Jagger Library

The J.W. Jagger Library Building was constructed in the 1930s and originally served as the main library of the University of Cape Town. The building was named after one of the earliest benefactors and Chairperson of the University Council of UCT, John William Jagger, and came to serve as the main library of the University of Cape Town. As donations continued during the 1930s, the university library grew exponentially, with increasing demands for periodical literature by academic staff and students. By 1940, the University Library had a collection of 110 000 volumes and ten staff members. Provisions for more space were made in the Jagger Library, with seminar rooms for modern, classical, and African languages. In 1953, a Special Collections department opened inside the J.W. Jagger Library. Immelman was a well-known local historian and collected many special collections and rare books and even approached potential donors. A keen interest in Africana collections was a driving force for Immelman to acquire (most by donation) many African and Southern African materials of great value. cognising the worth of UCT's Africana collections, Harry Oppenheimer donated funding for an African Studies Library and a Centre for African Studies. Over the next 30 years, RFM Immelman became instrumental in the rapid expansion of the University Libraries into an internationally recognised Research Library with over half a million books.

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Title
Jagger Library
Previous Title
J.W. Jagger Library
Description
The J.W. Jagger Library Building was constructed in the 1930s and originally served as the main library of the University of Cape Town. The building was named after one of the earliest benefactors and Chairperson of the University Council of UCT, John William Jagger, and came to serve as the main library of the University of Cape Town.

As donations continued during the 1930s, the university library grew exponentially, with increasing demands for periodical literature by academic staff and students. By 1940, the University Library had a collection of 110 000 volumes and ten staff members. Provisions for more space were made in the Jagger Library, with seminar rooms for modern, classical, and African languages.

In 1953, a Special Collections department opened inside the J.W. Jagger Library. Immelman was a well-known local historian and collected many special collections and rare books and even approached potential donors.

A keen interest in Africana collections was a driving force for Immelman to acquire (most by donation) many African and Southern African materials of great value. cognising the worth of UCT's Africana collections, Harry Oppenheimer donated funding for an African Studies Library and a Centre for African Studies.

Over the next 30 years, RFM Immelman became instrumental in the rapid expansion of the University Libraries into an internationally recognised Research Library with over half a million books.
address
University Avenue South, Upper Campus, Rondebosch, Cape Town
containedInBuilding
foundingDate
1935
foundingLocation
University Avenue South, Upper Campus, Rondebosch, Cape Town
memberOf
parentOrganization
University of Cape Town

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Interior of J.W. Jagger Library, 1956 Image
Interior of J.W. Jagger Library, 1963 Image
Anne Hodge and RH Benjamin at Short Loans, Jagger Library Image
Dutch Book donation from the Netherlands Government, received by RFM Immelman (University Librarian), 5 June 1959 Image
Dutch Book donation from the Netherlands Government, received by RFM Immelman (University Librarian), 5 June 1959 Image
Librarians, ES Roberts and Ruth Kingma, September 1965 Image
Jagger Library, 1949 Image
Librarian at Subject Catalogue drawers, Jagger Library Image
View of Jagger Library entrance on University Avenue Image
Information Desk in Jagger Library Level 5 Image
Students outside Jagger Library Image
Librarian, Gretchen Smith at the subject catalogue drawers inside Jagger Library Image
Jagger Library during the Royal Visit of 1947 Image
Students studying in Short Loan section of Jagger Library Image
Northern side of Jagger Library with Jammie steps Image
Jagger Reading Room inside Jagger Library Image
Jagger Reading Room during the Royal Visit of 1947 Image
Kipling Room inside Special Collections Image
Students seated at study table inside Jagger Library in the 1960s Image
Jagger annex being constructed. View from behind the Library, 1964 Image
Immelman Building, 1984. Showing the Science and Engineering section of Jagger Library Image
Librarian, Tanya Barben exhibiting some of her holdings in Special Collections, J. W Jagger Library 1996. Image
At the Kipling Collection presentation in Jagger Library Image
UCT Registrar Hugh Amoore signs the contract to purchase the R4 million Library Computer System Image