Today, Google is launching 42 online historical exhibitions telling the stories behind some of the major events of the past century. Among the stories told are a number of exhibitions featuring archive material about apartheid, including never-before-seen items about some of the most iconic heroes of the struggle.
The exhibitions have been put together by 17 of our partners, who have drawn on their archives of letters, manuscripts, first-hand video testimonial and much more. Some of the material is very moving and some exhibitions feature items that have never been released into the public domain before.
The apartheid stories have been put together by three of our partners in South Africa. Some of the exhibitions you can explore include:
- Steve Biko: On the 35th anniversary of Steve Biko’s death, this series of exhibitions tell the story of a 15-year-old’s political awakening in the midst of the apartheid movement. Featuring nine online documents never released in the public domain, including his 1973 banning order and his Black People’s Convention membership card.
- Nelson Mandela: An update of the current archives, featuring new videos and images covering his early life, his prison years and negotiating for democracy.
- Apartheid events: Sharpeville massacre, Soweto riots, 1913 Land Act, heads of government, women’s anti-pass march, 1994 elections, the Treason Trial and a collection of Apartheid signs.
Other exhibitions include:
- Jan Karski, Humanity’s hero: First-hand video testimony from the man who convinced the Allies about the existence of the Holocaust
- Tragic love at Auschwitz: The story of Edek and Mala, a couple in love who escape Auschwitz
- Years of the Dolce Vita: This collection looks at the era of the "good life" in Italy, including the fashion, food, cars and culture
- D-Day: Details of the famous landings including colour photographs, personal letters and the D-Day order itself from Admiral Ramsay
- The Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II: An account of the 1953 Coronation, including colour photos.
As with the other archives that Google has helped bring onto the internet, including the Nelson Mandela Digital Archive earlier this year, people can zoom in to see photos in great detail and search through pages and pages of content to find what they’re looking for. This launch coincides with the 35th anniversary of Steve Biko’s death this year.
Obenewa Amponsah, Director of Fundraising and Partnerships at the Steve Biko Foundation, said: "The Steve Biko Foundation is pleased to partner with Google on this initiative. We decided to participate because bringing this material online through the Cultural Institute provides a great opportunity to make known not only the legacy of Steve Biko - but so many other historic figures and events - in a dynamic and accessible way."
Sello Hatang, Head of Communications and Outreach at the Nelson Mandela Centre of Memory, said: “The Nelson Mandela Centre of Memory is excited to launch the second phase of the Nelson Mandela Digital Archive as part of the Google Cultural Institute. We believe that both local and international audiences will have greater access to the life and times of Nelson Mandela.”
David Larsen, Managing Director of Africa Media Online, said: "It has been a pleasure to partner with Google to bring the rich collections represented by Africa Media Online to the general public, both within Africa and around the world. Over the years we have worked hard to digitise significant holdings of many South African museums, archives and private collections. We are impressed by the way in which the collections are showcased on the Google Cultural Institute online system and we are excited by the potential increase in web traffic to the collections we represent, which at the end of the day, contributes toward the sustaining of those collections."
These exhibitions are the latest chapter in the work of the Google Cultural Institute, following the Art Project and World Wonders. We are working closely with museums, foundations and other archives across South Africa and the world to make more cultural and historical material accessible online and by doing so, preserve it for future generations.
Google is inviting people to explore the many online exhibitions which will be an ever-growing platform to house the events that have made history.
For interview requests and other questions please contact:
Laurian Clemence (Google) - laurian@google.com
Dibuseng Kolisang (Steve Biko Foundation) - dibuseng@sbf.org.za
Sello Hatang (Nelson Mandela Centre of Memory) - SelloH@nelsonmandela.org
Rosanne Larsen (Africa Media Online) - rosanne@africamediaonline.com