Sports Boycott, 1979-1971

The South Africa-United States research files reflect the policies and actions that United States federal government, state governments, and lobbyist groups took to divest funds from South Africa.The files demonstrate the public's effort to persuade U.S. action to end apartheid in South Africa and strengthen United States policy toward southern Africa.  The files also highlight student anti-apartheid actions, the role of banks in funding apartheid, as well as the American Committee on Africa's Bank Campaign of divestment in South Africa. Church, corporate, and university divestment and disengagement, cultural and sports boycotts, as well as arms embargos and boycotts against Shell Oil are also a focus of the records.

Of note are files regarding the United States policy related to military and nuclear collaboration with South Africa and the a public campaign against the United States involvement in South Africa’s military buildup in the 1970s. Also of interest are the Image files, which contain examples of apartheid propaganda.

The bulk of the South Africa-United States research files range from 1968-1998.  The materials are arranged alphabetically by research topic or organization and contain news clippings, bulletins, newsletters, reports, testimony, flyers, brochures, lists of corporations, court decisions, conference proceedings and programs, pamphlets, legislation, action alerts, transcripts, speeches, interviews, statements, position papers, and publications. The files also include occasional correspondence.