Turok, Benjamin (b 1927)

IDENTITY STATEMENT AREA

Reference code(s): ICS Turo

Title: Turok, Benjamin (b 1927)

Date(s): 1961 - 1984

Level of description: Fond

Extent and medium of the unit of description: 2 reels

CONTEXT AREA

Name of creator(s): Turok, Benjamin, b 1927, South African politician

Administrative/Biographical history: Benjamin Turok, born Latvia, 1927; came with his family to South Africa, 1934; educated at the University of Cape Town; taught in London, 1950-1953; returned to South Africa, and became a full-time political activist; served with a banning order, 1955, and arrested for treason, 1956 (the charges were withdrawn in 1958); elected unopposed to represent Africans of the Western Cape on the Cape Provincial Council, 1957; during the 1960 emergency Turok evaded arrest, and went underground to help reestablish ANC organisation; in 1962 he was convicted under the Explosives Act, and sentenced to three years in prison; after his release he escaped via Botswana; resident in the UK from 1972; currently a member of the South African Parliament.

Archival history:

Immediate source of acquisition or transfer:

CONTENT AND STRUCTURE AREA

Scope and content: Papers of Benjamin Turok, South African educationalist and politician, relating to his political involvements in South Africa (1961-1981) and biographical tapes and transcripts (1983-1984): including African National Congress (ANC) speeches, publications, press releases, and other material, 1971-1981; papers of the Institute for Industrial Education, Durban, 1974-1978; papers of the Communist Party of South Africa, 1978 and undated; papers of the South African Congress of Trade Unions, 1971-1973; correspondence, 1971-1980, with Oliver Tambo and others, mainly on ANC activities; transcripts of audio tapes of biographical material.

Appraisal, destruction and scheduling information:

Accruals:

System of arrangement: By subject

CONDITIONS OF ACCESS AND USE AREA

Conditions governing access: Closed until 2014, except with permission of Benjamin Turok or Baruch Hirson.

Conditions governing reproduction: Copying is currently not permitted.

Language/scripts of material: English and Bantu

Physical characteristics:

Finding aids: List available in the ICS Library.

ALLIED MATERIALS AREA

Existence and location of originals:

Existence and location of copies:

Related units of description: The ICS holds a large number of collections relating to South African politics, including African National Congress (ICS 1), Mary Benson (ICS 6), Ruth First (ICS 117), Marion Friedmann (ICS 20), Ruth Hayman (ICS 30), Baruch Hirson (ICS 32), Mandela Trials papers (ICS 52), Josie Palmer (ICS 57), Edward Roux (ICS 67), South African Institute of Race Relations (ICS 95), Albie Sachs (ICS SACHS), University of Cape Town (ICS 81-82), University of Transkei (ICS 19).

Publication note:

DESCRIPTION CONTROL AREA

Recorder's note:

Rules or conventions: Compiled in compliance with General International Standard Archival Description, ISAD(G), second edition, 2000; National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997.

Date(s) of descriptions: February 2002

Interest: Black

Specific group:

Subjects

Racial discrimination

Civil and political rights

Apartheid

Anti-apartheid movements

Human rights

Political prisoners

Interethnic relations

Racial segregation

Personal/Corporate names

ANC

African National Congress

South African Native National Congress

Communist Party of South Africa

Institute for Industrial Education Durban

South African Congress of Trade Unions

Tambo, Oliver Reginald, b 1917, South African politician

Turok, Benjamin, b 1927, South African politician

Places

Southern Africa

South Africa