Moorreesburg/Korrespondensie ter stigting van die Carnegie-biblioteek op Moorreesburg

Die afskrif van die oorspronklike korrespondensiemateriaal met betrekking tot die stigting van die Carnegie-biblioteek op Moorreesburg, en Andrew Carnegie se aandeel, kan hier afgelaai word. (teen 55 megagreep.) Vir die gerief van die leser is gepoog om die meeste tekste te transkribeer, aangesien die dokument geen kopiereg het nie. Die meeste ondertekenaars se name is vir eers uitgelaat, behalwe waar die naam onmiskenbaar en duidelik is.

 Volgorde 
Die volgorde in die Carnegie-dokument is nie chronologies van aard nie. Dit moet wees:

16 Mei 1904 - bl. 8 tot 9  
17 April 1907 - bl. 5
19 April 1907 - bl. 2 tot 3
20 April 1907 - bl. 4
4 Julie 1911 - bl. 10 tot 11
10 Julie 1911 - bl. 12
11 Julie 1911 - bl. 7
3 Augustus 1911 - bl. 6 
21 Augustus 1911 - bl. 15
19 September 1911 - bl. 17 tot 8
21 September 1911 - die chronologiese volgorde: bls. 21, 22, 23, 20, 19.
23 Oktober 1911 - bl. 16
20 November 1911 - bl. 24
20 Januarie 1912 - bl. 25 
22 Januarie 1912 - bl. 26 tot 28 
20 Februarie 1912 - bl. 28
5 Maart 1912 - bl. 28
5 Maart 1912  - bl. 1
24 Julie 1913 - bl. 29 tot 30

 Opmerkings 
 Party dele van die briewe eindig met 'n woord waarmee die volgende begin. Dit is 'n gebruik uit die Middeleeue, pleks daarvan om die bladsye te nommer. 
 Deurgaans word die 'stoel' as "Dear Sir" aangespreek; dit maak dus nie saak of die sekretaresse die brief geskryf en onderteken het nie.

 Korrespondensie 
 16 Mei 1904 (Afskrif van Wetgewing 508 van 1904) 
Government Notice № 508
Dated 16th May
1904

Colonial Secretary Office
Cape Town. Cape of Good Hope
16th May,  1904

It is hereby notified that the
subjoined amended regulation for the
management of the Public Libraries
in the smaller towns of the Colony,
having been approved by the Hon.
the House of Assembly and the 
Hon. the Legislative Council, during
the Session of 1903, takes effect
throughout the Colony from the
1st January, 1903, from which date
it supersedes and cancels regulation
No. 1. promulgated by the Government
Notice № 878 of 1899, which has hitherto
been observed by the Government in 
subsidising the funds of the
institutions in question. 

(Sgd.) C.P. Crewe
Colonial Secretary. [Public]

Public Libraries amended Regulation

That the Government annual
Grant shall not exceed the annual 
average amount raised by subscriptions
and donations during the three
preceding years or in the case of 
new Libraries, shall not exceed the 
amount of subscriptions and 
donations received for the first
year or average for two years, but 
in no case to be more than £150
per annum, provided that these
grants shall be made out of the 
money voted annually by 
Parliament for the purpose.

 17 April 1907 (Siviele kommissaris verklaar aansoek as eg en opreg) 
Office of the Civil Commissioner

Malmesbury 17 April 1907

This is to certify that I
am aware that the
fact disclosed in the 
accompanying letter
are accurately stated.
I believe the application
to be a bona fide
one.

 19 April 1907 (Eerste aansoek aan Carnegie) 
Moorreesburg
Cape Colony
South Africa
19th April, 1907

Andrew Carnegie Esqr
Skibo Castle Dornoch
Scotland.

Sir,

The undersigned represent and act for a number of young people
from the village of Moorreesburg and neighbourhood who for the
last two years have been trying to raise funds for establishing a
public library. The method adopted so far has been to give
entertainments the proceeds of which now amount to thirty pounds stg.
The resources upon which we can draw locally are very limited
as the majority of the population consists of the poorer classes,
peasants, trademen and artisans. A further drawback is that the
community is very conservative having until recently been isolated
from important and enlightened centres. Naturally they have been
debarred from acquiring anything beyond a very elementary
education. For reasons state above our appeals to them have not been
productive of much monetary value.

The absence of the customary sources of innocent diversion
and the better local provision that has recently been made for the
education of our youth are factors that are well calculated to
assure the popularity and utility of the contemplated library.

Andrew Carnegie Esqr

Skibo Castle, Dornoch, Scotland.

The promotors of the library have had to contend with much trouble
and disheartening incidents but a spirit of indefatigable
perseverance has kept them from swaying from their purpose.

It is felt however that in spite of the strenuous efforts of those
engaged in the work a very long time will elapse before a building
of even modest dimensions can be secured and furnished and supplied
with the nucleus of a library.

In devising plans which will in the shortest time give us
what we desire it has been decided to approach you on the matter
and ask you as we hereby most respectfully do to give us a donation.

We hope that neither the distance nor the obscurity of the place
will influence you to withhold that philantrophic generosity for
which your name is so justly held in esteem.

We do not wish further to impose upon your valuable time
but should you require any other information we shall at any time
most willingly supply the same. 

We are, dear sir
Your obedient servants

M. M. Walters
[...]
J. J. H. Vlok
M. D. Koch

 20 April 1907 (Dorpsraad ondersteun aansoek) 
Andrew Carnegie Esq

Skibo Castle 
Dornoch
Scotland.

Sir, 

We, the undersigned, members 
of the Village Management Board of
Moorreesburg, herewith certify that
the application entwined in the
accompanying letter is a bona fide
one, and it will merit your
Kind consideration

 4 Julie 1911 (Munisipaliteit steun onderhoudskoste van biblioteek) 
Extract of Minutes of Meet[ing]
of Moorreesburg Municipality
July, 4 " 1911

Mr. E. Starke moved seconded by
Dr. J.B. Garvie that the Municipality
guarantees the annual sum of 
Fifty pounds (£50) for the upkeep 
of a Library here; whenever the
same takes a practical form - 
carried.

Municipal office
July 8 " 1911.

 10 Julie 1911 (J.P. du Toit & Koch aan Carnegie: heraansoek) 
Moorreesburg 
Cape Colony
South Africa
July 10th, 1911

Andrew Carnegie Esq. -

Dear Sir.

On behalf of the Public of 
Moorreesburg and district - in Cape
Colony - representing a population
of over 3,000, we would respectfully
enlist your sympathy to start a
Public Library.

During the last six years concerts have
been held and subscriptions collected
with this object in view, but the sums
raised where quite inadequate, amoun-
ting in all to only £73.

We feel now that only by an appeal
to your generosity, - that generosity
which you have extended to other
towns in South Africa placed under
similar disabilities - can we expect to 
have our hopes realized.

The following conditions which we have 
ascertained are essential before Philanthropic
Bequests to Public Libraries are granted by

you, can and will be fulfilled:

I. £100 per annum to be guaranteed for the upkeep of the Library.
II. A free site upon which to build.
III. The Library to be free. 

The enclosed
papers show that the Municipality
guarantee £50 per annum, and the 
Government the remaining £50 on the 
£ for £ principle, i.e. £100 per annum;
and that a free site has been granted
by the Dutch Reformed Church.

We would further respectfully request
that your donation provide not only
for the building but also for the 
furnishings of same with books.

The absence of the customary sources
of innocent diversion, and the better
local provision that has of late years
been made for the education of our
youth - with regard to improved schools, - 
are factors that are well calculated
to assure the popularity and utility
of the contemplated Library.

We may also add that
Moorreesburg is situate in the centre
of the graingrowing district of this 
Colony, and a large Oatmeal Factory [here]

here has many employées both
South African and British, who 
are looking forward to the
establishment of the anticipated
Library. 

Apologising for encroaching
upon your valuable time and trusting
that you will consider our appeal
favourably. 

We are, 
dear Sir,
Your's respectfully

J.P. du Toit Chairman
M. D. Koch Secretary

Library Committee

Andrew Carnegie Esq. 
Skibo Castle Dornich
Scotland.

 11 Julie 1911 (J.D. Retief, eerste predikant op Moorreesburg, beskryf goedkeuring) 
The undersigned, Minister of the Dutch
Reformed Church Moorreesburg, hereby
certifies that the Churchwardens of the
said Church at the request of a Deputation,
consented to grant, free of charge, a piece
of ground for the erection of a library,
the ground to be transferred to certain
trustees; and the building to be used
only for a library.

J.D. Retief V.D.M.
Chairman

Moorreesburg, 11 July 1911.

 3 Augustus 1911 (Minister van Opvoeding doen goeie woordjie vir Koch) 
Telegraphic Address: "Instructor"
Union of South Africa

Department of Education

Pretoria, 3rd. AUGUST. 1911.

ANDREW CARNEGIE, Esqre.,
Skibo Castle. 
Dornich.
SCOTLAND. 

Dear Sir,

Miss. Maria D. Koch of Moorreesburg in the 
Province of the Cape of Good Hope informs me that she has
had correspondence with you in connection with a grant to
a Public Library for the village of Moorreesburg, and she
has asked me to write a word to you in support of her
request.

I may say that Miss. Koch is a most enthusiastic worker
for the Proposed Public Library. She has had to contend
with a number of difficulties which have, however, all been
successfully overcome, and I feel confident that any assistance
which you might be willing to give will have far-reaching
and beneficent results.

I trust that you will excuse this further demand made
on your well known generosity. 

Yours sincerely,
F. S. Malan
MINISTER OF EDUCATION.
Union of South Africa. 

 21 Augustus 1911 (Carnegie aan J.P. du Toit: Aansoek goedgekeur) 
August 21st, 1911.

Dear Sir, 

Yours of July 10th receivd. Mr. Carnegie will
be glad to supply £1500 to cover the cost of erecting a Free
Public Library Bilding for Moorreesburg and district, representing
a population of over 3,000, as you state, provided Moorreesburg
guarantees a contribution of £100 annually for the support of this
Library from taxation, of which, it is understood, £50 is to come
from the Government. A site must also be given for the bilding,
the cost ofwhich shall not be a charge against said revenue.

It is to be noted that the £1500 is to cover the cost of
the bilding complete and redy to occupy and the plan must be
such as Mr. Carnagie can approve, to obtain such approval pleas
send the plans as soon as you hav them ready.

The Library must be entirely free, [bonhas → both as] to reading in 
the bilding and borrowing books for home use.

Respectfully yours, 

P. Secretary

J. P. du Toit, Esq.,
Chairman, Library Committee, 
Moorreesburg, Cape Colony.

 19 September 1911 (Koch aan Carnegie: Dankbetuiging, twee planne word opgetrek) 
Moorreesburg
Cape Province
South Africa
Sept 19th, '11.

Andrew Carnegie Esq.
2 East 91st Street
New York.

Dear Sir,

I am directed by the
Chairman and members of the
Library Committee to acknowledge
the receipt of your letter of the
21st ultimo and to thank you 
most heartily for the very
generous help you are willing
to extend to us.
We feel that words are 
inadequate to convey to 
you our deep gratitude for 
such greathearted 

magnanimity. 
As mentioned in our
letter dated July 10th, we 
unfortunately have no
Books, nor the means of 
obtaining some beyond
the amount stated therein
with which to stock our
Library. 

We are therefore having
two plans prepared, one for
£1500 and the other for
£1200 for submission to you.

Should the latter meet
with your approval and
you allow us to appropriate
the balance of £300
for the purchase of Books

your kind generosity will
also enable us to over-
come this very great
difficulty viz: the furnishing
of the Library with the 
necessary books.

If however you risk the
whole amount of £1500
put into the Building, we
shall very gratefully
carry out your decision.

Assuring you again
of our deepest gratitude
for your great help in our
need

I am, 
dear Sir,
Yours very respectfully
M.D. Koch

Secretary Library Committee.

 21 September 1911 (Koch aan Carnegie: Persoonlike brief) 
Biesjesfontein,
Moorreesburg, 
Cape Province
South Africa,
Sept. 21st '11.

Dear Sir, 

I feel that individually
apart from my duty as Secretary
Library Committee - I must thank
you for the munificent monetary
help you are giving us for the
establishment of a Library at
Moorreesburg.

For the last six or seven years
with the help of a few of our
young people, we have given
concerts with a view of raising
funds for a Library. 
You will know [with]

with what results when I 
tell you that of the £73 now in
hand £25 were contributed 
towards that fund by a member
of Parliament for this district.

Removed from the centres of 
education, and deprived by
adverse circumstances of the
educational advantages for 
which I yearned, I have
experienced what it meant to
thirst for mental development, 
- for knowledge. 

Reading has greatly supplied
this need and reconciled me
to the isolation of my life, and 
through books I have been
enabled to come into contact 
with the souls of great men
and women which breathe
through them, and to see something

of this great world in a small
tower of which I live. The work
I'm set myself to do, is the outcome
of this experience.

Sir, I have tried to keep my
gaze fixed far ahead on my
ideal, the goal I've set myself
to reach; the intervening obsta-
cles have often discouraged
me when the contemplated Library
seemed to vanish like a beautiful
mirage, and now when for the
third time we've appealed to you
for help and you've come to our
assistance so magnanimously,
you stand out to me above every-
thing, as the man to whom I owe
the realization of that ideal. 

What is to me greater even
than your wealth, and before 
which my soul bows with

respectful esteem and admir-
ation, is the great and beautiful
soul of our Benefactor, who
spends that wealth in the raising
of humanity to a higher level,
by holding up to mankind and 
putting within their reach that
which would instil into their
minds what is good en pure
and make them aspire, in 
whatever walk of life their lots
be cast, to lofty principles. 
I have never before come
into contact with such
guaranteed generosity, the
benefiting of one's fellow creatures
on such a large scale, and
I thank God that to your keeping
He has entrusted the means
to confer such far-reaching
good on humankind [for]

for present and future gene-
rations. 
Should the good fortune
ever befal me to be able to
travel in foreign lands and
see the world otherwise than 
trough books, it will be one
of my greatest desires to see
you and express to you person-
ally the deep gratitude from
a full heart, which I wish
these lines to convey to you.

From your own life's exper-
iences you will know what it
means to meet with such
success as you have placed
in our way, after having
applied oneself perseveringly
to a task, and therefore [also]

also you will understand the
joy and gratitude I feel today,
and pardon me for the liberty
I am taking in writing to 
you so unreservedly.

God bless you Sir, and
may He never leave un-
answered your heart's
dearest wishes and earnest
prayers.

Yours very respectfully,
Maria D. Koch

Andrew Carnegie Esq.
2 East 91st Street,
New York.

 23 Oktober 1911 (Koch aan Carnegie: Twee voorgestelde planne gestuur) 
Moorreesburg,
Cape Province
South Africa
Oct. 23rd '11

Dear Sir,

We are forwarding for your
approval by today's mail two plans
for proposed Library Building, of £1,500
and £1,200 respectively, as mentioned 
in our letter dated Sept. 19th, together
with coloured perspective views
of buildings.

Sincerely hoping that you
will give our request embodied in
above letter your kind consideration,

I am, 
dear Sir,
yours faithfully
M. D. Koch.
Sec. Library Committee.

Andrew Carnegie Esq.
2 East 91st Street,
New York,
N Y.

 20 November 1911 (Probleme: plan moet oorgedoen word; dokumente kort) 
November 20, 1911

M. D. Koch, Esq.
Biesjesfontein,
Moorreesburg, Cape Province, South Africa.

Dear Sir, - 

Yours of September 21st receivd. You make trouble unnecessarily. Mr. 
Carnegie was very explicit in his letter. He is to pay for a Library Bilding,
not partly for Library Bilding and partly for books. The money must be spent
on erecting a Library bilding complete, redy for occupancy, within the £1500.
promist. Before you adopt a plan, we must hav your assurance that the plans
presented wil fulfill the above requirements.

As to the plans sent, it [came] to us that it would be best to hav the inte-
rior just one large room with no partitions except such as may be formd of book
cases as convenience dictates. The books themselvs can be arranged partly
around the walls and partly in such book cases with will separate the interior
into alcoves for reference books, magazines, etc. It is taking up space and 
money unnecessarily in making all those permanent partitions shown in your
plans. 

There is nothing in your letter in the nature of a pledge by the municipal-
ity that the conditions attacht to Mr. Carnegie's gift will be carried out, as
anything about a site having been purchast and paid for and redy for the bilding.

Respectfully yours,

 20 Januarie 1912 (Stadsklerk aan Koch; skryf weer munisipale goedkeuringsbrief) 
The Municipality 
Moorreesburg
January 20 1912

The Secretary of the 
Library Committee
Moorreesburg.

Dear Madam,

I have the honour
to state that a Meeting of 
our Council held July 4, 1911, it
was resolved to guarantee a
yearly sum of £50 for the
upkeep of the Moorreesburg Public
Library. I may also state that
Government will donate an
equal sum as per Act 508 of 1904.
The Church has given free
of charge to your Comittee
portion of Erf № 89 measuring
100 by 100 ft. as a site for 
the Library.

I have the honour to be
dear Madam 
Your obedient servant

N. J. Basson
Town clerk

Moorreesburg
January 22, 1912

 22 Januarie 1912 (Koch aan Carnegie: brief met nuwe plan, en, nogmaals, die munisipale goedkeuringsbrief) 
Biesjesfontein
Moorreesburg
Cape Province
South Africa
January 22nd, 1912

Andrew Carnegie Esq.
2 East 91st Street
New York, U.S.A.

Dear Sir.

Your favour of the 20th
November 1911 received for which I thank you.
We extremely regret causing trouble and we
note that the money so kindly donated by you 
is to be spent entirely on building and furniture
in portion to be spent on books.

Your suggestions as to the building
interior have been placed before my
Committee who have had a modified plan
prepared which we trust will meet with your
approval.

I sent you on July 10th last the
guarantee of our Municipality but enclose
herewith a letter from them ensuring that
the conditions attached to your gift will
be strictly carried out.

A free site in the centre of our town has
already been given by the Church Authorities
and is now ready for the Building.

With renewed assurances of our gratitude
I am 
Dear Sir
Yours respectfully

M. D. Koch

 20 Februarie 1912 (Carnegie aan Koch: Neem kontak op met Home Trust Co. vir uitkering) 
February 20, 1912

M. D. Koch, Esq. 
Biesjesfontein
, Moorreesburg, Cape Colony, S. Africa.

Dear Sir, 
Yours of January 22d receivd with plans, which are approved on the understand-
ing that the bilding is to be erected complete and redy to occupy within the £500
promist. Pleas communicate with Mr. R.A. Franks, Home Trust Co., Hoboken,
New Jersey, U.S.A. 

 5 Maart 1912 (Home Trust Co. belas om geld uit te keer) 
March 5th, 1912.

Dear Mr. Franks,

Please honor the calls of the proper authorities
of Moorreesburg, Cape Colony, South Africa, for sums as needed to
pay for the erection of Library Bilding, as work progresses, to [the]
extent of Fifteen Hundred Pounds Stg. 

 5 Maart 1912 (Bekragtiging van gelduitkering) 
LIBRARY

Town................... Moorreesburg   C. Colony
Population............. [circ?] 3000
Correspondent.......... J.P. Du Toit
Date of Application.... 19 April 1907
Amount................. £1500  £100
Promised............... Aug/ 19/11
Drafts Authorised...... MAR-5 1912

 24 Julie 1913  (Koch aan Carnegie: dankbetuiging, biblioteekopening 20 Junie 1913, vra om foto) 
Moorreesburg
Cape Province
July 24th, '13

Andrew Carnegie Esq. 
New York

Dear Sir 

I am directed
by my Commitee to
inform you that the Carnegie
Public Library of this
town was officially
opened on June 20th by
the Hon. F.S. Malan, 
Minister of Education for
the Union of South Africa.
A public Luncheon was
organised by the Library

Committee for the occasion,
at which our distinguished
visitors and leading local
and district ladies and
gentlemen were present.

The whole function passed
off brilliantly and marked
a redletter day in the
history of Moorreesburg.

I have also been
directed by my Committee
to request you to grant 
us your further indulgence
by presenting us with
your photograph, which
we are very eager to hang
up in the Library.

We respectfully claim

beg to claim the privilege
of associating you in 
our minds with the greatest
friend and benefactor of
this town and district,
and therefore sincerely
hope you will not think
it presumptuous on our
part to make this request
of you, which we trust
you will consider favourably.

I am
dear Sir,
Your obedient servant,

Maria D. Koch
Secr. Library Committee.