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Archiver > SOUTH-AFRICA > 1998-12 > 0912700322


From: "Pamela M. Lewin" <>
Subject: Re: The Albany Museum
Date: Thu, 3 Dec 1998 07:52:02 -0800 (PST)


Hi William,

Thank you for clarifying this situation for us. I sincerely hope that
descendants of the settlers in South Africa are able to influence "the
powers that be" to provide the funding required.

Sadly, those of us who are outside the country, live with the notion that
there will always be something to go back and see. Thank you for helping to
preserve what many hold dear.

Sincerely,

Pam Lewin..Victoria, B.C. Canada

At 08:30 AM 12/3/98 GMT+0200, you wrote:
>Greetings, good people!
>
>I feel that I must try and clarify the situation here, especially as
>it is seen to affect the services offered and the curation of family
>documents.
>
>The museum has a debt which now stands at about 1.25 million rand,
>growing rapidly because of the current cost of credit in this
>country. It was proposed to clear the debt and set up a trust fund
>for future development by selling the building in which I work, to
>Rhodes University. This was agreed to by all parties, except the
>East Cape government, who vetoed the sale. As a result of this, we
>now do not have the funds required to keep the doors of the
>cultural history museum open, and are presently struggling to keep the
>other building (natural history) open. I am operating from a minute
>office in this building and using various computers to maintain a
>link with the outside world. I shall remain at my post for as long
>as it is physically possible, although my stipend of R1600 p.m. will
>probably not be within the capacity of the museum board. In this
>event, I shall ask folk to pay me directly for any services that I am
>able to carry out.
>
>However, the most important aspect of the problem is the future safe
>custody of the records and resources. It has been stated that,
>whatever happens to the museum buildings, the collections will not be
>in danger. Our present plan is that, if the cultural history
>building is eventually sold, space will be found in the natural
>history building for the genealogical department. If I perceive any
>threat to these collections, I shall do my best to persuade those in
>authority to arrange the transfer of all documents to the Cory
>Library of Rhodes.
>
>If you wish to help, please try and make people, especially the
>descendants of the settlers, aware of the gravity of this situation,
>and the need to make themselves heard as we draw closer to election
>time in South Africa.
>
>with best wishes
>
>William
>
>
>------------------------
>William Jervois Resident Genealogist, Albany Museum
> Somerset Street, Grahamstown
> 6139
> South Africa
> Tel: 046 222312 Fax: 046 222398
>e-mail: International Code: 27-461-
>Web-site: http://www.ru.ac.za/albany-museum/geneal.html
>
>
>
>
>

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