Abdullah Abdurahman Family Papers, 1906-1962

citation:
MF-3971 Neg. MF-at lab
Abdurahman, Abdullah, 1872-1940

Abdullah Abdurahman family papers, 1906-1962.

Chicago, University of Chicago, Photoduplication Dept., [1977]
5 microfilm reels negative 35 mm
Microfilm of originals in Northwestern University Africana Archives
First reel contains descriptive inventory of collection
OCLC # 24121255

Abdullah Abdurahman (1872-1940) Family Papers (1906-1962)

The Abdullah Abdurahman Family Papers contain materials from three members of the family; papers of Abdullah Abdurahman (1872-1940), physician and political leader, and his wife, Mrs. Helen Abdurahman (1877?-1953), comprise half of the material, and those of Dr. and Mrs. Abdurahman' s daughter, Mrs. Zainunnissa Gool ( -1963), political leader, comprise the other half.

Despite gaps, the Abdullah Abdurahman Family Papers provide an historical view of the Coloured population’s struggle for political and economic equality in South Africa. Of special importance are the records reflecting Dr. Abdurahman' s involvement in the African People's Organization, the Cape Town City Council, and the Cape Provincial Council, and Mrs. Gool's involvement in the National Liberation League, the Non-European United Front, the Passive Resistance Movement and the Cape Town City Council. A few items relating to Mrs. Helen Abdurahman's civic and political activities are in the collection.

Because of the Abdurahman family's similar interests and activities, some materials relating to a single family member will be found in parts of the collection dealing primarily with other family members.

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

All materials are in English unless otherwise noted.

Abdullah Abdurahman (1872-1940)

Abdullah Abdurahman was born December 18, 1872? in Cape Town, South Africa and died on February 20, 1940 in Cape Town. He married Helen Potter James and they had two children, of whom the younger, Zainunnissa Abdurahman, like her father, was a prominent figure in Cape Town municipal affairs. After the dissolution of his first marriage, Dr. Abdurahman married Margaret May Stansfield in 1925. They had a son and two daughters.

Dr. Abdurahman was educated at Marist Brothers School and the South African College School. In 1888 he went to Glasgow, Scotland where he obtained the M.B., Ch.M. medical degree in 1893.

In 1895 he returned to South Africa to practice. He acquired an extensive clientel in Cape Town, among both Coloured and White people.

In 1904 he was elected to the Cape Town City Council and was the first Coloured person to become a Councillor. Except for two years (1913-1915) he remained a member up to the time of his death. Dr. Abdurahman was also a member of the Cape Provincial Council from 1914 until his death, and was largely responsible for establishing a system of school medical instruction for the Cape Province.

In 1905 Dr. Abdurahman founded and was president of the South African Native and Coloured People's Organization, later known as the African People’s Organization.

In 1909 he was a member of a delegation led by W. P. Schreiner to London. He was also a member of the Indian National Congress and in 1925 went to India to discuss the Indian's position in South Africa with the National Congress and Viceroy.

In 1934 he was appointed a member of the co1oured People's Fact-finding Commission and served on the Cape Co1oured Commission of 1937.

At various times he served on several committees of the City Council of Cape Town, including the Public Works Committee, Public Health Committee, Streets and Depot Committee, Finance Committee, Markets and Gardens Committee, Electric Light, Waterworks and Fire Brigade Committee and the Public Works and Depot Committee.

Dr. Abdurahman’s wife, Helen "Nellie" Abdurahman was a member of several Cape Town organizations, including the Cape Town and Wynberg General Board of Aid, the Ratepayer's Association, the Women’s Municipal Association, the African People's Organization Women’s Guild, Western Province Amateur Musical Society, the Women’s Enfranchisement League and the National Liberation League Finance Committee.

Sources:
Standard Encyclopedia of Southern Africa, Vol. 1, 1970
Dictionary of South African Biography, Vol. 1, 1968
Letter to Africana Curator, frau Prof. Dr. P.L. Scholtz, Director of the I.H.R., dated April 8, 1976

Zainunnissa Gool ( - 1963)

Mrs. Zainunnissa Gool, date of birth unknown, died in 1963. She was the daughter of Dr. and Mrs. Abdullah Abdurahman. In 1919 she married Dr. Abdul Hamid Gool, a graduate of Guy's Hospital, London. They had three children: Rustum Gool (1923- ) and two others, whose names are unknown.

Mrs. Gool was educated at the University of Cape Town, where she obtained her B.A. and M.A. degree in 1936.

In 1935 she was elected as president of the National Liberation League, an anti-segregation and anti-imperialist organization.

In 1938, Mrs. Gool was elected as president of the Non-European United Front, formed to coordinate organizations into an anti-segregation front.

Mrs. Gool was elected to the Cape Town City Council in 1938, the first Non-European woman in the Union of South Africa to become a City Councillor, and served until her death in 1963. As City Councillor, she served on such committees as the Housing, Health and Public Committees, and fought for equality for Non-Europeans.

In 1943 she became a national executive member of the Anti-C.A.D. Organization and the Western Province Unity Movement. In the same year, she was also a fraternal delegate to the South African Indian Congress Conference in Transvaal. In the 1940's Mrs. Gool was active in the Cape Passive Resistance Council.

Sources:
"A Biography of Cissie Gool”, Cape Standard, Cape Town, July 12, 1946
Letter from Prof. Dr. P.L. Scholtz, Director of the I.H.R., dated April 8, 1976

Description

The Abdullah Abdurahman Family Papers are arranged in three major sections: the papers of Dr. and Mrs. A. Abdurahman, those of Mrs. Zainunnissa Gool, and materials belonging to all three. These are divided into ten main categories and are housed in seven boxes.

The papers of Dr. A. Abdurahman and Mrs. Abdurahman occupy Boxes 1- 3 and are divided into the following categories: Biographical, Correspondence, Speeches, Conferences and Conventions, and Political and Governmental.

Biographical, 3 folders, Box 1.

A London Parliamentary Debate record mentioning Dr. Abdurahman, clippings, programs and handbills on both Dr. and Mrs. Abdurahman provide information on their civic and political activities. Also found here are Abdullah Abdurahman's (Dr. & Mrs. Abdurahman' s son) teachers reports.

Correspondence (1912-1938), 2 folders, Box 1.

Letters written to Mrs. Abdurahman include one from her daughter, Mrs. Gool and several from local organizations, along with letters of appreciation. Dr. Abdurahman’s correspondence contains a printed A.P.0. statement to the 1919 Peace Conference concerning newly conquered German territories; correspondence relating to City Council business, such as higher wages for postal and railway workers, the Asiatic Land Tenure Bill, and the Cape Coloured Commission report; letters of thanks and asking for assistance, and finally, correspondence concerning the withdrawal of Dr .Abdurahman' s name for the King's Silver Jubilee Medal.

Speeches, 3 folders, Box 1.

Covers such topics as equal rights, education, franchise for Non-Europeans, elections, including a folder of speeches written for Mr. Foster.

Conferences and Conventions. 2 folders, Box 1.

Includes reports (bound and mimeographed) from the South Africa Indian Congress Conferences and handwritten minutes for the fourth Non-European Conference.

Political and Governmental, 18 folders, 1 record book, Boxes 1-3.

Consists of African People's Organization materials, including the Women' s Guild constitution, minutes, record book and newspapers; city council materials, including a memorandum by Dr. Abdurahman, handwritten notes, committees he served on; Provincial Council draft ordinances on residential segregation, among other topics; South African documents, such as the Transvaal Asiatic Land Tenure Bill (1932), the Indian Inquiry Committee Report (1914) and the Cape Coloured Commission report (incomplete) which includes handwritten drafts and typewritten drafts for the political section of the report, recommendations, portions of the report and appendices. The Commission was established to study data on the Cape coloured population, and although some of the testimonials are in Afrikaans, most of this material is in English.

The papers of Mrs. Zainunnissa Gool occupy Boxes 3-5 and consist of the following: Biographical, Conferences and Conventions, Correspondence, and Political and Governmental.

Biographical, 3 folders, Box 3.

Consists of clippings (1935-1961) on Mrs. Gool; handbills announcing Gool speeches, sponsored by such political organizations as Friends of the Soviet Union, the Anti-Fascist League, and the Local Co-ordinating Unity Committee; programs, bills and miscellany.

Conferences and Conventions, 1 folder, Box 3.

This category includes agendas and minutes for national conferences and conventions sponsored by the South African Institute of Race Relations, the Africa National Congress, among others. Also found here are meeting agendas and minutes, statements, resolutions and reports of various commissions, committees and associations.

General Correspondence (1936-1961), 4 folders, Box 3.

In addition to invitations and meeting notices there are several congratulatory letters to Mrs. Gool on election victories, from acquaintances, and organizations such as the Communist Party of South Africa, the National Council of Women of South Africa and the Vigilance Association of Langa. There is considerable National Liberation League (N.L.L.) correspondence on topics such as bathing beaches for Non-Europeans, inadequate health facilities and correspondence regarding litigation against the N.L.L.; also Non-European United Front (N.E.U.F.) correspondence from unions and other sources; correspondence dealing with housing segregation; and the remainder is from such organizations, as the Passive Resistance Council, Natal Indian Congress, Non-European Unity Movement, India League and the Anti-C.A.D. Organization.

Political and Governmental, Boxes 4-5.

Included in materials from the N.L.L., N.E.U.F., Passive Resistance Movement (P.R.M.) and Anti-C.A.D. organizations are: publications, handbills announcing Gool speeches, agendas, minutes, constitutions, programs, and membership lists. In addition there are clippings on Mrs. Gool and the P.R.M., and N.L.L. and P.R.M. photographs of Mrs. Gool and Dr. and Mrs. Abdullah Abdurahman.

City Council materials include campaign literature for Mrs. Gool and other candidates; Mrs. Gool’s correspondence (1937 -1961) from constituents and the Cape Town City Council, reports, minutes, resolutions, memoranda covering such topics as increased wages and benefits for municipal labourers; employment of Non-Europeans in skilled jobs, better housing and more recreation grounds.

Included in the last category, Boxes 6-7, are South African publications such as newspapers, newspaper reprints, clippings and pamphlets. There are also 2 unidentified photographs, a magazine and book excerpts.

E. Pessek
10/2/77

ABDULLAH ABDURAHMAN FAMILY PAPERS
INVENTORY [& REEL GUIDE]: 7 BOXES

Box 1: [Reel 1]

Dr. & Mrs. Abdullah Abdurahman

Folder 1: Biographical
Folder 2: Clippings, 1909-1943

Dr. Abdullah Abdurahman

Folder 3: Report of 1920 Shooting (Incomplete)

Mrs. Abdullah Abdurahman

Folder 4: Letters, 1912-1940

Dr. Abdullah Abdurahman

Folder 5: General Correspondence, 1919-1938
Folder 6: Published Speeches Written by Dr. Abdurahman, 1904-1931
Folder 7: Speeches Written by Dr. Abdurahman for Mr. Foster, 1936
Folder 8: Speeches Written by Dr. Abdurahman (Incomplete), n.d.
Folder 9: South African Indian Congress Conference Report, 1935-1945
Folder 10: Fourth Non-European Conference Minutes, 1934

Record Book, 1910-1912 - African People's Organization (A.P.O.)

Folder 11: A.P .0. - Minutes and Constitution, 1906-1923
Folder 12: "A.P.O." Newspaper, 1909-1914

Box 2: [Reel 2]

Dr. Abdullah Abdurahman

Folder 1: Cape Town. City Council - Committee Lists, 1926-1932
Folder 2: Cape Town. City Council - Minutes, Memos, Motions, & Notes, 1921-1934
Folder 3: Cape Town. City Council - Cape Municipal Ordinance of 1912
Folder 4: Cape Town and Wynberg - General Board of Aide Reports, 1910-1921
Folder 5: Municipal Elections - Candidate Meeting Reports, 1932
Folder 6: Campaign Literature, 1908-1938
Folder 7: Province of the Cape of Good Hope. Provincial Council - Draft Ordinances, Minutes, & Notes, 1920-1938
Folder 8: Union of South Africa. Governmental Documents, 1914-1932
Folder 9: Union of South Africa. Cape Coloured Commission (C.C.C.) - Commission (1934), and Minutes (1937)
Folder 10: Union of South Africa. C.C.C. - Handwritten Drafts
Folder 11: Union of South Africa. C.C.C. - Summary of Report
Folder 12: Union of South Africa. C.C.C. - Political Position, typescripts & notes
Folder 13: Union of South Africa. C.C.C. - Completion of Evidence, typescripts

Box 3: [Reel 3]

Dr. Abdullah Abdurahman

Folder 1: Union of South Africa. C.C.C. - Report (Incomplete), typescripts
Folder 2: Union of South Africa. C.C.C. - Appendices (Incomplete), typescripts
Folder 3: Union of South Africa. C.C.C. - Recommendations & Summaries (Incomplete), typescripts

Mrs. Zainunnissa Gool

Folder 4: Biographical
Folder 5: Clippings, 1935-1961
Folder 6: Speech Handbills, 1936-1961
Folder 7: Conferences and Conventions, 1939-1962
Folder 8: General Correspondence, 1936-1941
Folder 9: General Correspondence, 1942-1949
Folder 10: General Correspondence, 1950-1961
Folder 11: General Correspondence. n.d.

Box 4: [Reel 4]

Mrs. Zainunnissa Gool

Record Book 1, 1935-1936 - National Liberation league {N.L.L.) Minutes
Record Book 2, 1938-1939 - N.L.L. Membership List
Record Book 3, 1937-1940 - N.L.L. Finance Bureau Minutes

Folder 1: N.L.L. General Council Minutes, Memo's & Agenda's, 1938-1941
Folder 2: N.L.L. Newsletters and Handbills, 1936-1939
Folder 3: N.L.L. Photographs, 1937-1941
Folder 4: Passive Resistance Movement (P.R.M.) Photograph, 1946
Folder 5: P.R.M. Handbills and Miscellany, 1939-1947
Folder 6: P.R.M. Clippings from Cape Argus, 1946
Folder 7: P.R.M. Clippings from Cape Times, 1946
Folder 8: P.R.M. Clippings from Other Newspapers, 1946-1947
Folder 9: P.R.M. News Bulletin, “Flash", 1946
Folder 10: P.R.M., The Passive Resister, 1946-1947

Box 5: [Reel 4]

Mrs. Zainunnissa Gool

Folder 1: Non-European United Front (N.E.U.F .) - Speech Handbills & Miscellany, 1939-1943
Folder 2: Cape Anti-CAD Organization - Speech Handbills & Miscellany, 1943-1961
Folder 3: Cape Anti-CAD - Bulletins, 1943-1948

Record Book, 1947 - Poll of Voters

Folder 4: Campaign Literature for Mrs. Gool - Municipal Elections, 1937-1961
Folder 5: Campaign Literature for Other Candidates - Municipal Elections, 1936-1961
Folder 6: Campaign Literature - Other Elections, 1938-1945
Folder 7: Cape Town. City Council - Correspondence, 1937-1961
Folder 8: Cape Town. City Council - Minutes, Resolutions, Memo’s, Reports & Notes, 1937-1953
Folder 9: Cape Town. City Council - Housing Reports, 1938
Folder 10: Cape Town. City Council - Staff Grading Reports. 1937-1947
Folder 11: Union of South Africa. - Memo, "Aspects of Housing Problems”, 1953

Box 6: [Reel 5]

Dr. & Mrs. A. Abdurahman and Mrs. Z. Gool

Folder 1: Clippings on Cape Town, 1930's and 1940's
Folder 2: Clippings on Cape Town. 1950's and 1960's
Folder 3: Miscellaneous Clippings, 1920's -1960's
Folder 4: South African Newspapers, 1931-1952
Folder 5: Miscellaneous Newspaper Reprints, 1909-1938
Folder 6: Pamphlets Published in S.A.: Women’s Suffrage, 1908-1938
Folder 7: Pamphlets Published in S.A.: Asiatic Land Tenure Act. 1925-1946
Folder 8: Pamphlets Published in S.A.: Race Issues, 1909-1959

Box 7: [Reel 5]

Dr. & Mrs. A. Abdurahman and Mrs. Z. Gool

Folder 1: Pamphlets Published in S.A.: Socialist, Communist and Labour Parties, 1938-1944
Folder 2 : Pamphlets Published in S.A. : Miscellany
Folder 3: Magazine, Book Excerpts
Folder 4: Photographs - unidentified, n.d.

SEPARATION LIST

7 Books

Juta, Marjorie, The Pace of the Ox, London: Constable & Company Ltd., 1936
Hel1mann, Ellen, Problems of Urban Bantu Youth, Johannesburg: South African Institute of Race Relations, 1940
Indicus, Labour and Other Questions in South Africa, London: T. Fisher Unwin, 1903.
Burger, John, The Black Man' s Burden, London: Victor Gollancz Ltd., 1943
The Government of South Africa, Cape Town: Cape Times Limited, 1st Installment, Chapt. I-IV, 1908
James, Jeffree, No Friend of Freedom, Cape Town: The Protestant Association of South Africa, n.d.
Parsons, Wilfrid, & Paul, John M., Timeless Rights in Modern Times, Washington D .C.: The Catholic Assoc. for International Peace, 1948 (photostatic copy)

20 Pamphlets

Khrushchov, N. S., Report of the Central Committee to the 20th Congress of the Communist Party, London: Soviet News Booklet No.4, 1956-
Togliatti, P., The Ways of Socialism, Communist Party of Italy, n.d.
Shepilov, D. T., Speech by D. T. Shepilov, London: Soviet News, Soviet News Booklet No. 10; n.d.
How About Russia? London: Russia Today Society, n.d.
Campbell, J.R., How Chamberlain Helped Hitler, London: Party of Great Britain, 1938
Challenge to Britain, London: Transport House, 1953
Czechoslovakia's Guilty Men, London: Modern Books Ltd., n.d.
The British Road to Socialism, London: The Communist Party, 1955
Labour and the New Society, London: Transport House, 1950
Let Us Face the Future, London : Transport House, 1945
South Africa's Multi-Racial Conference, Johannesburg: Planning Committee, 1957 .

Johannesburg: South African Institute of Race Relations Publications

Molteno, Donald B., The Assault on our Liberties, 1958
The Western Areas - Mass Removal? , 1953 (2 copies)
Maytham , Yvonne M. , Conflicting Views on the National Advisory Education Council, No.12, n.d.
Keyter, Carl, Feeding Customs and Food Habits of Urban Africans, No. 11, n.d.
Race Relations Journal, Vol. XXII, No. 3, 1955
Race Relations Journal, Vol. XXII, No. 1, 1955
Race Relations News, Vol. XVII, No.3, March 1955
Race Relations News, Vol. IVII, No.4, April 1955
31st Annual Report, 1959-1960

8 Magazines

- The Education Gazette, Cape Town, Vol. XXX, No.11, 1931 (June 11)
- The Education Gazette, Cape Town, Vol. XXX, No.10, 1931 (May 28)
- The Education Gazette, Cape Town, Vol. XXVII, No.15, 1928 (Aug. 2)
- Left Review, London: W.H. Smith & Son, Vol. 3, No.9, Oct. 1937
- Transactions of the South African Philosophical Society, Cape Town: The Society, Vol. IX-Part 1, 1895
- The Forum, Port Elizabeth: Central News Agency, Vol. 12, No. 9, June 4, 1949
- The Tuskegee Messenger, Alabama: Tuskegee Institute, No.19 , Vol. 1, Sept. 10, 1925
- Record Fashions, Paris: Societe Graphique S.A. Editions de Mode. No. 226.

Parliamentary debates

London : Harrison and Sons
House of Commons ,Official Report, Vol. 9, No. 122, Aug.19, 1909
Vol. 9, No. 123, Aug. 20, 1909
Vol. 8, No.105, July 27, 1909
House of Lords , Official Report, Vol. 2, No. 53, Aug.3&4 , 1909
Vol. 2, No.51, July 27&28, 1909

Cape Town : Government Printer
Senate Debates of the Union of South Africa, No. 13, May 17-20,1960
No. 3, Feb.6-10, 1961
No. 8, May 24-28! 1926
No. 5, Apr. 29-May 7, 1926
No. 7, May 17-21,1926

Poster

"Is This Your Flag?", Published by Head Office of the South African Party, Lithographed by Wallachs' Ltd., Pretoria, n.d.

12 Newspapers

- Contact, Cape Town, Vol. 3, No.24, December 3, 1960
- The Clarion, Cape Town, July 3, 1952
- Fighting Talk, Vol. 17, No.2, Feb. 1963
- Spark, Cape Town: Pioneer Press Ltd., Vol. 1, No. 9, Dec. 27, 1962
- The Torch, Cape Town, Vol. XII, No.52, March 25, 1958
- Guardian, Cape Town: Southern Edition, No.17, May 31, 1951
- Cape Standard, Cape Town, No.543, Oct. 11, 1946
No.533, Aug. 2,1946
- Race Relations News, Johannesburg: South African Institute of - Race Relations,
Vol. XXIV, No. 11, Nov. 1962
Vol. XXIV, No. 12, Dec. 1962
Vol. XXV, No. 3, March 1963
Vol. XXIII, No. 11, Nov. 1961

7 Music Books

- Curwen's School Music, London: J. Curwen & Sons Ltd.
- Fox Trot & Ragtime Album, London: Francis, Day & Hunter, 1923
- Dallas’ Italian School for the Mandoline, London: J.E. Dallas
Smallwood’s 55 Melodious Exercises for the Pianoforte, London : Francis, Day & Hunter
- The Music-Lovers' Library, London: George Newnes, Ltd.
- “Tschaikowsky Selected Works”
- 2 unidentified books

4 pieces sheet Music

- A Runaway Girl, London: Chappell & Co. Ltd.
- Song of the Vagabonds, London: B. Feldman & Co., 1925
- Visions of an Unknown Land, by Gustave Lind, London: Augener Ltd., 1913
- In a Monastery Garden, by Albert W. Ketelbey, London: J .H. Larway, 1925

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

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