Colenbrander Papers

This material is held atBodleian Library, University of Oxford

  • Reference
    • GB 161 MSS. Afr. s. 2330
  • Dates of Creation
    • c1870-1995
  • Language of Material
    • English.
  • Physical Description
    • 10 boxes  There was a house fire in 1968, which has left some of the early material donated by J.C.A.L. Colenbrander in a fragile state.

Scope and Content

Family correspondence and letters of condolence on J.W. Colenbrander's death, 1870-1918; press cuttings, etc., 1904-1995; correspondence of J.C.A.L. Colenbrander concerning biographies of his father, 1939-1977; other correspondence of J.C.A.L. Colenbrander, 1929-1986; transcripts of documents relating to J.W. Colenbrander, including photographs, [1870-1990]; annotated books and other printed material, etc., 1893-1994.

Administrative / Biographical History

Colonel Johan William Colenbrander (1856-1918) was born in Pinetown, Natal to a Dutch family who had settled there in 1849. During his lifetime he participated in a number of key events, including the Zulu War, the visit of Lobengula's indunas to Queen Victoria, Rhodes' expansion into Mashonaland, the Ndebele Rebellion, and the Anglo-Boer War (during which he raised and commanded a unit named 'Kitchener's Fighting Scouts'). After several unsuccessful business ventures, he obtained employment in 1917 with I.W. Schlesinger's film company, helping to organise labour for the filming of The Symbol of Sacrifice. He played the part of Lord Chelmsford in the film and was drowned as he tried to cross the Klip River on horseback. He was married three times, first to Mollie Mullens in 1883, secondly, in 1902, to Yvonne Nunn, with whom he had a daughter, and thirdly, in 1911, to Catherine (Kathleen) Gloster, with whom he had a son.

Access Information

Bodleian reader's ticket required.

Other Finding Aids

A handlist is available in the library reading room.

Conditions Governing Use

No reproduction or publication of personal papers without permission. Contact the library in the first instance.

Custodial History

Johan Colenbrander's son, J.C.A.L. Colenbrander gathered a large amount of material on his father's life, mostly in preparation for a biography which was to have been written by the Marquis del Moral in the 1950s. The Marquis died in 1955 and the work was continued by Tom V. Bulpin who published a semi-fictionalised biography, The White Whirlwind (Johannesburg, Nelson, 1961).

Accruals

An autograph letter from J.W. Colenbrander to Mr. Vaughan Williams mentioning his trial on a charge of embezzlement and requesting a loan, 1911, was purchased from Clive Farahar and Sophie Dupre, of Calne, Wiltshire, dealers in books, autographs and manuscripts on 29th November 2001.

Related Material

J.C.A.L. Colenbrander sent photocopies of material relating to his father to the Killie Campbell Library in Natal, South Africa, the Zimbabwean National Archives, and Yale Library, U.S.A.. Yale Library also received some original photographs. Some artefacts relating to J.W. Colenbrander were housed at the Rhodes Memorial Museum, Bishops Stortford. A collection of love letters between J.C.A.L. Colenbrander's parents were retained by the family estate.