International Oil Working Group Collection
The International Oil Working Group (IOWG) is one of a number of organizations that worked to implement an oil embargo initiated by the United Nations General Assembly against South Africa to protest the country’s policies of apartheid. The IOWG grew out of the Sanctions Working Group established in 1979. Although the nature and timing of the change in names is unclear, it appears that Dr. Teresa Turner was instrumental in the formation of both groups and was primarily responsible for their organization and administration. Other directors included Luis Prado, Arnold Baker and Kassahun Checole. While the group was loosely organized, it maintained the basic structure of a special advisory board with a pool of research associates. Primary activities involved researching topics related to the oil embargo; writing papers for regional, national, and international conferences; giving testimony at UN meetings; providing information to governments, unions and other groups committed to aiding in the implementation of the oil embargo; lecturing to students and members of the community on the subject of sanctions against South Africa; and collaborating with the UN Center Against Apartheid. Research topics included tanker monitoring to detect and expose those shipping companies that broke the embargo; the energy needs in those countries in southern Africa which depend upon South Africa to meet some of their energy demands; ways to effectively implement and enforce the oil embargo; trade union action by oil transport workers; Namibian independence and decolonization; and underground oil storage in South Africa.
Collection consists of administrative papers including financial records, minutes and association history materials; correspondence; printed materials produced by the IOWG; conference files; UN documents relating to South Africa and sanctions; and reference materials, including published reports, news clippings, newsletters and journals, related to oil shipping, tanker information and South African economic and political activity generally.
In December of 1979, the United Nations General Assembly initiated an oil embargo against South Africa in order to put pressure on the government to end the racist policies of apartheid. Anti-apartheid forces outside of South Africa recognized the country’s dependence on foreign oil, not only to meet domestic energy needs, but also to maintain occupation forces in Namibia. Under the auspices of the UN, an embargo on the sale of oil was organized in an attempt to persuade oil producing countries to stop exporting to South Africa. The International Oil Working Group (IOWG) is one of a number of different organizations that worked to implement the embargo.
The International Oil Working Group grew out of the Sanctions Working Group, which was established in 1979. Although the nature and timing of the change in names is unclear from the organization records themselves, it appears that Dr. Teresa Turner was instrumental in the formation of both groups, and was primarily responsible for their organization and administration, continuing to act in the capacity of co-director of the International Oil Working Group. Other directors have included Luis Prado, Arnold Baker, and Kassahun Checole.
While the group was loosely organized, it maintained the basic structure of a special advisory board and a pool of research associates. The advisory board has included such distinguished members as C.L.R. James, Denis Akumu, George Weekes, Rene Ortiz, and Mohamed Sid-Ahmed. Research associates were primarily involved in gathering information pertaining to various aspects of the embargo, while the advisory board members acted as expert consultants and were more peripherally associated with the organization.
The International Oil Working Group described itself as a “tax exempt, non-profit educational organization dedicated to carrying out work towards implementing the United Nations oil embargo against South Africa.” Primary activities involved researching topics related to the oil embargo; writing papers for regional, national, and international conferences; giving testimony at UN meetings; providing information to governments, unions, and other groups committed to aiding in the implementation of the oil embargo; lecturing to students and members of the community on the subject of sanctions against South Africa; and collaborating with the UN Center Against Apartheid. Research topics included tanker monitoring to detect and expose those shipping companies that break the embargo; the energy needs of those countries in southern Africa which depend upon South Africa to meet some of their energy demands; ways to effectively implement and enforce the oil embargo; trade union action by oil transport workers; Namibian independence/decolonization; and underground oil storage in South Africa.
The collection consists of administrative documents, correspondence, UN testimony, printed materials produced by the International Oil Working Group, various conference files, UN documents relating to South Africa and sanctions, and assorted reference materials, including shipping and tanker information as well as relevant news clippings. Materials reflect the loosely-constructed character of the organization, in which the work itself was more important than the structure. Documents span the years 1957-1987, but the bulk of material is from 1980-1985. Please note that in many cases dates are not inclusive.
This collection is organized into seven series:
The collection is open for research.
Cite as: International Oil Working Group Collection (MS 268). Special Collections and University Archives, W.E.B. Du Bois Library, University of Massachusetts Amherst.
Acquired from Teresa Turner.
Processed by Alison Post, March 1990.
1979-1986
|
|||
Contains statement of purpose, photographs, curriculum vitae, and other information on the directors of the IOWG (1982-1984). Internal memoranda provide the most complete records of the inner workings of the organization (1981-1985). Financial records (1982-1986) are relatively scant, though they provide valuable information on work done, and by whom, in the “Work Descriptions” included. Minutes (1983-1985) are also incomplete, though it is difficult to ascertain how regularly meetings were held. As budget proposals initially accompanied the minutes, they remain filed with them. Travel and conference reports also include some financial information, and, while not a complete set, are fairly thorough for 1983-1985. Council for Namibia grant proposal material has been included in this series (separate from a general proposal file), because it constituted a major focus of the group’s work during 1981-1983. It includes financial and background information on the IOWG. Applying for UN NGO (non-governmental organization) status (1982) was an important step in furthering the goals of the group as it provided access to both information and contacts. The UN church center accommodation application (1982) also provides insight into the loosely constructed nature of the organization. |
1979-1986
|
|||
Arrangement:
Arranged chronologically. Scope and content: It consists of both incoming and outgoing letters, many of which were written by Teresa Turner. Frequent correspondents include Peter Onu, Assistant Secretary General of the OAU; Theo Ben Gurirab of SWAPO; Nouri Razzak Hussain, Secretary General of AAPSO; Gregory Denichen of the UN Council for Namibia; and Sally Swing Shelly of the UN Department of Public Information. Topics covered, among others, include: Israeli-South African relations and the importance of oil in any war effort; an IOWG project proposal to carry out and publicize research on shipments to Namibian ports; application for NGO status; oil and transport workers efforts to implement sanctions; and cooperation in researching tanker movements. In some instances, where letters refer directly to a subject group or conference, they have been filed with those materials. |
1960-1986
|
|||
Arrangement:
Contains five subseries: Proposals (1979-1983), Articles (1980-1985), Papers (1977-1985), Publications (1981-1985), and UN Testimony (1981-1986). Each subseries is chronologically organized. Scope and content: Each subseries gives a sense of the development of the organization and the subjects with which it was most concerned. These include the implementation of an effective oil embargo against South Africa, control of the oil market and the UN oil embargo, tanker tracking, oil transport workers, and Namibian independence. |
1976-1986
|
|||
Arrangement:
Arranged chronologically and divided into files by conference title. Scope and content: It is not clear whether the IOWG presented papers in every case, but the series gives a good indication of the kinds of contacts the IOWG made, and provides information about the broad range of topics that were of interest to IOWG members. While some conference materials may seem obscure, they can be very revealing about the complexity surrounding the issue of the oil embargo. |
1960-1987
|
|||
Arrangement:
Divided into three subseries. Scope and content: Subseries A (1983-1985), consists of documents derived from and pertaining to the Center Against Apartheid (CAA), with which IOWG worked closely. These documents focus primarily on sanctions against South Africa. Subseries B (1960-1985), consists of general documents and, like CAA, is arranged alphabetically by subject. Subseries C, NGOs and Missions (1979-1986), is made up of documents issued by non-governmental organizations and permanent missions to the UN. |
1957-1986
|
|||
Arrangement:
Contains two subseries. Scope and content: Shipping Reference Materials (1979-1986), include general shipping information such as open registry, oil exporting countries and shipping, and port entry. It also includes documents from Lloyd’s Maritime Information Service, Petrola, and the Shipping Research Bureau-most notably on secret oil deliveries to South Africa. Tanker Reference Materials (1957-1985), deal more specifically with topics such as tanker movements, flags of convenience, market trends in the tanker industry, world tanker fleet ownership, and a list of all tankers stopping in South African ports. |
1974-1987
|
|||
Arrangement:
Divided into six subseries. Scope and content: It includes some of the materials that the IOWG drew upon for its papers, testimony, and for general dissemination. Subseries A, General Reference (1975-1987), contains a wide variety of documents on such subjects as the IMF and loans to South Africa, the Kairos Document, oil reserves, sanctions legislation, and Namibian independence. It also includes materials such as the Freedom Charter, leaflets announcing events, and resource materials on South Africa. It is arranged alphabetically by subject. Subseries B, Non-IOWG Papers (1975-1986), arranged chronologically, covers a wide variety of topics, from transnational corporations to trade unions. Subseries C, D, and E, News Clips, Newsletters, and Journals and Magazines respectively (1966-1986), are arranged alphabetically by title, except for news clips which are generally left in order. Where the IOWG specified a heading, clips were so arranged (i.e., clips ostensibly used for “The Bulletin” were left together). Subseries F consists of miscellaneous documents. |
Series 1. Administrative
|
1979-1986
|
||
Photos
|
n.d.
|
Box 1:1
|
|
IOWG Statement of Purpose
|
n.d.
|
Box 1:2
|
|
Curriculum Vitae (CVs) of Directors
|
1982-1983
|
Box 1:3
|
|
Miscellaneous Materials of Directors
|
1979, 1983, 1984
|
Box 1:4
|
|
CVs, etc. of Interns, Special Advisors et al
|
Box 1:5
|
||
Contacts
|
1982-1983
|
Box 1:6
|
|
Contacts: Business Cards
|
n.d.
|
Box 1:7
|
|
Memoranda: Internal
|
1981-1985
|
Box 1:8
|
|
Finances (incl. work descriptions)
|
1982-1986
|
Box 1:9
|
|
Minutes/Budget
|
1983, 1985
|
Box 1:10
|
|
Travel and Conference Reports
|
1983-1985
|
Box 1:11
|
|
Council For Namibia: Vital Proposal Material
|
1981-1983
|
Box 1:12
|
|
DPI/UN/NGO Application Materials
|
1982
|
Box 1:13
|
|
UN Church Center Accommodation Application
|
1982
|
Box 1:14
|
|
Miscellaneous: Application Materials
|
n.d., 1983
|
Box 1:15
|
|
Miscellaneous: P.O. Box
|
1982
|
Box 1:16
|
|
Miscellaneous: Notes on Arrests
|
1985
|
Box 1:17
|
|
Miscellaneous: Other Administrative Materials
|
Box 1:18
|
Series 2. Correspondence
|
1979-1986
|
||
General
|
1979-1981
|
Box 2:19
|
|
General
|
1982
|
Box 2:20
|
|
General
|
Jan-May 1983
|
Box 2:21
|
|
General
|
Jun-Dec 1983
|
Box 2:22
|
|
General
|
1984
|
Box 2:23
|
|
General
|
Jan-Feb 1985
|
Box 3:24
|
|
General
|
Mar-Apr 1985
|
Box 3:25
|
|
General
|
May 1985
|
Box 3:26
|
|
General
|
Jun-Jul 1985
|
Box 3:27
|
|
General
|
Sep-Oct 1985
|
Box 3:28
|
|
General
|
Nov-Dec 1985
|
Box 3:29
|
|
Personal
|
1986
|
Box 3:30
|
|
General
|
Jan-Feb 1986
|
Box 3:31
|
|
General
|
Feb-Nov 1986
|
Box 3:32
|
Series 4. Conference Materials
|
1976-1986
|
||
The First Congress of All African Writers (C.L.R. James)
|
1976
|
Box 7:95
|
|
Oil Sanctions Against South Africa, Liberia
|
1979
|
Box 7:96
|
|
Commonwealth Heads of Gov’t. Meeting, Lusaka
|
1979
|
Box 7:97
|
|
Anti-monopolist Conference, Tripoli
|
1980
|
Box 7:98
|
|
ILO Petroleum Committee, Geneva
|
1980
|
Box 7:99
|
|
Conference of West European Parliamentarians on Sanctions
|
1981
|
Box 7:100
|
|
International Conference on Sanctions Against South Africa, Paris
|
1981
|
Box 7:101
|
|
Trade Union Action on Namibian Uranium
|
1982
|
Box 7:102
|
|
International Conference in Solidarity with the Frontline States
|
1982
|
Box 7:103
|
|
Trade Union Conference: “Isolate Apartheid”, London
|
1982
|
Box 7:104
|
|
International Seminar on the Role of Transnational Corporations (TNCs) in Namibia: Program and List of Participants (1 of 6)
|
1982
|
Box 7:105
|
|
Role of TNCs: Doc. # NS-1 to NS-9 (2 of 6)
|
1982
|
Box 7:106
|
|
Role of TNCs: Doc. # NS-10 parts 1-4 (3 of 6)
|
1982
|
Box 7:107
|
|
Role of TNCs: Doc. # NS-11 to NS-20 (4 of 6)
|
1982
|
Box 7:108
|
|
Role of TNCs: Doc. # NS-21 to NS-30 (5 of 6)
|
1982
|
Box 7:109
|
|
Role of TNCs: Doc. # NS-32 to NS-34 (6 of 6)
|
1982
|
Box 7:110
|
|
Sanctions Workshop, Jos, Nigeria
|
1982
|
Box 8:111
|
|
Tunis Meeting: South Africa/Israel
|
1983
|
Box 8:112
|
|
Smuggling and Coastal Piracy in Nigeria
|
1983
|
Box 8:113
|
|
Action Strategies by Trade Unions in the Struggle Against Apartheid (DPI/NGO/CAA)
|
1983
|
Box 8:114
|
|
International Conference in Support of Namibian People for Independence: Administrative (1 of 2)
|
1983
|
Box 8:115
|
|
International Conference in Support of Namibian People for Independence: General (2 of 2)
|
1983
|
Box 8:116
|
|
AFSC “Coherence” Meeting on Southern Africa, Philadelphia
|
1983
|
Box 8:117
|
|
Trade Unions and Sanctions Conf. Against Apartheid, London (l of 2)
|
1983
|
Box 8:118
|
|
Trade Unions and Sanctions Conf. Against Apartheid, London (2 of 2)
|
1983
|
Box 8:119
|
|
International Conference on the Question of Palestine
|
1983
|
Box 8:120
|
|
Latin American Conference Against Apartheid, Caracas
|
1983
|
Box 8:121
|
|
Second Group of Experts Meeting: Libyan Contrib.
|
1983
|
Box 8:122
|
|
Workshop on O.E. for Oil Workers in Trinidad
|
1983-1984
|
Box 8:123
|
|
UN Conference on Conditions for Registration of Ships, Geneva
|
1984
|
Box 8:124
|
|
Conference of Arab Solidarity with the Struggle for Liberation in South Africa, Tunis
|
1984
|
Box 8:125
|
|
The Arusha Conference, Tanzania
|
1984
|
Box 8:126
|
|
International Labour Conference
|
1984-1985
|
Box 8:127
|
|
Special Committee on Decolonization: Latin American Regional Seminar, Havana (1 of 4)
|
1985
|
Box 9:128
|
|
Special Committee on Decolonization: Latin American Regional Seminar, Havana (2 of 4)
|
1985
|
Box 9:129
|
|
Special Committee on Decolonization: Latin American Regional Seminar, Havana (3 of 4)
|
1985
|
Box 9:130
|
|
Special Committee on Decolonization: Latin American Regional Seminar, Havana (4 of 4)
|
1985
|
Box 9:131
|
|
International Conference on Colonialism and Vacuum, Libya
|
1985
|
Box 9:132
|
|
Conference of Maritime Trade Unions, London (1 of 2)
|
1985
|
Box 9:133
|
|
Conference of Maritime Trade Unions, London (2 of 2)
|
1985
|
Box 9:134
|
|
Conference on Oil Supplies to South Africa
|
1985
|
Box 9:135
|
|
Swedish People’s Parliament Against Apartheid (The White Sport), Stockholm
|
1986
|
Box 9:136
|
|
Miscellaneous Conference Announcements
|
Box 9:137
|
||
Miscellaneous Conference Materials
|
Box 9:138
|
Series 7. Reference
|
1974-1987
|
||
Subseries A: General
|
|||
Barclays Shadow Report (on South Africa)
(Freedom Charter – see UN Documents, Series 5, Box 13, Folder 175) |
1982
|
Box 18:231
|
|
Hennepin West (misc. info. from)
|
Box 18:232
|
||
IMF and Loans to South Africa (Center for International Policy)
|
1983-1985
|
Box 18:233
|
|
Israel/Oil Embargo
|
1975-1982
|
Box 18:234
|
|
The Kairos Document: A Theological Comment on the Political Crisis in South Africa
|
n.d.
|
Box 18:235
|
|
Laws/Constitution (South Africa)
|
Box 18:236
|
||
Leaflets on Apartheid, South Africa, etc.
|
Box 18:237
|
||
Namibia: Electricity Supply Sources (l of 5)
|
Box 18:238
|
||
Namibia: Walvis Bay (2 of 5)
|
Box 18:239
|
||
Namibia: General (3 of 5)
|
Box 18:240
|
||
Namibia: General (4 of 5)
|
Box 18:241
|
||
Namibia: General (5 of 5)
|
Box 18:242
|
||
Offshore Oil Exploration
|
1983
|
Box 18:243
|
|
Oil and Gas Development
|
n.d., 1984
|
Box 18:244
|
|
Passbook (photocopy)
|
Box 18:245
|
||
Resource Materials on South Africa
|
Box 18:246
|
||
Sanctions Bills
|
1985
|
Box 18:247
|
|
SWG Fact Sheet
|
1980
|
Box 18:248
|
|
Sasol Coal Liquefaction Plant
|
Box 18:249
|
||
Strategic Oil Reserves in South Africa
|
1987
|
Box 19:250
|
|
Trade Unions
|
Box 19:251
|
||
Transnational Corporations
|
Box 19:252
|
||
Underground Oil Storage in South Africa (1 of 2)
|
Box 19:253
|
||
Underground Oil Storage in South Africa (2 of 2)
|
Box 19:254
|
||
World Political Forecasts re: South Africa (Frost & Sullivan)
|
1984
|
Box 19:255
|
|
Zimbabwe (1 of 7)
|
Box 19:256
|
||
Zimbabwe (2 of 7)
|
Box 19:257
|
||
Zimbabwe (3 of 7)
|
Box 19:258
|
||
Zimbabwe (4 of 7)
|
Box 19:259
|
||
Zimbabwe (5 of 7)
|
Box 19:260
|
||
Zimbabwe (6 of 7)
|
Box 19:261
|
||
Zimbabwe (7 of 7)
|
Box 19:262
|
||
Subseries B: NON-IOWG PAPERS
|
|||
Oil Sanctions Against South Africa
|
n.d.
|
Box 20:263
|
|
Operationalizing the Freedom Charter
|
n.d.
|
Box 20:264
|
|
Problems of Transformation of Social Relations of Production in Post-Independence Mozambique
|
n.d.
|
Box 20:265
|
|
“Slow-Motion” (play)
|
n.d.
|
Box 20:266
|
|
Case for the Arab Oil Embargo
|
1975
|
Box 20:268
|
|
Southern Africa: Laying the Basis for Intervention
|
1981
|
Box 20:269
|
|
Transnational Corporations and South Africa
|
1981
|
Box 20:270
|
|
Brilund/Etosha
|
1982
|
Box 20:271
|
|
Strengthen Trade Union Sanctions v. Apartheid
|
1983
|
Box 20:272
|
|
How Oil and Shipping Companies Deceive Governments
|
1984
|
Box 20:273
|
|
Sasol
|
1984
|
Box 20:274
|
|
Challenge of South Africa
|
1984
|
Box 20:275
|
|
Institute of Social Studies Working Papers
|
1984, 1985
|
Box 20:276
|
|
Brilund/Etosha.
|
1985
|
Box 20:277
|
|
Capital, Trade Unions and the National Liberation Struggle
|
1985
|
Box 20:278
|
|
Struggle Against Apartheid
|
1986
|
Box 20:279
|
|
Third World Trade Unions Responding to the Globalization of Production
|
1986
|
Box 20:280
|
|
Oil Embargo: Miscellaneous
|
Box 20:281
|
||
Miscellaneous
|
Box 20:282
|
||
Subseries C: NEWS CLIPS
|
|||
General Articles
|
Box 21:283
|
||
General Clippings
|
Box 21:284
|
||
General Clippings
|
Box 21:285
|
||
General Clippings
|
Box 21:286
|
||
General Clippings
|
Box 21:287
|
||
Namibia
|
Box 21:288
|
||
Namibia
|
Box 21:289
|
||
Namibia
|
Box 21:290
|
||
Namibia
|
Box 21:291
|
||
Namibia
|
Box 21:292
|
||
Namibia
|
Box 21:293
|
||
Namibia
|
Box 22:294
|
||
Namibia
|
Box 22:295
|
||
Oil Embargo Press Kit
|
Box 22:296
|
||
Publications from which IOWG has Clippings
|
Box 22:297
|
||
Reference Articles
|
Box 22:298
|
||
Rhodesia (1966)
|
Box 22:299
|
||
Salem Oil Scandal
|
Box 22:300
|
||
Sasol
|
Box 22:301
|
||
Tanker Clips
|
Box 22:302
|
||
UNCTAD Clips
|
Box 22:303
|
||
Miscellaneous Oversized News Clips
|
Box 23
|
||
Subseries D: NEWSLETTERS
|
|||
Africa News
|
1985
|
Box 24:304
|
|
ANC Weekly News Briefing
|
1983-1985
|
Box 24:305
|
|
Anti-Apartheid Movement
|
1984-1985
|
Box 24:306
|
|
Dateline: Namibia
|
1982, 1986
|
Box 24:307
|
|
ELTSA
|
1983-1986, n.d.
|
Box 24:308
|
|
Facts and Reports
|
1983
|
Box 24:309
|
|
Flashes From the Trade Unions
|
1985-1986
|
Box 24:310
|
|
ICEF
|
1984-1985
|
Box 24:311
|
|
i.d.a.f. news notes
|
1984-1986
|
Box 24:312
|
|
Lloyd’s Maritime Information Service
|
1985
|
Box 24:313
|
|
Non-Violent Activist
|
1986
|
Box 24:314
|
|
Platt’s Oilgram News
|
1979-1986
|
Box 24:315
|
|
SAMRAF
|
1983
|
Box 24:316
|
|
Southern Africa Perspectives
|
1982-1985
|
Box 24:317
|
|
Miscellaneous A – I
|
Box 24:318
|
||
Miscellaneous I – V
|
Box 24:319
|
||
Subseries E: JOURNALS & MAGAZINES
|
|||
Center for Developing Area Studies – Working Paper Series
|
1981-1982
|
Box 25
|
|
Development & Socio-Economic Progress (AAPSO)
|
1982-1986
|
Box 25
|
|
dollars & sense
|
1983
|
Box 25
|
|
ISS Occasional Papers
|
1976-1981
|
Box 25
|
|
Latin American Perspectives
|
1978
|
Box 26
|
|
MERIP REPORTS
|
1974-1983
|
Box 26
|
|
Monthly Review: An Independent Socialist Mag.
|
1982-1983
|
Box 26
|
|
Multinational Monitor
|
1983
|
Box 26
|
|
NACLA’S Latin American and Empire Report
|
1976
|
Box 26
|
|
NACLA
|
1978-1981
|
Box 27
|
|
New Statesman
|
1984-1985
|
Box 27
|
|
OPEC Bulletin
|
1981, 1983
|
Box 27
|
|
The Progressive
|
1982-1983
|
Box 27
|
|
SECHABA (ANC)
|
1983, 1985
|
Box 27
|
|
The Seamen’s Journal
|
1985
|
Box 27
|
|
Southern Africa
|
1978-1982
|
Box 27
|
|
Southern Africa Report
|
1985
|
Box 27
|
|
Tricontinental
|
1984-1985
|
Box 27
|
|
United Mine Workers Journal
|
1985
|
Box 27
|
|
World Trade Union Movement
|
1983-1985
|
Box 27
|
|
Miscellaneous
|
Box 28
|
||
Subseries F: MISCELLANEOUS REFERENCE
|
|||
Assorted Materials
|
Box 29:320
|
||
Assorted Materials
|
Box 29:321
|
||
Assorted Materials
|
Box 29:322
|