Staying connected to our past is important, and with CPUT boasting a rich history dating back to the earlier 1900’s, the Archives is key in maintaining the University’s institutional memory.
The CPUT Bulletin cached up with Archivist Zolile Myeko who provided us with some insight on how staff can contribute to preserving CPUT’s records.
Why are Archives so important?
CPUT archives are those records that are worthy of permanent retention because of their enduring value as evidence or for research.
Archives provide a reliable and authentic knowledge base, enabling the past to be reconstructed and understood. Without Archives, the past would remain largely unknown.
By documenting significant decisions, transactions, events and activities of faculties, students and governing bodies of the university, Archives serve an essential link in the chain of human history.
What type of records are housed at the CPUT Archives?
The CPUT archives consist mainly of official university records and university related records, in a variety of formats, such as minutes of meetings, annual and special reports, correspondence, policies, and procedure manuals, and so on.
The university records are collected and deposited in the CPUT archives for permanent retention, in accordance with the university archives collection development program.
The university can only deposit substantive, significant specimens of official university records in the university archives when they become inactive (no longer needed in the originating unit)
What exactly happens at the Archives?
Our primary goal is to acquire, appraise and select records. We then arrange and describe the archival records according to accepted archival principles.
This process ensures that the archival records are available for continuing use.
How can staff contribute to the CPUT Archives?
Staff members or departments that have vital records of heritage value in any form such as old pictures, artefacts, maps, etc. are requested to provide those records to the University Archives.
You can contact the CPUT Archives at 021 959 5607 or drop a mail to myekoZ@cput.ac.za
*The Archives is situated on the ground floor of the Bellville Campus Administration Building
