Underrepresented communities: including the Portuguese community in South Africa’s historiography and archival heritage

Abstract

This research article emanates from a doctoral study which investigated the potential inclusion of the records generated by South African Portuguese community-based organisations into a workable archival collecting initiative of the community. The specific purpose of this article is to report on the current status of underrepresentation of the Portuguese community in South Africa’s contemporary social historiography and the community’s interrelated underrepresentation in the country’s archival heritage. Based on the situation outlined, the article goes on to advocate for the need to broaden representation by incorporating the records generated by local Portuguese community-based organisations into the archival heritage of South Africa.