University of Namibia

Collection Details:

The Archives Unit has received deposits from several departments of the university. Because the University was opened in 1992, the records thus held by the archives from the UNAM offices and departments are dated from 1992.

Conditions of access

The UNAM Records collection is closed for 30 years from the time they have been deposited at the Archives Unit in terms of the Archives Act of Namibia, No. 12, 1992, during which the records are conditionally open only to UNAM staff by permission of the creating office and UNAM Library. After 30 years, the collection is open to the public.

http://archives.unam.edu.na/index.php/unam-publications

Collection Details:

The Publications of the University of Namibia contains publications by the University of Namibia; from the former Academy of Tertiary Education, and by staff of the University. It consists of monographs, serial publications, conference publications, inaugural lecture series, and annual reports.

Conditions of access

The collection is open to the public.

Covering the period 1976-1990, the UNIN collection is rich on Namibia history and especially the struggle for independence. It holds various publications (periodicals, books, newspapers, newspaper clippings, serials, government publications, and UNIN publications), theses, conference papers, photographs, lecturer materials, educational and religious instructional materials, posters and audiovisual materials. The collection also includes UN Council for Namibia records, UN Commissioner for Namibia records, Statutory Bodies including Commissions and Committees records, records of government agencies as well as SWAPO records.

Administrative history

The UNIN was an educational body set up by the United Nations Council for Namibia in Lusaka, Zambia on 26 August 1976. The main purpose of the creation of UNIN was to have a facility for the education of Namibians in preparation for taking up roles in an independent Namibia.  The UNIN was closed in September 1990 (six months after Namibia’s independence) and its documents were transferred to the University of Namibia Library, Archives Unit.

Extent of material 1976-1990, 461 cubic feet

Conditions of Access

The collection is open to the public. The full descriptive finding aid is still under construction. Contact the Archives Unit for access.

Further Information

The collection is open to the public. The full descriptive finding aid is still under construction. Contact the Archives Unit for access.

http://archives.unam.edu.na/index.php/tjitendero-collection-2

The collection was built up mainly from Dr Mose Tjitendero’s personal collections during this period of the struggle.

Biography

Born in Okahandja, Namibia in 1943, Dr Mose Penaani Tjitendero went on voluntary exile to Tanzania in 1964 from where he pursued education and also became active in politics while in the SWAPO Party. He later went overseas for his University education, and came back to Africa, Zambia in 1976 where he joined the UNIN, and at Namibia’s independence, he joined the Government. He died in 2006.

Extent of Material

Because of Tjitendero’s intensive work with UNIN, most of this collection is UNIN related, and covers the period 1976-1990 the period which UNIN operated. 40 cubic feet

Conditions of Access

The collection is open to the public. For full descriptive finding aid see Tjitendero catalogue.

http://archives.unam.edu.na/index.php/katjavivi-collection-2

The collection covers SWAPO reports, speeches, press releases, journals and pamphlets, correspondence and internal documents, as well as specific SWAPO issues. This collection is thought to be the largest collection of public information on SWAPO available.

Biography

Professor Peter Katjavivi was born on 12 May 1941 in Okahandja, Namibia. From exile in Tanzania in 1966, he became active in liberation politics through the SWAPO Party, while also pursuing his academic career overseas. At independence he joined the government, and in 1992 became the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Namibia until diplomatic posting in 2003. He is currently the Chairperson of the National Planning Committee of Namibia.
Extent of material 1965-1988 26 cubic feet

Conditions of Access

The collection is open to the public. For full descriptive finding aid see Katjavivi catalogue.

http://archives.unam.edu.na/index.php/du-pisani-collection-2

It comprises of many official publications of the South African Government, newspaper cuttings, conference papers, periodicals and journal articles referring to aspects of Namibia in pre-independence period. The collection pays a special focus on Namibia’s unique international legal status, and the activities of the internal political parties in the independence process, particularly the Multi-Party Conference, the Transitional Government and the lead-up campaign to the independence elections of 1989.

Biography

Andre du Pisani was born on 15 January 1949 in Windhoek, Namibia. Prof. du Pisani has undertaken extensive research, and published prolifically, on Namibia’s political history. He has a renowned interest in Namibia’s political history, particularly Namibia’s political transition. It is these interests which are reflected in this collection. He is currently Professor in Politics at the Department of Political and Administrative Studies at the University of Namibia.

Extent of Material

The collection consists of 43 boxes, presently occupying 6 meters of shelving space.

Conditions of Access

The collection is open to the public. For full descriptive finding aid see du Pisani catalogue.

http://archives.unam.edu.na/index.php/henderson-collection-2

The Thelma Henderson collection of some 3-400 items covers the influential period of educational development from 1974 to 2001. It includes documents on colonial education, education in South West Africa, Namibia’s education problems, education and language plans for an independent Namibia. It also covers the history of the country including the fight for freedom. The liberation struggle as well as SWAPO’s literacy campaign efforts are some of the topics found in the collection. Issues of manpower development, adult learning, role of language in development and transition needs and requirements for Namibia are included.

Biography

Thelma Henderson started working on Namibian language and education in 1977 and continued to be involved in Namibian projects in Zambia, Namibia and the UK for the next 25 years. Before independence, there was a great deal of activity in Lusaka directed towards improving the level of education of Namibian refugees and also to planning future education policy. Thelma contributed to both these activities.

Extent of Material

3-400 items, paper records

Conditions of Access

The collection is open to the public. For full descriptive finding aid see Henderson catalogue.

http://archives.unam.edu.na/index.php/finnish-evangelical-lutheran-mission-felm-2

The Finnish Missionary Society (FMS, Suomen Lähetysseura, SLS in Finnish) was founded in January 1859. FELM operates in about 30 countries on five continents. FELM employs 350 staff members, of whom 220 work in mission’s capacities in about 20 countries. In 1868 FMS sent its first team of missionaries to Ovamboland in present-day Namibia, where they arrived in 1870. Since 1985, FMS has been known in English as the Finnish Evangelical Lutheran Mission, abbreviated FELM. It is the largest Lutheran mission organization in Finland.

Extent of Material

The collection consists of 34 boxes or 4 cubic feet.

Conditions of Access

The collection is open to the public. For full descriptive finding aid see The Finnish Evangelical Lutheran Mission (FELM).

Collection Details:

The Poster collection consists of various posters from the du Pisani collection mostly depicting activities of internal political parties during the independence process. There are also posters from the UNIN collection portraying various aspects of the liberation struggle. The other posters in the collection are from the University of Namibia and the Academy for Tertiary Education in the form of course charts and other training activities for students.

Conditions of access

The collection is open to the public.