Papers of Graham and Olive Peet

Single Item

MS. 12514

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In 1988 Graham Peet and his mother, Olive, were approached to assist the dependants of political prisoners and detainees in South Africa and Namibia. Unknown to them at the time, the approach was from the International Defence and Aid Fund for Southern Africa (IDAF) which had been banned in South Africa since 1966. They were asked to write to certain families or individuals every few months, sending money by postal order. They wrote, using the pen names Robert Wilson and Elizabeth Wilson, until April 1991 when, with the lifting of restictions in South Africa, IDAF wound down its operations and the South African Council of Churches took on its work.

The papers include:

letters from IDAF to Robert Wilson with details of money to be sent and recipients, carbon copies of Robert Wilson's letters to recipients and some replies, press cuttings and background information aboout IDAF, 1988-1998
letters from IDAF to Elizabeth Wilson with details of money to be sent and recipients, with copies of some letters received, 1988-1991

Dates

Creation: Creation: Majority of material found within Bulk, 1988-1991
Creation: Creation: 1988-1998

Extent

1 box

Language of Materials

English

Preferred Citation

Oxford, Bodleian Libraries [followed by shelfmark and folio or page reference, e.g. MS. 12514].

Please see our help page for further guidance on citing archives and manuscripts.

Shelfmark:

MS. 12514

Collection ID (for staff)

CMD ID 12514

Additional Description

Abstract

Papers of Graham and Olive Peet.

Biographical / Historical

Olive Peet was born in Bath in 1925. She trained as a bacteriologist at Edinburgh University, married Stephen Peet and went to Southern Africa in 1948 where he had been offered a job as an officer in the Central African Film Unit. She there raised her four children, John, Graham, Susan and Michael.

On returning to the UK in 1956 Olive Peet became a teacher in North London. She maintained contact with friends in Southern Africa and was asked by one to undertake the work for the International Defence and Aid Fund for Southern Africa. She died in Northampton in 2016.

Graham Peet was born in Southern Rhodesia in 1951, returning to the UK with his family in 1956. He trained as a designer at Hornsey School of Art.