Mary Emma Butler papers.

Mary Butler, daughter of newspaper publisher James Butler, lived in Cradock, later (1965-197?) Grahamstown, South Africa. The family was one of five Quaker families in the area. She was active in liberal and church circles such as the Fellowship of Reconciliation and assisted a medical dispensary in Cradock's Black "Location". She worked with Child Welfare, which she helped found and the Joint Council of Europeans and Non-Europeans. She was an aunt of brothers Guy Butler (1918-2001, major South African poet, professor at Rhodes University) and Jeffrey Butler (1922-2008, professor of history, Wesleyan University). The Papers comprise: original correspondence; photos, and articles by her; newspaper clippings chiefly from Midland News (Cradock, 1903-70, notably a column "The Non-White Community") on black education, sport, personalities; related documents. Correspondents include her niece Joan, Keith Cramer, lawyer in Cradock; the editor of Midlands News (November 1928 on visit of black leader R.V. Selope Thema). Subjects include: providing books for black schools and bursaries for students; Oxfam; Quaker relief in Cradock (1965); "Location sketches" (15 leaves, based on Africans she knew); Easter church procession, 1953; "Work for racial harmony" (1954); her articles on war/military training (1954-5), some published in S.A. Quaker; "In defence of the A.N.C." (African National Congress); clippings, documents and letters on water supply in Cradock (1903-48, including poems on water (published 1916) and other themes (one critical of General Hertzog), a large photo of opening of the first reservoir, a pamphlet, Water supply investigation (1920); correspondence with Africans, 1934-77; Butler family (press clippings 1903, 1923, 1948, 1969, 1995) and 17-page manuscript on history of Midland News); clippings on black politics and location affairs 1930-60s (includes unemployment and May Day 1932, S.M. Bennett Ncwana on passive resistance 1926, concert program of Pathfinders/Wayfarers youth groups, 1932), typescript of "There is room at the top", presidential address, Regional Conference of National Council of African Women, Cradock, 30 May 1959 by Miss Moerane, with clippings and program; correspondence with town clerk; Group Areas Act of apartheid (includes Mary Butler poem "Power corrupts" (1956); press clippings on Group Areas Act from Midland News 1953-59; clippings from The Friend (London) and correspondence with Russell and Maude Brayshaw (UK, 1952-3) on the 1952 Defiance Campaign.

McBlains Books; Purchase; 2012.