LIBRARY
Archives and Special Collections
Ruth First Papers ICS117
The comprehensive catalogue of this collection, compiled between June 2000-March 2001, can be accessed by searching the ULRLS Archives and Manuscripts database or by following the links to the three pdf files below:
- Ruth First Catalogue Part 1: table of contents of the catalogue, lists of selected items, an introduction to the collection and the first part of the catalogue.
- Ruth First Catalogue Part 2: second part of the catalogue.
- Ruth First Catalogue Part 3: third part of the catalogue, indices of people, place and subjects.
Identity statement
Reference code: GB 101 ICS 117 (FIRST)
Title: Ruth First Papers
Dates of creation of material: 1889-1991 [predominantly 1946-1982]
Level of description: Collection
Extent: 95 boxes
Context
Biographical history
Heloise Ruth First was born on 4 May 1925 in Johannesburg, the daughter of Julius and Matilda ('Tilly') First, Jewish emigrants to South Africa from the Baltic states. Her parents were members of the International Socialist League and founder members of the South African Communist Party (SACP).
After attending schools in Johannesburg, Ruth First began a Social Science degree in 1942 at the University of Witwatersrand. Whilst at university, she helped found the left-wing Federation of Progressive Students, and also served as secretary of the Young Communist League and Progressive Youth Council.
On her graduation in 1945, First took a job in the Research Division of the Department of Social Welfare of Johannesburg City Council, but she resigned in 1946 in order to pursue a career in journalism. In the same year she produced pamphlets in aid of the miners' strike and was temporarily secretary of the Johannesburg offices of the South African Communist Party. In 1947, together with Michael Scott, she exposed a farm labour scandal in Bethal, Eastern Transvaal.
Between 1946-1952 she was the Johannesburg editor of the weekly newspaper the Guardian, the mouthpiece of the SACP. When this publication was banned in 1952, it was restarted under the name Clarion, a pattern which continued throughout the next decade, the titles used being People's World, Advance, New Age and Spark. Between 1954-1963 she was also the editor of Fighting Talk, a Johannesburg based monthly.
In 1949 Ruth First married Joe Slovo. They had three daughters, Shawn (b.1950), Gillian (b.1952) and Robyn (b.1953). In 1950, First was named under the Suppression of Communism Act and her movements restricted. In 1953 she was banned from membership of all political organisations, although in 1955 she helped draw up the Freedom Charter, a fundamental document of the African National Congress, and was later a member of Umkhonto we Sizwe, the ANC's military wing. In December 1956, she and Joe Slovo were among the 156 people charged in the so-called Treason Trial, although her indictment was dismissed in April 1959. In August 1963 she was arrested and detained under the 90-Day Law for a total period of 117 days. Effectively forced into exile, in March 1964 she left South Africa for the United Kingdom, accompanied by her three daughters.
From 1964 she worked full-time as a freelance writer, before becoming a Research Fellow at the University of Manchester in 1972. Between 1973-1978 she lectured in development studies at the University of Durham, although she spent periods of secondment at universities in Dar es Salaam and Lourenco Marques (Maputo). In November 1978 she took up a post as Director of the research training programme at the University Eduardo Mondlane in Maputo.
Ruth First was killed on 17 Aug 1982, when she opened a parcel bomb addressed to her at the above university.
Archival history
The collection is on indefinite loan to the Institute of Commonwealth Studies and remains the property of the Ruth First Memorial Trust. The possibility exists that the papers will be transferred to South Africa at some stage in the future.
Content and structure
Scope and content: The collection includes personal material of First and her immediate family such as correspondence and financial records, papers relating to First's work as a journalist in South Africa, as a university lecturer, an anti-apartheid activist, and as an author and editor of numerous books and articles on Africa and other political topics. Also included are research papers and printed material relating to First and her family, collected both during her lifetime and after her death.
System of arrangement: The collection is divided into individual deposits which have been presented separately to the Institute of Commonwealth Studies. As far as has been possible, the arrangement of the material within each deposit reflects the system of arrangement used by First, although much has been resorted. Throughout this catalogue the series into which the collection is divided are shown with the reference, title and date underlined. Orderable files are described without underlining.
Conditions of access and use
Access: Any member of the Institute of Commonwealth Studies, or anyone entitled to use the ICS Library can use the Ruth First Papers after completing the access application form. It is important to note, however, that readers wishing to consult personal correspondence files must first obtain the permission of the head of the library at ICS in conjunction with the Chairman of the Ruth First Memorial Trust. Such files are marked in the catalogue. Those wishing to access the taped interviews and transcripts will also require the written permission of the interviewee.
Copyright/copying conditions: Usual conditions apply.
Language of material: Predominantly English, with some material in Portuguese or other European languages. A few items use Afrikaans or African languages.
Finding aids: The comprehensive catalogue of this collection was compiled between Jun 2000-Mar 2001.
Allied materials
Directly related material at ICS: The library at the Institute of Commonwealth Studies holds most of the books authored by Ruth First. A large number of printed books owned by First have also been deposited at ICS and the compilation of a list of these is planned.
The ICS also holds papers relating to the following prominent South African figures: Mary Benson, Marion Friedmann, Baruch Hirson, Julius Lewin, Nelson Mandela, Edward Roux, Albie Sachs, Ben Turok and Phillip Vundla, together with some records of the ANC.
Page last updated February 8, 2008
