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The William F. Lye South African Manuscripts, (1834-1972)

COLL MSS 260

Biographical Sketch:

William F. Lye was born February 19, 1930 in Kimberley, British Columbia, Canada. After graduating from his local high school, Lye served a two-year mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Upon his return, Lye married ‘Velda’, a woman he had met while serving his LDS mission. Thereafter, Lye applied to Rick College (now BYU Idaho) and studied history. After two years at Ricks, the Utah State Agricultural College (now Utah State University) offered Lye a scholarship, which Lye accepted, and later graduated from the USAC with a B.A. in history. Shortly after his graduation, Lye was awarded a Woodrow Wilson Fellowship and enrolled in the University of California, Berkeley. Two years later Lye graduated with a M.A. in British Imperial History.

Following his graduation from the University of California Lye was offered a teaching job at Ricks College. After teaching at Ricks College for four years, the College granted Lye a sabbatical leave to pursue a Ph.D.. Lye enrolled at UCLA and studied African history before colonial rule. After graduating from UCLA Lye returned to Ricks for one year, but then accepted a position to teach African history at USAC, where he taught until his retirement.

Source: ‘Biographical Sketch’, by William F. Lye.

Provenance:

The materials in this collection were donated to USU Special Collections & Archives by William F. Lye in several batches during the 1990s.

Scope & Content Note:

This collection contains the papers of William F. Lye, a former USU history teacher who specialized in African history, including Lye’s Ph.D. notes, and primary source material connected to Andrew Smith and Captain R. S. Webb providing a wealth of information on South African history. This collection consists of nine boxes of material and five ledgers. The materials in this collection have been arranged topically.

Andrew Smith was a government physician of the Cape Colony, South Africa that led a exploratory expedition into the frontier around Cape Colony from 1834—1836. This collection contains Smith’s papers (Box 1).

Captain R. S. Webb was born Feb 13, 1892 in Cape Town, South Africa. During 1910-1915 he taught himself topographical and hydrographical surveying. In 1914, he was called to serve in the war effort in France. He returned to South Africa in 1919, damaged by chlorine mustard gas from which he suffered to end of his life. Continuing his career in mapping South Africa, he worked in the Orange Free State, made a reconnaissance in Basutoland, prepared his Gazetteer for which he was honored by the Queen, and awarded a prize by the Royal Geographical Society. Webb also fought to verify the traditional lands 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. This collection contains some of his maps, surveys, papers, and record ledgers.

In addition to the materials found in this collection, USU Special Collections & Archives also houses a collection of African books donated by William F. Lye catalogued as Book Collection 55; William F. Lye African Collection. Lye’s Andrew Smith’s Journal of his Expedition into the Interior of South Africa; 1834—1836 is available in USU Special Collections & Archives (call # 8.8:63 no. 1). Webb’s Gasetteer for Basutolandis also available (call # ASL 919.861 W384).

Inventory

Box 1: Research papers of Lye, Andrew Smith papers.

Fds: 1-4 Smith, Andrew. Journal of the expedition to the interior of South Africa 1834-1836. Photocopy of manuscript. Vol. 1, 272 leaves. 35cm. Vol. 2, 333 leaves. 35cm.
Fd 5: Extract from ... Diary of Dr. Andrew Smith. Includes portions concerning Basuto tribe. 14, 2 leaves: 38cm. Photostat in paper binder.
Fd 6: Ethnology notes of Andrew Smith.
Fd 7: Andrew Smith, report of the expedition for exploring Central Africa, from the Cape of Good Hope, June 23, 1834, under the supervision of Dr. A. Smith. Cape Town: Printed at the Government Gazette Office, 1836. 67, 1 p. : 22cm. (loose) Photocopy by South African Library. Includes copy of article from The Cape of Good Hope Library Gazette, 23d. Dec. 1834. Pp. 13,14.
Fd 8: Andrew Smith, M.D. Founder of the first South African Museum. (Autographed by Kirby, Percival R) Reprinted from Annals of the South African Museum, Vol.36, Part 1. 26 p. : port., ill.; 25cm.

Box 2: Research papers of Lye.

Fds 1-2: Moletsane, Morena Abraham Aaron, account of the autobiographical memoir. Printed at Paarl, C.P. South Africa, By Fischer and Sons (Pty) Ltd. for R. S. Webb ... 1967. 2 v. : 24cm. The Journal is annotated with additional notes by R. S. Webb; and with mounted photographs; and a copy of a sketch map of “Our Village Families.” Vol. 2 is a scrapbook of newspaper clippings and manuscript notes by R. S. Webb. Letter of presentation from Webb to W. F. Lye laid in v. 2.
Fd 3: Grant, James Murray. A journey from Qacha’s Nek to Advance Post, 1873; via ‘Milikane; Schonghong; Linakeng; Kolobere; Lekaka-la-Sekhonyana; Senquonyane & Phustiatsana-ea-ha-Malopo, 1873 Dec. 7th ... 25th. By Inspector J. M. Grant, F.A.M.P., guided by Mora Quing.
Fd 4: Notes from diary of Charles Maitin of Bogate: 1897, [concerning] Inspector J. M. Grant’s diary of the Langalibalele Expedition of 1873, by Ronald Webb, April, 1951. 56 leaves (carbon copy in bound letterbook)
Fd 5: Joubet, Gideon. Report [of Trans-Orange, including Thaba Basin] 19 Aug. 1845, with inked in photostat [of sketch map] from file CO 2828.2 of 1845. 28 leaves : 38cm. Plus map 37x57 cm. Folded [photostat copy]

Box 3: Research papers of Lye.

Fds 1-3: Stow, G. W. The Intrusion of the stronger races. The Amazulu, Matabili and Natal Tribes. Unpublished manuscript (Olden Times) in South African Library, Cape Town. Photocopy of typescript, annotated.
Fd 1, pt 1, p. [1]-107.
Fd 2, pt 2, pp 108-226.
Fd 3, pt, 3, pp 227-320.

Box 4: Research papers of Lye.

Fds 1-2: Bloemhof Commission Report 1871. Evidence taken at Bloemhof before the Commission appointed to investigate the Claims of the South African Republic, Captain N. Waterboer, Chief of the West Griqualand, and certainother Native Chiefs, to portions on the Vaal River, now Known as the Diamond Fields. 392 leaves : photocopy; 36cm.
Fd 3: Wookey, Alfred J. Dinwao leka e la Dipolelo kaga Dico tsa Secwana. 6th ed. Tiger Kloof, Cape of Good Hope: London Missionary Society, 1938. 90 p., [45] p. : 35cm. Photocopy.

Box 5: Research papers of Lye, maps.

Maps used by William F. Lye to prepare his Gazeteer For Basutoland. ASL 916.861 W384. Maps are annotated with route marked in ink. Maps are official section maps listed alphabetically.

No. 1 Arboussets Journey. 4 plates with small map as key to reassemble large maps.
No. 2 Bethulie. folded.
No. 3a Bloemfontein. Paper mounted on cloth, folded. 3b Bloemfontein. Photostat.
No. 4 Brandfort. Photostat.
No. 5 Breypaal. Paper on cloth, fold.
No. 6 Christiana. Paper on cloth, fold.
No. 7 Dewetsdorp. Paper on cloth, fold.
No. 8 Ficksburg. Paper on cloth, fold.
No. 9 Fouriesburg. Paper, fold.
No. 10 Fouriesburg. Paper, fold.
No. 11 Harrismith. Paper, fold.
No. 12 Kimberly. Paper, fold.
No. 13a Kroonstad. Topographic map, annotated in 4 pts., fold.13b Kroonstad. Photostat.
No. 14 Lesotho. Paper, fold.
No. 15 Lindley. Paper, fold.
No. 16 Mount Fletcher. Paper on cloth, fold.
No. 17 Philipstown. Paper on cloth, fold.
No. 18 Reddersburg. Paper on cloth, fold.
No. 19 Rouxville. Paper on cloth, fold.
No. 20 Senekal. Photostat.
No. 21a Springfontein. Paper, fold. 21b Springfontein. Paper, fold.
No. 22 Ventersburg. Paper on cloth, fold.
No. 23 Victor. Paper on cloth, fold.
No. 24 Wepener. Paper on cloth, fold.
No. 25a Winburg. Paper on cloth, fold. 25b Winburg S. W. Photocopy, fold.
No. 26 Witkopjes. Photostat.
No. 27 Witziesheok. Paper on cloth, fold.
No. 28 Zastron. Paper on cloth, fold.

Box 6: Research papers of Lye, Jeppe’s Map, Plan of Johannesburg and Plan of Pretoria.

Fd 1: Lithographed in Switzerland on linen, colored. Published by Edward Stanford, no date, circa 1899 folds into black cloth covers. Jeppe’s Map Sheet 3, North East Transvaal, red cloth covers. (This map usually appears in six sheets contained in a folding case with a key on the upper cover.)
Fd 2: Index to GSGS Reconnaissance Series.
Fd 3: Geographical Section. General Staff. Reconnaissance Series. Printed on paper and mounted on linen. Colored. Fold into brown cloth covers. Cape Colony. a. Prieska 1909. b. Upington 1908.
Fd 4: Cape of Good Hope. A. Prieska 1912. b. Griquatown 1914. c. Carnarvon 1912. d. Douglas.1913.
Fd 5: Orange River Colony. a. Lindley 1907. b. Vredefort 1908. c. Heilbron 1909. d. Wit Kopje 1910.
Fd 6: e. Commando Drift 1907. f. Bothaville 1906 g. Odendaals Rust 1906
Fd 7: Orange Free State a. Brandfort 1913 b. Ficksburg 1911 c. Fouriesburg 1913 d. Kestell 1912
Fd 8: e. Thaba’Nchu 1913 f. Ladybrand 1913 g. Wepener 1915 h. Springfontein 1915 i. Bethule 1914
Fd 9: Transvaal and the Orange Free State. a. Vereeniging 1913. (These come with a key, which was probably made by Captain Webb).

Box 7: Research papers of Lye, Transvaal Maps.

Degree Sheets, Printed on linen. Colored. Drawn in the Surveyor General’s Office and Photo-Lithographed at the Government Printing Works, Pretoria. Cloth covers.

Fd 1: a. Bloemhof 1908. b. Machodorp 1905.

Transvaal (Major Jackson’s Series) Sheet 42 Wakerstroom. Photo-lithographed-Pretoria-April 1901. Revised and completed Feb. 1902. Yellow cloth covers. Transvaal (Revised series. Degree Sheet). Drawn in the Surveyor General’s Office and Photo-lithographed in the Government Printing Works, Pretoria. Printed on linen. Cloth covers.

Fd 2: a. Potchefstroom (Revised - 1st October 1903. b. Taungs (July 1902) c. Middelburg. Sheet 10 (1st August 1903)
Fd 3: d. Vrede. Sheet 10 (July 1903) e. Ermelo. Sheet 69. (August 1903) f. Rustenberg. Sheet 98 (Revised 1st October 1903.
Fd 4: g.Greysdorp. Sheet 144 (Revised 1st October 1903) h.Vryheid. Sheet 153 J(1st June 1904) i. Greysdorp. Sheet 164 (Revised, 1st October 1903)
Fd 5: j. Utrecht. Sheet 188 (February 1904) k. Klerksdorp. Sheet 230 (Revised 1st October 1903) l. Bloemhof. Sheet 233 (Revised 1st October 1903)
Fd 6: a. Zoutpansberg.. April 1910. b. Umbabat. September 1908. c. Malagakwin. December 1909. d. Vrede. Revised & augmented edition, April 1905.

Orange River Colony, Degree Sheet Series. Compiled from Orange Free State farm surveys and micrographed in the S.G. Office.

Fd 7: a. Phillipolis. (October 1901) b. Bothaville (May 1902) c. Frankfort . (Sept. 1901) d. Brandfort (April 1901)

Union of South Africa, Province of Transvaal Official Maps. Degree sheet series. Printed on linen in color. Photo-lithographed at the Government Printing Works, Pretoria. (One is Helio-Zincographed)

Fd 8: a. Machadodorp. (Revised 1911) b. Ohrigstad (April 1911) c. Pafuri. (1st May 1911) d. Leydsdorp. (1st Apti 1911)
Fd 9: e. Rhodes Drift. (December 1909) f. Utrecht. (February 1911) g. Letaba. (December 1911) h. Bothaville (June 1913)
Fd 10: i. Vryheid. (1st June 1904) j. Rustenburg (Jun 1913) k.Derde Poort (1st May 1911) l. Zeerust. (February 1904) m. Middelburg. (No date)

Box 8: Research papers of Lye, Capt. Webb papers.

Fd 1: R. S. Webb notes on genealogy of Morena Khasapane.
Fd 2: Notes on the history of Geodesy and bibliography.
Fd 3: Account of Maketehete Sekonyela.
Fd 4: Self portray of R. S. Webb.
Fd 5: Notebook, “L. J. Crachet, Notes & Souvenirs”, 1845—1873.
Fd 6: Genealogy of Banulung-Lihoja (photocopy).
Fd 7: History of the Native Tribes of Transvall, 1905 (photocopy).
Fd 8: The Native Tribes of Transvaal, 1905 (photocopy).
Fd 9: Incoming correspondence to Lye from Webb, 1970s. Contains maps and materials with explanation by Webb.

Box 9: Research papers of Lye, oversized genealogy of Bakulung-Lihoja.(duplicates can be found in Box 6.

Ledgers: Five ledgers.

Book 1:

Pt. 1: Notes for R. S. Webb’s Gazetteer for Basutoland prepared as a Supplement to copy No. 27 of the Gazetteer issued in July 1960. Pt. 2: A Note Book from 2nd December 1960 to [?] by R. Webb. “A Miscellaney of details taken from the manuscripts and scarce books collected here during the past 20 years.”1. Autobiographical Memoir, 1910-1950. Pp. 2-11. Pt. 3: On the Lihoja Tribe. December, 1960. Introduction by Webb, followed by a Memoir of his ancestry by Sgt. Frederick Serame Ramakabane. Transcribed with marginal notes by R. S. Webb. 40 leaves plus 3 l. name index. Pt. 4: A Summary or Transcription of the “Chieftainship among the Bakubung Lihoja.” This is followed by Webb’s Notes with sketch maps on the book by Arbrussih, T. et Dauma, F. Relation d’un Voyage d’ Exploration” ... Paris, 1842. 20 leaves, July 11, 1961.

Book 2:

The Place Names of Basutoland. A list of names relating to the History of Basutoland to 1880, together with derivations and meanings. R.S.W. The entries are numerous and are in alphabetical order with a thumb index to alphabetical sections. 314 p.

Book 3:

Pt. 1 This volume comprises extensive extracts for various published and unpublished works and diaries which relate to Basutoland. The first is from Borcherd’s Autobiographical Memoir, published in Cape Town in 1861. What interested Webb was the account of the expedition of Truter and Somerville to Lattakoo in 1801 in which Borcherd took part. From this Webb extracts extensive notes. P. 2-78. There follow notes on Gordon’s travels; extracts from the History of Basutos of S.A. by the Special Commission of the Cape Argus, 1857; Notes extracted from a manuscript diary written by the French Missionary Cachet during the period 1857, January 1, to April 22, 1868. Pt. 2 “Notes et Souvenirs, per Janv. 1857 au 20 Janv. 1862. Leaf 80 to 136 in French, leaf 138, Oct 6, 1858 begins a transcription in English and French to leaf 162 January 1863. Leaf 162 to leaf 174 are selected entries. Beginning page 75-178, April 20, 1957 Webb inserts his personal opinion about the fate of the tribes. The ledger ends with Sebotsa’s history of Sekonyela’s people.

Book 4:

Notes on Geodesy extracted from various publications [Webbs Table of Contents follows] Monthly Notices. R.A.S. from p. 1 onwards. [Royal Astronomical Society] Geophysical Supplements. 101 The Observatory, 51 The Geogrphical Journal 211 “Nature” 301 [The Weekly Journal of Science - “Nature”] [p. 360-455 missing, or removed] Bulletin Geodesique 451 Travaux 481 [The notes cover about half the pages in this volume.]

Book 5:

A Collection of Notes on Geographical Surveying. R. S. Webb. Aug 1921. This comprises 211 pages numbered by Webb of detailed technical writing on such subjects as Spherical Excess, The Marine Chronometer, Mathematical Interpolation, The Zenith Telescope, Elimination of Error, etc. Compiled during the period after World War I, when he was concerned with Geodesy, mapping South Africa, the Orange Free State and Basutoland.

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