers' Union, Sept. 24, 1948 -- #5 [ Box 2 Folder 5 ] Case of the Garment Workers' Union, Sept. 24, 1948 -- #6 [ Box 2 Folder 6 ] Case of the Garment Workers' Union, Sept. 24, 1948 -- #7 [ Box 2 Folder 7 ] Case of the Garment Workers' Union, Sept. 24, 1948 -- #7 [ Box 3 Folder 1 ] Case of the Garment Workers' Union, Sept. 24, 1948 -- #8 [ Box 3 Folder 2 ] Case of the Garment Workers' Union, Sept. 24, 1948 -- #10 [ Box 3 Folder 3 ] Case of the Garment Workers' Union, Sept. 24, 1948 -- #11 [ Box 3 Folder 4 ] Case of the Garment Workers' Union, Sept. 24, 1948 -- #12 [ Box 3 Folder 5 ] Case of the Garment Workers' Union, Sept. 24, 1948 -- #13 [ Box 3 Folder 6 ] Case of the Garment Workers' Union, Sept. 24, 1948 -- #14 [ Box 3 Folder 7 ] Case of the Garment Workers' Union, Sept. 24, 1948 -- #15 [ Box 4 Folder 1 ] Case of the Garment Workers' Union, Sept. 24, 1948 -- #16 [ Box 4 Folder 2 ] Union of South Africa. Dept. of Labour Report of the Garment Workers' Union, 1948-1949 [ Box 4 Folder 3 ] E.S. Sachs Statements and notes, 1948-1950 [ Box 4 Folder 4 ] Statements and memorandum from Garment Workers' Union, 1948-1959 [ Box 4 Folder 5 ] Industrial Legislation Commission (I.L.C.) - memo from the South African Trades & Labour Council, 1948 [ Box 4 Folder 6 ] I.L.C. - memo by E.S. Sachs for Conference of S. African Trades & Labour Council, Jan. 1952 [ Box 4 Folder 7 ] I.L.C. - enquiry report & questionnaire, 1953 [ Box 4 Folder 8 ] I.L.C. - agenda & minutes of Special Conference on I.L.C.'s Report, Jan. 1952 [ Box 4 Folder 9 ] Trade Union Unity Committee - minutes, resolution & report, 1953-1954 [ Box 4 Folder 10 ] Industrial Conciliation Bill, 1954-1955 (draft) [ Box 4 Folder 11 ] Industrial Conciliation Bill - Minister of Labour's second reading of speech, 1956 [ Box 4 Folder 12 ] Industrial Conciliation Bill - miscellaneous [ Box 4 Folder 13 ]

Series: Committee materials

Defence and Aid Fund - minutes of meetings, 1959-1963 [ Box 5 Folder 1 ] Defence and Aid Fund - constitution, list of sponsors, 1961 [ Box 5 Folder 2 ] Defence and Aid Fund - D & A newsletter, 1961-1963 [ Box 5 Folder 3 ] Defence and Aid Fund - Law Committee notes & reports, 1960-1961 [ Box 5 Folder 4 ] Campaign for Right & Justice - minutes, agendas of meetings, 1944-1946 [ Box 5 Folder 5 ] Native Areas Zoning Committee (Mentz Comm.) - notes & reports, 1954 [ Box 5 Folder 6 ] Language: Afrikaans
Home and School Council - memos, resolutions, & minutes, 1947-1961 [ Box 5 Folder 7 ] Education League - newsletters, draft ordinance amendments proposed by Education League, 1949-1961 [ Box 5 Folder 8 ]

Series: Research materials

South African Institute of Race Relations publications, 1950-1955 [ Box 5 Folder 9 ] South African Institute of Race Relations publications, 1956-1964 [ Box 5 Folder 10 ] Memoranda and bills, annotated by A. Hepple, 1950-1959 [ Box 6 Folder 1 ] Union of South Africa. Bills, 1952-1962 [ Box 6 Folder 2 ] South West Africa. Discussion & proceedings in the United Nations, 1947-1953 [ Box 6 Folder 3 ] South West Africa. Discussion & proceedings in the United Nations, 1954-1955 [ Box 6 Folder 4 ] Union of South Africa. Staatskoerant Government Gazette, 1954-1964 [ Box 6 Folder 5 ] Union of South Africa. Reports, 1945-1952 [ Box 6 Folder 6 ] Subseries: House of Assembly debate clippings Bantu Authorities to group areas [ Box 7 Folder 1 ] Native Act to Native laws [ Box 7 Folder 2 ] Native passes to Native resources [ Box 7 Folder 3 ] Native riots to Native wages [ Box 7 Folder 4 ] School feeding schemes to United Nations on South Africa [ Box 7 Folder 5 ] Union of South Africa. Staatskoerant Gov. Gazette clippings, 1941-1963 [ Box 7 Folder 6 ] News bulletins & newsletters, mimeographed, 1945-1960 [ Box 7 Folder 7 ] Flyers and pamphlets, printed [ Box 7 Folder 8 ] Statements & speeches, 1957-1963 [ Box 7 Folder 9 ] Reports and memoranda, mimeographed & photostatic copies [ Box 7 Folder 10 ] Book excerpts, typed [ Box 7 Folder 11 ] Naboth's Vineyard in Tzaneen , by S.D. Letsoalo, n.d. [ Box 7 Folder 12 ] Bibliography of publications on colored people in South Africa, 1954 [ Box 7 Folder 13 ] Subseries: News clippings Bantu Authorities, 1951-1958 [ Box 8 Folder 1 ] Bantu Authorities, 1959-1962 [ Box 8 Folder 2 ] Bantu education, 1943-1956 [ Box 8 Folder 3 ] Bantu education, 1957-1963 [ Box 8 Folder 4 ] Boycotts, 1957-1963 [ Box 8 Folder 5 ] Bus apartheid, 1951-1961 [ Box 8 Folder 6 ] Bus boycott, 1954-1957 [ Box 8 Folder 7 ] Churches, 1947-1958 [ Box 8 Folder 8 ] Churches, 1958-1960 [ Box 8 Folder 9 ] Churches, 1961 [ Box 8 Folder 10 ] Colored affairs, 1952-1962 [ Box 9 Folder 1 ] Colored vote, 1951-1961 [ Box 9 Folder 2 ] Commonwealth, 1955-1956 [ Box 9 Folder 3 ] Congress of People, 1954-1959 [ Box 9 Folder 4 ] Constitution, 1948-1958 [ Box 9 Folder 5 ] Defence & Aid Fund, 1959-1963 [ Box 9 Folder 6 ] Detainees, 1960 [ Box 9 Folder 7 ] Education - European 1942-1962 [ Box 9 Folder 8 ] Farm labor, 1954-1961 [ Box 9 Folder 9 ] Garment Workers Union, 1940-1948 [ Box 10 Folder 1 ] Garment Workers Union, 1948 [ Box 10 Folder 2 ] Garment Workers Union, 1949-1954 [ Box 10 Folder 3 ] Group Areas Act, 1944-1957 [ Box 10 Folder 4 ] Group Areas, 1958-1964 [ Box 10 Folder 5 ] Housing, 1945-1964 [ Box 10 Folder 6 ] Industrial Conciliation Bill, 1952-1954 [ Box 10 Folder 7 ] Industrial Conciliation Bill, 1955-1956 [ Box 10 Folder 8 ] Industrial Legislation Commission, 1948-1949 [ Box 11 Folder 1 ] Industrial Legislation Commission, 1949-1953 [ Box 11 Folder 2 ] Land ownership, 1946-1962 [ Box 11 Folder 3 ] Natives (Urban Areas) Act, 1955-58 [ Box 11 Folder 4 ] Natives (Urban Areas) Act, 1959-1964 [ Box 11 Folder 5 ] Native labor, 1947-1954 [ Box 11 Folder 6 ] 1957 Native Laws Bill, 1957 [ Box 11 Folder 7 ] 1957 Native Laws Bill, 1957-1960 [ Box 11 Folder 8 ] Native life, 1944-1963 [ Box 11 Folder 9 ] Native & non-European policy, 1941-1945 [ Box 12 Folder 1 ] Native & non-European policy, 1946 [ Box 12 Folder 2 ] Native & non-European policy, 1947 [ Box 12 Folder 3 ] Native & non-European policy, 1948 [ Box 12 Folder 4 ] Native & non-European policy, 1949 [ Box 12 Folder 5 ] Native & non-European policy, 1950 [ Box 12 Folder 6 ] Native & non-European policy, 1950 [ Box 12 Folder 7 ] Native & non-European policy, 1951-1952 [ Box 13 Folder 1 ] Native & non-European policy, 1957-1958 [ Box 13 Folder 2 ] Native & non-European policy, 1958 [ Box 13 Folder 3 ] Native & non-European policy, magazine clips, 1937-1956 [ Box 13 Folder 4 ] Native representation, 1946-1962 [ Box 13 Folder 5 ] Native riots, 1957-1959 [ Box 13 Folder 6 ] Native riots, 1960-1963 [ Box 13 Folder 7 ] Native taxation, 1945-1964 [ Box 13 Folder 8 ] Office Broederoond (Dr. N.V. Diederichs), 1945-1959 [ Box 13 Folder 9 ] Passes, 1942-1957 [ Box 14 Folder 1 ] Passes, 1958-1963 [ Box 14 Folder 2 ] SABRA, 1947-1963 [ Box 14 Folder 3 ] South Africa & The Commonwealth, 1947-1961 [ Box 14 Folder 4 ] South West Africa, 1932-1961 [ Box 14 Folder 5 ] South West Africa, 1962-1964 [ Box 14 Folder 6 ] Statutes, 1961 -- 1944-1958 [ Box 14 Folder 7 ] Statutes, 1961 -- 1958-1959 [ Box 14 Folder 8 ] Statutes, 1961 -- 1959-1961 [ Box 14 Folder 9 ] Tomlinson Report, 1955-1959 [ Box 15 Folder 1 ] Townships, 1954-1963 [ Box 15 Folder 2 ] Transkei, 1960-1961 [ Box 15 Folder 3 ] Transkei, 1962-1963 [ Box 15 Folder 4 ] Universities, 1946-1964 [ Box 15 Folder 5 ] United Nations & South Africa, 1946-1959 [ Box 15 Folder 6 ] United Nations & South Africa, 1960-1964 [ Box 15 Folder 7 ] Miscellaneous, 1943-1964 [ Box 15 Folder 8 ]