MUSEUM LIBRARY
Address: Erfurthuis, 37 Ryneveld Street, Stellenbosch
Opening hours: Monday to Friday: 08:00 – 16:00
Phone: 021 887 2937
Email: library@stelmus.co.za
The role of the museum library is to render an information service to museum staff to enable scientific research. All bona fide researchers and members of the general public are also welcome to use the library for research. No material may be borrowed from the library to assure that it is available to other researchers.
The library specialises in collecting scientific material to use for cultural historical research as well as material relating to the history of Stellenbosch.
Information sources like books, periodicals, newspaper cuttings, archaeological reports and other reports are available; covering a wide range of subjects:
- Museology
- Transportation
- Folklore
- Clothing
- Khoikhoi and San
- Gardening
- Food and drink
- Kitchens and kitchen equipment
- Clothing
- TextilesToys
- Fine arts
- Architecture
- Numismatics
- Ceramics
- Metalwork
- Clocks
- Firearms
- Antiques
- Crafts
- Rugs and carpets
- Needlework and handwork
- Glass
- Interior decoration
- Furniture
- Painting
- Travels
- Diaries
- Genealogy
- Heraldry
- Archaeology
- South African history
- History of the Cape
- History of Stellenbosch
With exception of the Eikestad News for 1987 – 1989, the library has a complete set of bound volumes since 1950. For researchers interested in South African history, the publications by the Van Riebeeck Society (now named Historical Publications Southern Africa), the Brenthurst Series and Karel Schoeman’s series Kolonie Aan Die Kaap will be interesting. For family researchers the complete set of South African Genealogies and Genealogies of old South African Families will be useful. The library also houses the Renata Coetzee Cookery Books Collection. The collection books and cuttings on slave history is comprehensive. The photocopy of the Van Der Bijl manuscript is useful for researchers interested in the owners of property in Stellenbosch between 1693-1860 and owners of farms in the Stellenbosch district between 1680-1860.
The archival collection of the library includes postcards, photographs and slides of buildings, documents, microfiche, plans and maps.
The card catalogue and subject indexes can be used to access the library collections.
Researhers are welcome to make appointments with the librarian before visiting the library.