| Dates: | 1962-1977 |
| Size: | 5 linear feet in 9 boxes |
| Repository: | Chicago Public Library, Woodson Regional Library, Vivian G. Harsh Research Collection of Afro-American History and Literature, 9525 S. Halsted Street, Chicago, Illinois 60628 |
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Collection Number: |
1985/01 |
| Immediate source of acquisition: | Gifted in 1985 to the Harsh Research History Collection, Woodson Regional Library, Chicago Public Library. |
|
Conditions governing use: |
Please consult staff to determine ability to reuse materials from collection |
| Conditions governing access: | Materials are open without restrictions |
|
Preferred Citation: |
When quoting material from this collection the preferred citation is: Southern Africa Support Group Archives [Box #, Folder #], Chicago Public Library, Woodson Regional Library, Vivian G. Harsh Research Collection of Afro-American History and Literature |
| Finding aid author: | Beverly A. Cook, April 2021 |
Abstract
This Chicago-based organization aided the cause of African liberation movements in Mozambique, Angola, Namibia and South Africa. The archive includes programs, flyers and a wide array of serials.
Biographical/Historical
The Southern Africa Support Group was a Chicago-based organization that aided the cause of liberation movements in Mozambique, Angola, Namibia and South Africa. The organization operated between the late 1960s to 1980 forming cooperative partnerships with other organizations with the same mission. They tried to work for change within the government and within Africa. Their missions included opposition to United States corporations working with South African businesses that supported apartheid. Strategic group committees were formed to:
- To investigate the role of United States businesses buying Angolan coffee
- To discourage new investments in southern Africa
- To develop support for certain legislative measures to oversee fair employment practices
- To create opposition to any corporate trade in South Africa which involved military equipment
Scope and Contents
The donor’s organization has been maintained. This collection contains materials from the American Committee on Africa out of New York. There is little information on this Chicago-based organization except its ties to other national organizations supporting African liberation.
Arrangement
This collection has four series: Issues, Countries, Organizations and Serials. Most of the items relate to specific subjects regarding South Africa.
Related Materials
Related materials at the Chicago Public Library include:
Related materials at other institutions include:
Collection Inventory
Series 1: Issues, 1962-1977, undated
Scope and Contents
This series contains information on individuals, organizations, economy and the apartheid government in South Africa. There are files on the relationship between the United States and South African government. American businesses operating on African soil are highlighted and criticized in American and African newspapers and specialized reports. These files contain correspondence, flyers, newspaper clippings, pamphlets and reports.
Arrangement
This series is in alphabetical order.
| Box 1 | Folder 1 | Amilcar Cabral articles, 1972-1973 | |
| Box 1 | Folder 2 | Apartheid-United Nations documents, 1964-1966 (1 of 3) | |
| Box 1 | Folder 3 | Apartheid-United Nations documents, 1969 (2 of 3) | |
| Box 1 | Folder 4 | Apartheid-United Nations documents, 1971-1973 (3 of 3) | |
| Box 1 | Folder 5 | Articles on South Africa, 1962-1973 | |
| Box 1 | Folder 6 | Bank loans to South Africa, 1973 | |
| Box 1 | Folder 7 | Bantustan policy-South Africa, 1966-1976 | |
| Box 1 | Folder 8 | Black Americans and South Africa, 1973-1976 | |
| Box 1 | Folder 9 | Caterpillar in South Africa, 1972-1973 | |
| Box 1 | Folder 10 | Chicago actions on South Africa, 1972-1976, undated | |
| Box 1 | Folder 11 | Church in South Africa, 1964-1973 | |
| Box 1 | Folder 12 | Coal imports from South Africa, 1974, undated | |
| Box 1 | Folder 13 | Coffee (Angola), undated | |
| Box 2 | Folder 1 | Corporations in South Africa, 1965-1976 (1 of 2) | |
| Box 2 | Folder 2 | Corporations in South Africa, 1965-1976 (2 of 2) | |
| Box 2 | Folder 3 | Gulf boycott, Angola, 1971-1974 (1 of 2) | |
| Box 2 | Folder 4 | Gulf boycott, Angola, 1971-1974 (1 of 2) | |
| Box 2 | Folder 5 | Indian Ocean strategy, 1969-1974 | |
| Box 2 | Folder 6 | Lutherans in South Africa, 1971-1972 | |
| Box 2 | Folder 7 | Mercenaries in South Africa, 1976 | |
| Box 2 | Folder 8 | Midwest Corporations in South Africa, 1971-1974, undated | |
| Box 2 | Folder 9 | Mobil Oil meeting in Chicago, 1973 | |
| Box 2 | Folder 10 | Oil in Southern Africa, 1968-1976, undated | |
| Box 3 | Folder 1 | Polaroid in South Africa, 1970-1972 | |
| Box 3 | Folder 2 | Portugal-United States relations, (1969-1970) (1 of 2) | |
| Box 3 | Folder 3 | Portugal-United States relations, (1971-1974) (2 of 2) | |
| Box 3 | Folder 4 | Rhodesia-Chrome, 1972-1975 | |
| Box 3 | Folder 5 | South Africa arms and the military, 1967-1976 | |
| Box 4 | Folder 1 | South Africa and Israel, 1971-1976 | |
| Box 4 | Folder 2 | South Africa political trails, 1970-1971 | |
| Box 4 | Folder 3 | South Africa Student Organization (SASO), 1972-1976 | |
| Box 4 | Folder 4 | South Africa tourism, 1969-1974 | |
| Box 4 | Folder 5 | South Africa women, 1970-1971 | |
| Box 4 | Folder 6 | South African and United States economic relations, 1964-1976 (1 of 2) | |
| Box 4 | Folder 7 | South African and United States economic relations, 1964-1976 (2 of 2) | |
| Box 4 | Folder 8 | Soviet Union in South Africa, 1976-1977 | |
| Box 4 | Folder 9 | Sports and entertainers in South Africa, 1971-1976 | |
| Box 4 | Folder 10 | United States Congressional actions, 1966-1970, undated | |
| Box 4 | Folder 11 | United States churches, 1973-1975 | |
| Box 4 | Folder 12 | United States policy in South Africa, 1971-1975 |
Series 2: Countries, 1962-1976, undated
Scope and Contents
This series contains newspaper clippings, special reports, background history of the countries and their relationship with other countries.
Arrangement
This series is in alphabetical order.
| Box 5 | Folder 1 | Angola, 1969-1973, undated |
| Box 5 | Folder 2 | Angola leaflets, 1976 |
| Box 5 | Folder 3 | Angola articles by organizations, 1975-1976 |
| Box 5 | Folder 4 | Brazil, 1971-1972, undated |
| Box 5 | Folder 5 | Cuba, 1974 |
| Box 5 | Folder 6 | Ghana, 1968 |
| Box 5 | Folder 7 | Guinea-Bissau, 1969-1971 |
| Box 5 | Folder 8 | Guinea-Bissau, 1972-1975 |
| Box 5 | Folder 9 | Middle East, 1970-1973 |
| Box 5 | Folder 10 | Mozambique, 1962-1973 |
| Box 6 | Folder 1 | Mozambique, 1974-1976 |
| Box 6 | Folder 2 | Namibia, 1971-1972 |
| Box 6 | Folder 3 | Portugal coup and Africa, 1974-1975 |
| Box 6 | Folder 4 | Fact sheets on Southern Africa, 1967-1975 |
| Box 6 | Folder 5 | South Africa congressional study mission, 1969 |
| Box 6 | Folder 6 | Zambia, 1970 |
| Box 6 | Folder 7 | Zimbabwe, 1966-1975 |
Series 3: Organizations, 1964-1977
Scope and Contents
This series contains information, memorabilia and calendar of events on the liberation support movements. There is also detailed information on the Madison Area Committee on Southern Africa (MACSA). The MACSA, formed by students at the University of Wisconsin in 1968, document the educational and fundraising campaigns aiding in the liberation movement of Southern Africa.
Arrangement
This series is in alphabetical order.
| Box 7 | Folder 1 | Africa Fund, 1973 |
| Box 7 | Folder 2 | Africa Research Group, 1964-1974 |
| Box 7 | Folder 3 | African America Institute, 1971 |
| Box 7 | Folder 4 | Angola in Arms, 1971-1974 |
| Box 7 | Folder 5 | American Committee on Africa, 1971-1976 |
| Box 7 | Folder 6 | Black Workers Congress, 1972 |
| Box 7 | Folder 7 | International Defense and Aid Fund for Southern Africa, 1972-1973 |
| Box 7 | Folder 8 | Liberation Support Movement, 1969-1972 |
| Box 7 | Folder 9 | Madison Area Committee on Southern Africa (MACSA), 1970-1971 |
| Box 7 | Folder 10 | MACSA, 1972-1973 |
| Box 7 | Folder 11 | MACSA, 1974-1977 |
Series 4: Serials and Newsletters, 1969-1977
Scope and Contents
SECHABA was the official journal of the African National Congress. It began publication in 1967 after the African National Congress was banned. Sechaba documented the process by which the African National Congress forged its struggle for freedom, justice and liberation despite being a banned organization.
Arrangement
This series is in alphabetical order.
| Box 8 | Folder 1 | Namibia News, 1970-1973 |
| Box 8 | Folder 2 | Namibia News, 1974 |
| Box 8 | Folder 3 | PAIGC Actualities, 1971-1972 |
| Box 8 | Folder 4 | Puerto Rico Libre, 1973-1974 |
| Box 8 | Folder 5 | Puerto Rico Libre, 1975-1977 |
| Box 8 | Folder 6 | Question-World Student Christian Federation (WSCF), 1971 |
| Box 8 | Folder 7 | Washington Office on Africa, 1972-1977 |
| Box 9 | Folder 1 | Sechaba, 1969-1970 |
| Box 9 | Folder 2 | Sechaba, 1971 |
| Box 9 | Folder 3 | Sechaba, 1972 |
| Box 9 | Folder 4 | Sechaba, 1973 |
| Box 9 | Folder 5 | Sechaba, 1974 |
| Box 9 | Folder 6 | Sechaba, 1975 |
| Box 9 | Folder 7 | Sechaba, 1976-1977 |
