BC1559. SPILHAUS FAMILY PAPERS (Karl and Nellie)

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1 BC1559 SPILHAUS FAMILY PAPERS (Karl and Nellie) Presented to THE UNIVERSITY OF CAPE TOWN LIBRARIES By PETER ELLIOTT AND KAY COETZEE (NEE BARRY)

2 CONTENTS INTRODUCTION Biographical Note Scope note A B C MISCELLANEOUS PAPERS, CUTTINGS AND PHOTOGRAPHS BOOKS AND BOOKLETS AND ARTICLES ON SPILHAUS FAMILY SPILHAUS FAMILY PHOTOS ON DISC

3 BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE Karl Antonio Spilhaus (known as Carlos ) was born in Lisbon, Portugal, in December 1876 but was brought up by is grandparents in Lübeck, Germany. He came out to the Cape, South Africa in 1896 to join his uncle in the Cape Town business already established as Wm Spilhaus & Co. In November 1903 he married in Cape Town Nellie Brown Muir. Nellie, who was born in Lanarkshire, Scotland, in She was the daughter of the Superintendent General of Education in the Cape, Dr Thomas Muir (knighted in 1915, so becoming Sir Thomas Muir). Carlos Spilhaus was a prominent Cape Town businessman. Early in his career he was South Africa s Commissioner of Commerce in Europe, and the family spent the period 1922 to 1925 based in the Netherlands. On his return, his business skills were enlisted by Sir David Graaff and Carlos became involved in the business of Imperial Cold Storage in 1925, becoming its Managing Director from 1927 to Thereafter he devoted his business attention to the stevedoring company in Cape Town, Poppe, Schunhoff & Guttery, which he owned jointly with the Weinlig family.the business had offices in Dock Road, Cape Town and was the foremost stevedore in Table Bay. Nellie Spilhaus pursued her own parallel career. She was on the Cape School Board during the period 1925 to 1944, an active member of the National Council of Women, and was treasurer of the Settlers Club for over 20 years. Nellie was the first woman member of the Cape Provincial Council on which she concentrated on her interests in education, hospitals and poor relief. She was also a member of the Council of the University of Cape Town from 1927 until her retirement in 1954, when she was awarded an honorary LLD by the university in June 1955, principally recognising her lifetime services in defending and progressing the rights of women in South Africa. She was South African President of the National Council of Women from 1944 to The children of Carlos and Nellie Spilhaus were Karl William, Thomas Muir, Margaret Virginia (married name Barry ), Mary Antonio (married name Elliott ) and Athelstan Friedrich. Peter Elliott, a grandson of Karl and Nellie Spilhaus, is publishing privately in November a booklet entitled The Spilhaus Family, Their Origins in Germany and how they came to the Cape, South Africa, Five hundred years of history ( ). A limited print run of this booklet, illustrated with photos, will be produced for a Spilhaus Family Reunion at the old Spilhaus family residence, Hohenort, Constantia, in November 2015, and a copy of the printed booklet will be deposited in the UCT Library, when it is available.

4 SCOPE NOTE The Spilhaus Family Papers contain the papers of Karl Antonio Spilhaus and Nellie Brown Spilhaus, and other members of the family. Papers included personal documents, and genealogical information. There are included a number of family photographs. Karl Antonio Spilhaus was a nephew of Arnold Wilhelm Spilhaus and there is an archive of materials in the National Archives of South Africa (NASA) relating to the family history and genealogy (these papers were deposited by Mrs MW Spilhaus NASA ref. KAB A619, and principally relate to the period 1873 to 1972). The University of Cape Town Libraries also have an archive of papers relating to the Crawford Family, BC These relate to Lawrence and Annie Crawford. Annie Crawford nee Spilhaus was a daughter of Arnold Wilhelm Spilhaus, and a first cousin of Karl Antonio Spilhaus.

5 BC A A1 SPILHAUS FAMILY PAPERS PERSONAL PAPERS CARLOS SPILHAUS A1.1 Miscellaneous papers relating to the family history Includes: A1.1.1 Copy of old manuscript document signed by Johann Lukas Spielhausen in 1641 (He was the ancestor who acquired the historic family home in Tiefenort. The document is in German/Latin, with no translation, so it is not known to what it relates). On the back it is certified [dated 1319] as a true copy of Accession no 1319, housed in the Archives Depot Cape, so it appears that the original is in the Cape Archives. ) A Copy manuscript of the Spilhaus Family Tree, the original of which is in the Lübeck City Archives, relating to the period then family were resident in that city ( ) an electronic copy together with a transcription is on the CDRom (A1.1.3) A Copy of a family tree of descendants of Karl Spilhaus (1847 to 1878), the father of Carlos Spilhaus (this was probably drawn up by E.G.H. Barry, the husband of Peggie, Carlos s elder daughter, and it has not been checked for accuracy) A Copy of a manuscript document headed Establishment of new Spielhausen Family with 6 of Hearts Coat of Arms and Legend, drawn up by EGH Barry (date illegible) A Copy of a typed document headed Descent of Spilhaus Family, listing the twelve Spilhaus generations. [Note: This may be a working document relating to the research done to finalise the Spilhaus genealogy in the Reminiscences and Family Record, Arnold Wilhelm Spilhaus (edited by M Whiting Spilhaus), work done in 1935 A1.1.3 Copy of extract from the marriage register documenting the marriage of Carlos grandfather Christian Ludwig Karl Spilhaus with Henriette A1.1.4 CD Rom including four files from the Lübeck City Archives: Manuscript Spilhaus Family Tree; the wills of Carlos grandparents CLK Spilhaus and Mary Spilhaus nee Brownfield (1906 and 1913 respectively); and a letter written by Nita Spilhaus, Carlos painter sister, to the Lubeck Society in 1897, requesting a grant for art studies: all originals held in the Lübeck City Archives Also a file of materials relating to the Spilhaus Coat of Arms, including material from the file of the SA Bureau of Heraldry, and extracts from Siebmachers, the German language book on Heraldry, relating to the Coat of Arms. A Marriage certificate 19 November KA Spilhaus and NB Muir A October Certificate of Naturalisation KA Spilhaus A1.2 Photographs A The grandparents of Carlos Spilhaus (who brought him up in Lubeck after he was orphaned in 1878), Christian Ludwig Karl Spilhaus( ) and his wife Henriette A Large portrait of Christian Ludwig Karl Spilhaus A Carlos mother, Virginia Spilhaus, nee Coelho, who died in 1878 A Carlos mother, Virginia Spilhaus (two mounted prints) A1.2.3 Portrait of Carlos father, Karl, in Lubeck in 1869 A1.2.4 Portrait of Carlos father, Karl, in Lisbon A1.2.5 Portrait of Carlos mother, Virginia Spilhaus, with her elder daughter Virginia, in Lisbon, 1875 A1.2.6 Portrait of Carlos parents, Karl and Virginia Spilhaus, with their baby daughter Virginia in Lisbon in Both the parents died in Lisbon, Portugal in 1878

6 A1.2.7 Portrait of Carlos and his sisters, Nita and Virginia, pictured with their Aunt Paula (Pauline) Waack (nee Spilhaus) born 1853 A1.2.8 Portrait of Carlos and his sisters, Nita and Virginia, pictured (probably) with their grandfather s housekeeper Mary Brownfield (whom he married in 1887) in about 1884 [Note: Peter Elliott the author of the history incorrectly identified the adult as their Aunt Paula, as the photo was taken in Hanover (where Paula lived). However, based on other photos it is believed this is Mary Brownfield] A1.2.9 Passport photograph of Carlos Spilhaus as a young man in Lubeck A Large portrait of Carlos Spilhaus A1,2,10,2 Large portrait of Carlos Spilhaus A Carlos Spilhaus pictured with the bride at the wedding of his daughter, Mollie, to Archie Elliott in July A Portrait of Carlos Spilhaus as a middle aged man, seated (1946) A Portrait of Carlos Spilhaus as a middle aged man, seated A Carlos Spilhaus looking at the bronze bust done of him by the sculptor, Fritz Behn, at an exhibition of the latter s work at the Old Supreme Court Cape Town, September 1960 A the sculptor and artist Fritz Behn with Albert Schweitzer in Munich A Carlos Spilhaus pictured with Josie Spilhaus on left (widow of Fritz Spilhaus) and Mrs Jhonnie Carl Davis (later Mrs DM Windham) in January 1962 A Carlos Spilhaus (centre) pictured with Josie Spilhaus on right (widow of Fritz Spilhaus) and Mrs Jhonnie Carl Davis (later Mrs DM Windham), on left, in January 1962 A Carlos Spilhaus (on left) on board M.V. Transvaal October 1962 A Carlos Spilhaus (centre) on board M.V. Transvaal October 1962 A At the 60 th Wedding anniversary of Carlos and Nellie Spilhaus in Left to right: Duchie Crawford, Lutie Spilhaus, Carrie Spilhaus, Carlos and Nellie Spilhaus, Etta Hazell, Nellie s sister Cameron Cornish-Bowden, and Mrs Cooper A Also at their 60 th Wedding Anniversary in 1963, Carlos and Nellie Spilhaus with their children (2 copies) Left to right: Athel, Mollie, Karl (behind), Nellie, Carlos, Peggie and Muir A Carlos Spilhaus with Sir Richard and Lady Luyt at their garden party (3 prints) A1.3 A2 NELLIE BROWN SPILHAUS (NEE MUIR) ( ) A2.1 Press Cuttings: A2.1.1 Cuttings including those relating to: - her candidature for the Cape Provincial Council and her election as the representative for Rondebosch in the 1930 s - her work on the National Council of Women in the 1930 s and 40 s; -- the Award ceremony for Nellie s honorary LLD at UCT in June the time of Nellie s 80 th birthday in July 1958: Particularly July article in Cape Argus of Nellie Spilhaus and another article entitled Honour to a Veteran - Obituaries: Cape Times dated December Star dated December Tributes following Nellie s death, in including a personal tribute by Marie Grant, that appeared in NCW News, February 1973 Cuttings have been ordered per decade as follows: -A s and 1930 s - A s -A s -A s and 1970 s

7 A2.2 A2.3 A2.4 A2.5 A2.3 A2.2.1 Nellie s Minority Report in 1938 opposing legislation against mixed marriage (although some of her statements do not read well 80 years on, her stand was a bold one) A2.3.1 United Nations certificate recognising Nellie s work for children, 1948; and A2.3.2 Message from Queen Elizabeth II to Nellie recognising her services to children during the war 7 page manuscript note written in about 1948 by Nellie Spilhaus to her daughter Peggie Barry, a personal biography A2.5.1 Invitation card to the Honorary Degree ceremony of 24 June 1955 at which Nellie Spilhaus was awarded an honorary LLD by UCT (the same ceremony at which Albert Schweitzer received an honorary degree in absentia) A2.5.2 Citation for honorary LLD 1955 A2.5.3 NCW News July 1955, article on Nellie Spilhaus A2.5.4 Honorary LLD certificate UCT June 1955 A2.5.5 Biography Section completed by Nellie for the Cape Times Editorial Library 25 November 1954 Photographs A2.3.1 Nellie s two daughters, Peggie and Mollie, pictured at the time the family had to live on a remote farm in the Queenstown district of the Eastern Cape (this was during the first world war, and Carlos was a German national, and so was confined to this district) A2.3.2 The Four Generations) Nellie Spilhaus (front right, with granddaughter Toni on her lap) pictured with her elder daughter, Peggie, seated on left (with Margaret- Poelie - on her lap), her father, Sir Thomas Muir (centre), and her two brothers, Karl and Muir behind (Muir holding David) [2 copies] A , Nellie Spilhaus A Nellie Spilhaus c 1934 (at the time she stood for election as the first woman Provincial Councillor) A Nellie Spilhaus, May 1940 (photo taken by the Star) A Large Portrait Nellie Spilhaus in the 1940 s A2.3.5 Carlos and Nellie Spilhaus pictured with their children and their spouses at the time of the visit to South Africa of their son, Athel Spilhaus, in A2.3.6 Carlos and Nellie Spilhaus pictured with their children and their spouses at the time of the visit back to South Africa of their son, Athel Spilhaus, in A2.3.7 Nellie Spilhaus, attending an opening at Muir College, Uitenhage, Cape (named after her father) A2.3.8 Nellie Spilhaus aged 92 pictured in her LLD gown alongside her grandson, Peter Elliott, at the UCT degree ceremony in 1970 A2.4 Social and Economic Planning Council photographs: A2.4.1 Social and Economic Planning Council 9 June 1942, photo signed by each member of the Council, including Nellie Spilhaus A2.4.2 Social and Economic Planning Council, Cape Town 9 February 1950, photo signed by each member of the Council, including Nellie Spilhaus A2.5 A3 A2.5.1 February 1977 valedictory address at the funeral of Nellie s sister, Cameron Cornish-Bowden PAULINE ( NITA ) SPILHAUS ( ) and her sister VIRGINIA WIESNER (NEE SPILHAUS) ( )

8 A3.1 A3,1.1.1 Draft of the Recollections of Nita Spilhaus, written in October 1963, corrected in her hand (probably by Nita s journalist friend, Edith Woods) and signed by Nita Spilhaus A3,1.1.2 Near Final draft of the Recollections of Nita Spilhaus A3,1.2 The final clean version of the Recollections of Nita Spilhaus that belonged to Mrs Mimmie Smith of Stellenbosch A3.1.3 In Memoriam address for Nita Spilhaus on 14 th September 1967 (probably written and delivered by her friend Magda Sauer) A3.2 Photographs A3.2.1 Portrait of Nita Spilhaus as a teenage girl in Lubeck A3.2.2 Portrait of Nita Spilhaus as a teenage girl in Lubeck (in a checked dress and high collar) A3.2.3 Portrait of Virginia Spilhaus as a teenage girl in Lubeck A Nita Spilhaus, Lubeck, 1895 A3.2.5 Nita Spilhaus aged 18, in Lubeck, in December 1896 A Nita Spilhaus, newly arrived in the Cape, probably taken in 1908 A3.2.7 Nita as a young woman, seated next to a small table A3.2.8 Nita, far right, with her uncle, A.W. Spilhaus, on the verandha at Hohenort A3.2.7 Nita s husband, Dr Ernst Simon, a prominent Cape Town Osteologist A4 MARGARET VIRGINIA BARRY nee SPILHAUS (eldest daughter of Carlos and Nellie Spilhaus) A4.1 Spilhaus Family scrapbook spanning the years 1926 to 1956, including: Cuttings regarding her grandfather, Sir Thomas Muir; Cuttings regarding her scientist uncle Athelstan Spilhaus; Cuttings regarding her mother Nellie Spilhaus, including the campaign for election as independent candidate for Rondebosch on the Cape Provincial Council, her membership of the Social Economic Planning Council, her presidency of the South African National Council of Women, and her honorary LLD awarded by UCT in 1955;;Cuttings concerning her husband s grandfather Mr Hamilton Barry of Robertson, Cape; A5 Miscellaneous materials relating to Arnold Wilhelm Spilhaus, 1845 to 1946, the uncle of Carlos Spilhaus, and his family (who lived at Hohenort from 1907 to 1946) A5.1 A5.1.1 Booklet written by AW Spilhaus to commemorate his one hundredth birthday, 1 st December 1945

9 A5.1.2 Booklet published by Wm Spilhaus & Co to celebrate the centenary of their founder, Arnold Wilhelm Spilhaus A5.1.3 Three of the publications of Arnold Wilhelm Spilhaus: A Over the Coffee and a Cigar, June 1938 A Random Thoughts, January 1944 A Final Thoughts, May 1944 A5.2 Photographs A Group Photograph. From its German inscription on the back it would appear it was taken at Hohenort, perhaps a fancy dress party as all the men are in Naveal uniform. The photo includes Lutie Spilhaus, holding white gloves on left, and Nita Spilhaus immediately to his right (in the second row of ladies). Lydia Spilhaus, the wife of AW Spilhaus, is in the same row of ladies, second from right. A5.2.2 Arnold Wilhelm and Lydia Spilhaus on the steps at Hohenort, May 1919 A5.2.3 Arnold Wilhelm Spilhaus, with his dog, at Hohenort, June 1933 (photo taken by Mr Henry Becker) A Two views of the house at Hohenort in about 1937 A Two views of Hohenort Farm, in about 1937 A5.2.5 Arnold Wilhelm Spilhaus, aged 92 (photo taken by Marjorie Muller in 1937) A5.2.6,1 Family party at Christmas, Hohenort, 1937 A5.2.6,1 Key to the people in family party at Christmas, Hohenort, 1937 A5.2.7 Arnold Wilhelm Spilhaus, on the occasion of his 100 th Birthday Celebration on 1/12/195, greeting his old friend Dr. Bernie Hewat (who gave the speech at the celebration) B. Books, booklets and articles B1. 1 Original of Arnold Wilhelm Spilhaus, Reminiscences and Family Records, edited by Mary Whiting Spilhaus, Standard Press B2. Copy of Memoirs of Karl Spilhaus, published by the author, May 1960 B3. Copy of the Story of Poppe, Schunhoff & Guttery, compiled by Eric Rosenthal, 1956, Galvin & Sales, Cape Town (this was the business owned by Carlos Spilhaus) B4. Article about Athelstan Spilhaus, the scientist son of Karl and Nellie Spilhaus: A technologist s technologist by Jane Stein NOTE: a copy of the following book will be deposited with UCT Library in November 2015: Spilhaus, Five Hundred Years of History by Peter Elliott. Published by the author in Cape Town, November 2015 C Spilhaus Family Photos on Disc (as listed in Annex C)

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