Page 28 - VHSA - Onderstepoort 100 Years - Part 3

OND
ERSTEPOORT 100
The stock did not change much during this period with regard to subjects covered. With the decline in Swiss-German influence following Theiler’s retirement in 1927, Eng- lish books started to dominate, with new research mainly emanating from the United States as well as Britain and the anglo-phone Dominions. The Common- wealth Agricultural Bureaux started pub- lishing journal indexes and abstract jour- nals such as the Veterinary Bulletin (1931) and Index Veterinarius (1933) and other more specialized ones during the 1930s.
A number of the first editions of some landmark books appeared in the 1930s. The appearance of the first edition of Animal Diseases in South Africa, in two volumes, by M. W. Henning (CNA, 1932) is such a landmark. This book was written to collate the, by then, extensive amount of knowledge generated in laboratories such as Onderstepoort and in the field. It was also the first book aimed at veterinary students. Other first editions of books of local veterinary importance that appeared in the 1930s are:
Watt, John M. and Maria G. Breyer- Brandwijk. The Medicinal and Poisonous Plants of Southern and Eastern Africa. (Lon- don: Livingstone, 1932);
Steyn D.G. The Toxicology of Plants in South Africa together with a consideration
118 of poisonous foodstuffs and fungi. (South Africa: CNA, 1934).
Mönnig H.O. Veterinary Helminthology and Entomology: the Diseases of Domes- ticated Animals caused by Helminth and Arthropod parasites. (London: Bailliere, Tindall and Cox, 1934).
P.J. du Toit, the then Director, mentions a ‘Dr van Graan’ in correspondence (1935). It is known that doctoral qualifications for librarians in South Africa only became available much later. Van Graan was possibly a veterinarian, or other scientist, managing the library, with or without other duties. Mr Ben Fouche had a son who became a professor of Librarianship. According to Prof B. Fouche, his father started his career at Onderstepoort in 1929 as a library assistant. Prof Fouche has a letter addressed by his father to the director, applying for the post of librarian. Dr van Graan was said to be resigning. Although the letter does not confirm his appointment, it clearly happened because Mr Fouche stayed until approximately 1946. He held the certificate of the South African Library Association and is believed to be the first trained librarian of Onderstepoort.
The era of professionalization under the Department
of National Education (1958-1992)
The library at Onderstepoort was the responsibility of the Institute until 1958. During the course of 1958 a unit was
“A number of the first editions of some landmark books appeared in the 1930s. The appearance of the first edition of Animal Diseases in South Africa, in two volumes, by M.W. Henning (CNA, 1932) is such a landmark.”
View of the museum complex from the library balcony
PART 3
History of Individual Disciplines
1908-2008
Years