IDENTITY STATEMENT
Reference code(s): GB 0402 RSW
Held at: Royal Geographical Society
Title: WEBB, Ronald Stretton (b 1892)
Date(s): 1916-1964
Level of description: collection
Extent: 21 boxes
Name of creator(s): Webb | Ronald Stretton | b 1892 | surveyor | Captain
CONTEXT
Administrative/Biographical history:
Born in Cape Town, South Africa, 1892; taught himself topographical and hydrographical surveying, 1910-1915; served in the First World War in France, 1914-1919; returned and continued his career in mapping South Africa, 1919; Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society, 1916-1932; worked in the Orange Free State, South Africa; reconnaissance in Basutoland; privately published the Gazetteer of Basutoland for which he was honoured by the Queen of England; awarded a prize by the Royal Geographical Society; fought to verify the traditional land claims of the Basotho people who lived near the Orange Free State, the Eastern Cape Colony, and Southern Transvaal. In 1955, he was evicted from his home, and 89 percent of his property was appropriated by the State.
CONTENT
Scope and content/abstract:
Papers of R S Webb, chiefly relating to Basutoland, 1916-1964, including two large sheets of photostats: genealogy; brief notes about the Bakubung Lihoja tribe, from the reminisces of Morena Ramakabane, arranged by Webb, 1964; copies of the Gazetteer of Basutoland including drafts with annotations by Webb; notebooks containing photographs and notes from letters and maps; letters relating to Father Francois Laydevant, a Catholic missionary among the Basotho people; maps, including of Basutoland, Griqualand and Southern Transvaal; papers relating to and copies of a book published by Webb, An account of the autobiographical memoir of A A Moletsane, 1967, on Morena Abraham Aaron Moletsane; letters and papers of Moletsane, 1957-1972; photographs and negatives including of people and places in Basutoland; translation of a report by Commandant G J Joubert, 1845; reprints of journals and articles relating to Africa; papers relating to Webb's translation of F S Ramakabane's Sotho manuscripts, 1960-1961; notebooks relating to Morena Felix Makelikte Sekonyela and ledger of indices relating to the affairs of the indigenous people of Basutoland.
ACCESS AND USE
Language/scripts of material: English
System of arrangement:
Awaiting arrangement.
Conditions governing access:
Some material is closed under the Data Protection Act, apply to Archivist for details. Accessed via the Foyle Reading Room. Free of charge for Fellows, Members and those with valid academic identification. All other users pay a charge and must bring identification in order to register on arrival.
Conditions governing reproduction:
Photocopying at the discretion of the Archivist and subject completion of 'application for copies' form. No reproduction or publication without the permission of the RGS-IBG Archivist.
Finding aids:
Hand list available in the Foyle reading room.
ARCHIVAL INFORMATION
Accruals:
Archival history:
Received in two accessions. First accession donated to the RGS by R Webb, 1966. Second accession transferred to the RGS from the Natural History Museum, 1994, the Natural History Museum had received it from the British Consulate General, Cape Town, Apr 1977.
Immediate source of acquisition:
ALLIED MATERIALS
DESCRIPTION NOTES
Archivist's note: Prepared by Michael Cronin Archives Volunteer using existing finding aids. Modified by Sarah Drewery.
Sources: Utah State University Libraries, The William F. Lye South African Manuscripts, MSS 260.
Date(s) of descriptions: 6 December 2000; May 2008