J.W. Jagger Building

Named after John William Jagger (1859-1930), former Minister of Railways, a leading businessman in Cape Town, and a generous benefactor to the UCT main library. Born in 1859, he immigrated to South Africa in 1883 where he began an imports business that was later expanded with the discovery of gold. Jagger eventually began building his own factories, to manufacture goods within South Africa. This allowed him to pursue his interest in promoting and funding various educational initiatives. He gave £57 000 to the university during his lifetime. He also formed a trust in his will from which a further £107 500 was left to the university. He was for many years chairman of UCT’s finance committee. In terms of his will, the J.W. Jagger Scholarships were founded in 1928 for both undergraduate and postgraduate students. Noted for his interest in education, Jagger sat on the Cape School Board for several years, donated money to schools for books and later made grants to UCT and sat on various university boards. Having been awarded an honorary degree of LL.D from UCT, he declined the title, preferring to remain simply “Mr Jagger”. Source: Origins of Names of Buildings at the University of Cape Town, Mr M. Musemwa (Department of History UCT, 1993). Baxter, W. 1958. The bulletin: the magazine for profitable retailing. Archivalplatform.org

About this item

Building Name
J.W. Jagger Building
Alternative Title
Chanceller Opp Lib
Description
Named after John William Jagger (1859-1930), former Minister of Railways, a leading businessman in
Cape Town, and a generous benefactor to the UCT main library. Born in 1859, he immigrated to South Africa in 1883 where he began an imports business that was later expanded with the discovery of gold. Jagger eventually began building his own factories, to manufacture goods within South Africa. This allowed him to pursue his interest in promoting and funding various educational initiatives. He gave £57 000 to the university during his lifetime. He also formed a trust in his will from which a further £107 500 was left to the university. He was for many years chairman of UCT’s finance committee. In terms of his will, the J.W. Jagger Scholarships were founded in 1928 for both undergraduate and postgraduate students. Noted for his interest in education, Jagger sat on the Cape School Board for several years, donated money to schools for books and later made grants to UCT and sat on various university boards. Having been awarded an honorary degree of LL.D from UCT, he declined the title, preferring to remain simply “Mr Jagger”. Source: Origins of Names of Buildings at the University of Cape Town, Mr M. Musemwa (Department of History UCT, 1993). Baxter, W. 1958. The bulletin: the magazine for
profitable retailing. Archivalplatform.org
Address
36 Library Road,Upper Campus, Rondebosch
Campus
Upper
Latitude
-33.958038
Longitude
18.460583
Building Number
110
Building Code
1100
status
Owned

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UCT Buildings
UCT Buildings with Artworks

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contentLocation
Title Alternate label Class
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
Margaret Richards and Dr Stuart Saunders at the unbanning of books Image
Students seated at study table inside Jagger Library in the 1960s Image
Jagger annex being constructed. View from behind the Library, 1964 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
Jagger Library Enquiries Desk, 1969 Image
containedInPlace
Title Alternate label Class
School of Librarianship opens Event
Special Collections Department established Event
J.W. Jagger Building constructed containedInBuilding Event
RFM Immelman appointed as University Librarian Event
Jagger Reading Room destroyed by fire Event
Basement found flooded, some material survived Event
Salvage process begins Event
Army of volunteers form a human chain Event
Rescued materials lay in ten sites across campus Event
Clearing the rubble from the Jagger Library site Event
location
Title Alternate label Class
Jagger Library Memorial Event
Roof trusses removed from the remains of Jagger Library Event