Impressive new exhibition launched at Schreiner House Museum

[dropcap]A[/dropcap] magnificent photo exhibition, spanning the life  of Olive Schreiner from her birth at the Wittenberg mission station on 24 March 1855 until her death in Cape Town on 11 December 1920  and re-internment on  Buffelskop outside of Cradock a year later, is now on display in the Olive Schreiner Museum in Cradock.

A section of the exhibition relating to "Story of an African Farm"
A section of the exhibition relating to “Story of an African Farm”

The exhibition includes more than a hundred photos, some of which are almost life size and more than 150 years old, that have been enlarged and reprinted onto screens that cover the walls of two rooms in the museum.  Visitors can also view a further 97 photos on an illuminated flip screen.

The first paragraph of Story of an African farm, Schreiner's best-selling novel.
The first paragraph of Story of an African farm, Schreiner’s best-selling novel.

The exhibition tells the whole story of Schreiner from  childhood, as a young girl, a sister, a bride, a well known writer, activist, public speaker and  friend of important political figures, until her death  in Cape Town and eventual re-interment on Buffelskop.

Some of Schreiner’s original handwritten manuscripts and the pens that she wrote them with, are also on display.  In a small room next to the kitchen that the Schreiner family used as a pantry during their stay in Cradock, enlargements of handwritten letters by Schreiner to friends during the period 1895 until 1915, are also on display.

Some of Olive Schreiner's most treasured possessions included her medicine bag and her pens
Some of Olive Schreiner’s most treasured possessions included her medicine bag and her pens

Schreiner’s entire book collection can also be viewed in the museum.

  • Schreiner House , built in 1850, is a national monument.  It is open to the public from 08:00    to 12:45 and 14:00 to 16:30 during week days.