UP Archives prize awarded to the best group assignment by history honours students based on primary research

On 30 April 2021 the UP Archives prize was awarded to Duncan Lotter, Masesi Tsotetsi and  Michaela van Ingen-Kal at the Department of Historical and Heritage prize-giving function. The function was organised and chaired by Mrs Karina Sevenhuysen of the Department of Historical and Heritage Studies. The Dean of Humanities, Prof Vasu Reddy and the Head of the Department of Historical and Heritage Studies, Prof Karen Harris opened the event and welcomed the attendees which included staff, undergraduate and postgraduate students, alumni and sponsors. The function, themed “Resilience,” also featured the recent post-graduate graduandi of the Department.

Dr. Ria van der Merwe, who awarded the archives prize, explained that The UP Archives prize for best group assignment by history honours students based on primary research award was funded by Prof. Cobus Ferreira, the founder of the UP Archives. The Honours module  GES 713 included a unique archival research project entitled “What’s in the Box?”. The project consisted of a lecture on archives and on best archival practices presented by Dr van Der Merwe. The module also had a significant practical component, namely that students had the opportunity to experience the world and work of the archivist: they had to appraise, accession and inventorize primary documents. Dr. van der Merwe explained that the project had to take on a digital form because of the lockdown that happened shortly after the module has started. UP Archive staff had to scan a selection of documents to enable to group to continue to work off site. Dr van der Merwe highlighted the quality and detailed work of Duncan Lotter, Masesi Tsotetsi and Michaela van Ingen-Kal. She congratulated them on excelling despite the challenges of the lockdown.

The UP Archives wishes to congratulate these students and looks forward to continued collaboration with the Department of Historical and Heritage Studies.