United Party Private Papers Sir De Villiers Graaff Papers 1913 - 1999 Inventory Compiled by Marié Coetzee Annette le Roux August 1994 Updated: December 2010 Marié Coetzee SIR DE VILLIERS GRAAFF DMS MBE (1913 – 1999) Sir De Villiers Graaff served South Africa for many decades with outstanding leadership as a politician, farmer, director of companies, advocate, soldier and sportsman. He was born on 8 December 1913, the eldest son of Sir David and Lady Eileen (née Van Heerden) de Villiers Graaff. De Villiers Graaff received his schooling at the Western Province Preparatory School and the Diocesan College in Rondebosch. Thereafter he had a superb record of academic achievements at the universities of Cape Town (BA), Oxford (MA and BCL) and Leiden (postgraduate study). As a student, he earned various merit awards for his participation in sports - swimming, boxing and cricket. In 1931 he succeeded to the title when his father died. After the completion of Sir De Villiers Graaff's formal studies, he was admitted as a member of the Inner Temple and then practised as an advocate of the Supreme Court in South Africa. He was soon deeply involved in the family business and became a director of Graaffs' Trust Ltd. In 1939 he married Helena le Roux Voigt. During World War II Sir De Villiers Graaff saw service in Northern Africa and was taken prisoner at Tobruk. He was decorated in 1947 and received the MBE for his inspiring leadership as a Defence Force Officer. In 1980, Sir De Villiers Graaff was made an honorary colonel of the Kaapse Vesting Artillery Regiment. Sir De Villiers Graaff was elected a member of the National Assembly in 1948 and, in less than ten years, became Leader of the United South African National Party and UP Leader of the Opposition. During his political career he represented the UP in the constituencies of Hottentots-Holland, Rondebosch and Groote Schuur. He played the role of peacemaker and gentleman in South African politics. Sir De Villiers Graaff was known for his high standards in all spheres of public life. In the House of Assembly he made an excellent contribution to the debates on a wide range of matters in the legal, agricultural, military and economic fields. He initiated the formation of a New Opposition Party in 1977, but retired from active politics towards the end of the same year. Many honours were bestowed upon Sir De Villiers Graaff over the years. In 1969 Rhodes University paid him the well-deserved compliment of conferring on him an LLD (honoris causa) degree. Unisa honoured Sir De Villiers Graaff in 1989 with a DLitt et Phil (honoris causa) for his efforts to reconcile Afrikaans and English speakers, Whites and Coloureds and Whites and Blacks. Agricultural journalists acclaimed him the Agricultural Man of the Year in 1980 for his scientific and generally accomplished management of his Friesland stud and his farming enterprise at De Grendel. He also received honorary citizenship from Villiersdorp, Parow and Milnerton. In addition to this, he was awarded the Distinguished Service Order (RSA). He died on his farm De Grendel outside Cape Town at the age of 85 on 4 October 1999. © Unisa Archives. United Party Archives Sir De Villiers Graaff 1 of 54 THE SIR DE VILLIERS GRAAFF PAPERS (31 linear metres) The Sir De Villiers Graaff Papers reflect the distinguished career of a South African politician who played an important part in the parliamentary, constitutional, economic, agricultural and military life of the country over many decades. Sir De Villiers Graaff was an MP of the former United Party from 1948 to 1977 and Leader of the Opposition for more than 21 years. The Papers comprise of correspondence, speeches, memoranda, pamphlets, press cuttings, photographs and publications. Subjects include the African National Congress, the Broederbond, Black Sash, communism, crime, education, Bantustans, Poqu, Rhodesia, Ex-Services League, terrorism, War Veterans Torch Commando, South West Africa, Wallachs’ Printing and Publishing Company among others. In addition the Graaff Papers include about 150 files on individuals. Sir De Villiers Graaff corresponded with many persons, locally and internationally. There is also correspondence between Sir de Villiers Graaff and Nelson Mandela, writing on behalf of the All-In African National Action Council, about South Africa becoming a republic. The volume of correspondence addressed to Sir De Villiers Graaff, the many requests for assistance (for passports, pensions, jobs and money, among others) and the expectations of the general public of all races, however, is amazing. The compassion and kindness in Sir De Villiers Graaff's replies show an exceptional and caring person. All the speeches, except those at school functions and at art exhibitions, are filed with the subject matter. Sir De Villiers Graaff used the information files for research purposes during his long public career. The files are arranged in alphabetical and chronological order. The Sir De Villiers Graaff Papers are of great research value to students in many different fields of study. It is a privilege to preserve and make available to researchers the Graaff Papers. They provide insight into the political turbulence and trends in South Africa between 1948 and 1977, as seen through the eyes of the Leader of the Opposition Party. Please Note Papers received after Sir De Villiers Graaff’s death and /or after the initial inventory was completed, were added to the updated inventory at number 1.15. A few other files were also updated in the 2010 version of the inventory. © Unisa Archives. United Party Archives Sir De Villiers Graaff 2 of 54 SIR DE VILLIERS GRAAFF PAPERS ref. no description period 1. Personal 1900;1931-1986 1.1 Biographical 1932-1978 candidate registration 1953 press cuttings 1948-1999 notes on Graaff family 1982 1.2 Degrees, professional certificates, licence 1932-1956 1.3 Family affairs 1900;1942-1973 1.3.1 Sir Dawid P Graaff post card, pamphlet, photocopies of correspondence between Sir Dawid and Gen Louis Botha; Graaff Electric Lighting works 1900;1912; 1995 1.3.2 D P De V Graaff correspondence 1942-1973 1.3.3 J De V Graaff correspondence 1949-1954 1.3.4 D De V Graaff correspondence, school reports, mementoes 1947-1960 1.3.5 J F De V Graaff correspondence, school reports 1954-1962 1.4 Financial affairs 1956-1978 1.4.1 General tax and estate matters : Sir Dawid Graaff, Jacobus Graaff and Sir De Villiers insurance policy and accounts 1.4.2 Graaffs' Trust 1938-1972 correspondence 1948-1950;1963;1970-1975 copy of joint will : Dr and Mrs van Heerden 1938 minutes, agenda and memoranda 1956;1963-1972 balance sheets and records 1949-1963 copper nameplate 1.5 Farming and agricultural interests 1956-1986 1.5.1 General correspondence, pamphlets and study 1956-1986 1.5.2 De Grendel 1969-1979 correspondence and annexures 1.5.3 Blombos 1962;1971-1973 correspondence 1.6 Messages of goodwill by Sir De Villiers 1958-1972 (SA Blind Workers Organisation, Muslim Digest, New Year's messages, etc) 1.7 Military - career and interests 1939-1986 correspondence, circulars, mementoes and membership cards1, speeches to ex-servicemen's organisations 1 See 21/06/1945 for correspondence re Coloured Servicemen's Association. © Unisa Archives. United Party Archives Sir De Villiers Graaff 3 of 54 ref. no description period (BESL, SA Coloured Ex-Servicemen's Legion, MOTH, SA Women's Ex-Service League, Bantu Ex- Servicemen's League); dedication ceremony for British solders who died in Wars 1.8 Requests 1953-1955 for donations for parliamentary assistance from military officers : Col JD Pretorius and Maj DW Pidsley 1.9 Speeches2 school functions (excluding De Villiers Graaff High School), cultural events, Red Cross, Graaff Motorway, 1951-1979 1.10 Travels 1931-1975 correspondence, planning documents, pamphlets and passports 1931;1955 1.11 Photographs, negatives, cartoons, signature stamps - 1.12 Correspondence 1.12.1 Correspondence (private) 1954-1981 1.12.2 Messages of support and encouragement 1960-1975 1.12.3 Reaction to Sunday Times article 1973 1.12.4 A3 1954;1962-1975 1.12.5 B 1946;1947;1950-1976 1.12.6 C 1961-1975 1.12.7 D 1951;1954;1961-1975 1.12.8 E 1950-1976 1.12.9 F 1950-1975 1.12.10 G 1957;1961-1975 1.12.11 H 1947;1951;1952;1955-1976 1.12.12 I 1960;1968-1974;1977 1.12.13 J 1967-1975 1.12.14 K 1950;1951;1963;1967-1977 1.12.15 L 1948;1953;1963-1975 1.12.16 M 1947-1956;1962-1975;1978 1.12.17 N 1967-1975 1.12.18 O 1956;1967-1975 1.12.19 P 1954;1960-1975 1.12.20 Q 1970-1975 1.12.21 R 1947;1956-1975 1.12.22 S 1947-1956;1964-1975;1982 1.12.23 T 1962-1963;1967-1975;1979 1.12.24 U 1968-1975 1.12.25 V 1957;1958;1964-1975 1.12.26 W 1951,1957;1962-1975 1.12.27 X, Y, Z 1954;1966-1974 2 See also subject files and file 1.15. 3 Filed according to letter writer's surname. © Unisa Archives. United Party Archives Sir De Villiers Graaff 4 of 54 ref. no description period 1.13 Notebooks c1958-1977 1.14 Diaries : appointments and meeting programmes 1957-1986 1.15 Papers received after Sir De Villiers Graaff’s death and / or after the initial inventory was completed 1.15.1 Academic institutions 1968-1988 speeches at UCT, RAU, Universities of Rhodes, Stellenbosch, Free State and Tygerberg Technical College 1.15.2 Agriculture 1967-1985 speeches at auctions, agricultural shows, societies, clubs, colleges and departments 1.15.3 Business and commerce 1949-1987 speeches at business clubs, chambers of commerce, Insurance Institute, Table Mountain Cableway Company and Paarden Eiland 1.15.4 Honorary awards received by Sir De Villiers Graaff