Dear Prof Phakeng,
I hope you are well, and that you are safe this time.
I have had many encounters with you, from being hooded at my three graduations at Wits, to meeting you in the presence of SRC leadership at Wits. I am writing to share with you my sadness of having learnt of the resources lost in the library.
As you are aware, these resources are not only previous in terms of the moments they record, but for many students, it forms the only access they may have to otherwise priceless documents for their studies or research.
I currently live in the UK, and work in Oxford. I would be most happy to look around in bookshops and archives to see if there is anything I can find to help restore part of UCT’s collection. I will also keep an eye in local bookstores of any print versions of books that may be available.
Would it be possible for you to put me in touch with someone who may be able to tell me which subject areas to look for?
Take care and keep safe, with best wishes
Ricardo de Sao Joao
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The Centre for Curating the Archive, in association with Michaelis Galleries (UCT) and UCT Libraries will stage a memorial exhibition marking the one-year anniversary of the tragic Jagger Library fire at the Michaelis Galleries. The exhibition will open to the public on Wednesday, 20 April 2022.
In an email to UCT students, Vice-Chancellor Professor Mamokgethi Phakeng said:
“Thank you for your patience as we seek ways to return to full academic activity at the University of Cape Town under COVID-19 regulations. Our first priority is to ensure the health and safety of everyone who needs to return to campus buildings.”
UCT is deeply grateful to all the donors who supplied food and other essential items for our students, and to everyone who has so generously offered other forms of support and assistance.
Everyone who would like to support the #UCTFire emergency relief fund is urged to please make financial donations to UCT through the UCT Alumni Ways to Give web page.
Donations can also be made by EFT using the details below:
Account name: UCT Donations Account
Bank: Standard Bank of South Africa
Branch code: Rondebosch Branch, 025009
Account number: 07 152 2387
Swift code: SBZAZAJJ
Please include your donor name if you so wish, as well as the reference for your donation, e.g. Name Surname, #UCTFire.