Call for nomination to serve on the McGregor Museum Board
The McGregor Museum was established on 24 September 1907 when the original museum building in Chapel Street was donated to the people of Kimberley by Mrs Margaret McGregor, in memory of her late husband, Alexander McGregor, a diamond pioneer and mayor of Kimberley. This attractive brick building with its elaborate facade was designed by F. Carstairs Rogers. Miss Maria Wilman was appointed as the first curator of the museum in 1908. During the nearly forty years that she was in charge of the museum, she developed it into one of the most important in South Africa.
By the late 1960s the increasing size of the museum collections resulted in a serious shortage of space. Plans for a new museum building were already completed when the historical Sanatorium building in Atlas Street became available for such a purpose, and the museum staff and collections moved to these new premises.
The Kimberley Sanatorium, was built at the instigation of C. J. Rhodes. It was designed by D.W. Greatbatch, built by Church and McLauchlin, and completed in 1897. During the Siege of Kimberley Rhodes occupied a suite of rooms and it is believed he received General French and Major Haig in the drawing room when they brought news of the Relief. In 1908 the name was changed to the more appropriate Hotel Belgrave. By 1933 the hotel had ceased to operate, and the building was leased to the Sisters of the Holy Family and became the Kimberley Convent School for more than 30 years. After the school closed down, the entire complex was donated to the Museum Board of Trustees, and the new McGregor Museum opened on 22 November 1976.
Today the Alexander McGregor Memorial Museum is a Kimberley history museum, emphasising the ‘Kimberley Firsts’. The development of the city is also covered, including ‘Forgotten Suburbs’ such as the historic Malay Camp (a site of forced removal), historic buildings, monuments and much more. Exhibitions in the McGregor Museum in Atlas Street focus on the Northern Cape environment, archaeology and history, including the Ancestors Gallery which depicts human history from 3 million years ago, as well as displays on the Siege of Kimberley, the history of the Kimberley Regiment and World War One. Of special interest is the Journey to Democracy which provides an overview of the history of the liberation struggle in our Province, featuring the personalities involved and a timeline from colonial times to the first democratic elections held on 27 April 1994.
Expanding in scope and function beyond the dreams of its founders, the McGregor Museum is today the principal museum in the Northern Cape Province, with nine satellites, including (apart from the two already mentioned) the Duggan-Cronin Gallery, Dunluce House, Rudd House, the Magersfontein Battlefield, the memorial to the Pioneers of Aviation, the Wildebeest Kuil Rock Art Centre and Wonderwerk Cave. Wonderwerk Cave has the oldest evidence on earth of the use of a cave by human ancestors and the world’s oldest evidence of habitual us of fire by human ancestors at 1 million years ago.
The McGregor Museum’s mandate is not only to conserve and preserve the cultural and natural heritage of the Northern Cape but also to make our knowledge and collections accessible to as many peoples’ as possible in the Northern Cape and South Africa so that their lives can be enriched and they can benefit from our rich heritage.
The McGregor Museum receives the bulk of its funding from its parent department, Sport, Arts and Culture. As a listed Provincial Public Entity, the Museum is managed by a Board that is appointed by the MEC of Sport, Arts and Culture.
The newly appointed board will be responsible to drive the strategic direction of the McGregor Museum Provincial Public entity in the Northern Cape Province. Appointed members serve for a period of five (5) years and are required to:
- raise funds or cause funds to be raised or accept any donation or bequest of any moneys or of any movable or immovable property made to it or its museum;
- receive, hold, conserve, restore and study all movable and immovable property acquired by it or in its possession for the purposes of the museum;
- exhibit or display for the benefit of the public such specimens, other objects or collections as it may consider suitable for the purpose;
- maintain an accession register;
- decide upon a theme, approved by the Department, for its museum and to conduct and manage the museum with a view to the development of such theme.
In order to be nominated to serve on the board of directors , all nominations must be in writing with the following information:
- Full name , address and contact details of the nominating person or organisation
- Brief letter of motivation (of nomination ) not more than one page
- Full names , ID number and address and contact details of the nominee.
- Signed letter of acceptance by the nominee
- A resume or CV of the nominee with certified copies of qualifications.
All written nominations must be submitted to
Mr. Eric Gaborone
Head : Office of the MEC
The Department of Sport , Arts and Culture
Brian Hermanus House
01 Albertyn Street
New Park
Or
Private Bag x 6091
Kimberley
8300
Tel: 053 8314152
Fax – 053 – 8331454
No later than 19 March 2018
For further enquiries please contact the CEO of the Mcgregor Museum:
Ms Sunette Swanepoel
Tel: 053 839 2735
