University of Pretoria 50th Anniversary, Administration Building

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A 1980 Pretoria first day cover marking 50 years of the University of Pretoria, featuring a striking sketch of the Administration Building. This cover is postmarked on 09-10-1980 in Pretoria. It marks the 50th anniversary of the University of Pretoria, founded on 10 October 1930 when the Transvaal University College became a full autonomous institution. The info card notes the university traces its roots to 1904, when the Transvaal Technical Institute began offering evening classes in Pretoria.

Description of the Cachet

A black and white illustration of the University of Pretoria's Administration Building fills most of the cover, its sharp angular roofline set against an open sky. A gold, red and blue roundel in the top corner marks the number 50 above the years 1930 and 1980. The bilingual caption naming the building runs along the bottom, and a small diamond monogram sits beside it. The postmark repeats the university's coat of arms alongside its Latin motto.

Information Card

DIE UNIVERSITEIT VAN PRETORIA Die begin van hoër onderwys in Transvaal kan teruggevoer word tot 1904 toe die Transvaal Technical Institute, wat in Johannesburg gevestig was, opleiding in die tegnologie, mynwese en 'n aantal akademiese vakke aangebied het. Onder beskerming van dié inrigting is aandklasse in 'n aantal vakke ook in Pretoria aangebied. In 1906 is 'n naamsverandering in werking gestel en word die Institute die Transvaal University College. Met die instelling van verantwoordelike bestuur in Transvaal is die opleidingsportefeulje aan genl. J.C. Smuts in die kabinet en mynwese aan genl. Botha opgedra. Smuts reël dat opleiding in tegnologie en mynwese in Johannesburg sou voortgaan, maar dat opleiding in akademiese vakke voortaan in Pretoria sou plaasvind. Hierdie akademiese vakke het die kern gevorm van die latere fakulteite van Lettere en Wysbegeerte, Wis- en Natuurkunde, Handel en Regsgeleerdheid. Die reëling het op 10 Februarie 1908 in werking getree toe professore Reinink, Purves, Paterson en Malherbe onderwys begin gee het aan 32 studente in Pretoria by Skinnerstraat 270 in 'n woonhuis bekend as Kya Rosa. Die Transvaalse Universiteitskollege het nou uit twee gelykwaardige afdelings bestaan — een in Johannesburg en die ander in Pretoria. 'n Gemeenskaplike raad met gelyke verteenwoordiging vir die twee afdelings het om die beurt in Pretoria en Johannesburg vergader. Die tweeslagtigheid van die TUK het nie aan die verwagtings voldoen nie, met die gevolg dat die afdelings weldra geskei het. Die naam TUK is na Pretoria oorgeplaas en die inrigting in Johannesburg het as die SA School of Mines and Technology bekend gestaan. Later het die Universiteit van die Witwatersrand daaruit ontwikkel. Sedert 1910 het die TUK stadig maar seker uitgebrei. In 1929 was daar reeds sewe fakulteite — Lettere en Wysbegeerte, Wis- en Natuurkunde, Landbouwetenskappe, Regsgeleerdheid, Teologie, Ekonomiese en Staatswetenskappe, en Veeartsenykunde — en die studentetal het tot 918 aangegroei. Dit het geskied met die aanvaarding van die Private Wet op die Universiteit van Pretoria (Wet 13 van 1930), en daar is besluit dat 10 Oktober 1930 die stigtingsdag van die Universiteit van Pretoria sou wees. Die verhoogde status het vir die jong universiteit 'n tydperk van ongeëwenaarde groei ingelui. Sedertdien is die fakulteite Opvoedkunde, Geneeskunde, Landheelkunde en Ingenieurswese aan die Universiteit gevestig, en met 'n studentetal van nagenoeg 17 000, het dit tot die grootste residensiële universiteit in Suid-Afrika gegroei. THE UNIVERSITY OF PRETORIA The start of higher education in Transvaal can be taken back to 1904 to the Transvaal Technical Institute in Johannesburg, which offered training in technology, mining and a few academic subjects. Under the auspices of this Institute evening classes in a number of subjects were also offered in Pretoria. In 1906 the name was changed and the Institute became the Transvaal University College. With the institution of responsible government in the Transvaal, Gen. J.C. Smuts was entrusted with the education portfolio in the cabinet of Gen. Botha. Smuts arranged that training in technology and mining would continue in Johannesburg but that training in the academic subjects would in future take place in Pretoria. These academic subjects formed the nucleus of the later faculties of Arts, Science, Economics and Law. This arrangement took effect on 10 February 1908, when professors Reinink, Purves, Paterson and Malherbe started classes with 32 students at 270 Skinner Street at a house known as Kya Rosa. The Transvaal University College now consisted of two equal divisions — one in Johannesburg and one in Pretoria. A joint board with equal representation for the two divisions met alternately in Johannesburg and Pretoria. This ambivalence of TUC did not come up to expectations and soon the divisions went their separate ways. The name TUC was transferred to Pretoria and the Institute in Johannesburg became known as the SA School of Mines and Technology. This later developed into the University of the Witwatersrand. Since 1910 the TUC has expanded quietly but steadily. In 1929 there were already seven faculties — Arts, Science, Agricultural Science, Law, Theology, Economics and Political Science and Veterinary Science — and the number of students had grown to 918. The time had come for the university college to become a full-fledged and autonomous university. This happened with the acceptance of the University of Pretoria (Private) Act (Act 13 of 1930) and it was decided that 10 October 1930 would be the founding day of the University of Pretoria. The elevated status introduced a period of unprecedented growth for the young university. Since that day the Faculties of Education, Medicine, Dentistry and Engineering have been established and, with the number of students at almost 17 000, it has grown to the largest residential university in South Africa.

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