From: Jemima C Bleek (08 September 1875)

From: Jemima C Bleek (08 September 1875)

Correspondence

A long letter from Jemima Bleek to Sir George Grey, dated 8 September 1875 at Mowbray, written shortly after Wilhelm Bleek's death. After recalling the events leading to his final illness and the details of his last hours, Jemima focuses on the "state of affairs" at the Grey Library and provides a detailed account of how Lucy Lloyd came to be appointed there. She describes how Lucy was asked to complete the copying of the inventory at half salary under Mr Maskew as acting Custodian of the Collection. Lucy raised objections to this proposed arrangement, not least due to the grave "difficulties" involved, especially regarding Maskew's character and all-round unfitness. Jemima reports Bleek's long-standing distrust of both Maskew and Dr Dale and outlines the divided opinions within the Committee - some wanted to hand the Collection fully to Maskew, others supported Lucy's involvement. Lucy eventually consented to the appointment. Jemima encloses letters exchanged between Lucy and the Committee, as well as Bleek's final letter requesting urgent help to complete the inventory. Explaining why so little evidence of Bleek's work at the library is apparent, she describes the years of ignorance and obstruction Bleek faced, his failing health and the neglect of his "years of quiet toil". She ends by reiterating her desire for Grey to understand the "real state of affairs" at his library and take action.

08 September 1875

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1. Wilhelm Bleek died at 2.15 am on 17th August 1875. 2. Jemima includes details of Wilhelm's last months and final hours not recorded in her other letter of this period to Grey, started September 6 [see 10.17]. 3. Mr Maskew was Chief Librarian of the SA Public Library while Dr Dale was Chairman of SAPL Committee. 4. Sir Thomas Maclear was the original Trustee of the Grey Collection appointed by Sir George Grey. 5. Transcription available in UCT library collection (BC151: C10.18.1). 6. For a short summary of this letter see Dr O H Spohr's typewritten notes on Wilhelm Bleek's letters to Sir George Grey (C10.19.1-26).