This collection contains the papers of William F. Lye (a former USU history teacher who specialized in African history), including Lye's PhD notes, and primary source material connected to Andrew Smith and Captain R. S. Webb, providing a wealth of information on South African history. This collection consists of nine boxes of material and five ledgers. The materials in this collection have been arranged topically.

Andrew Smith was a government physician of the Cape Colony, South Africa that led an exploratory expedition into the frontier around Cape Colony from 1834-1836. This collection contains Smith's papers (Box 1).

Captain R. S. Webb was born Feb 13, 1892 in London, England. In 1910 he relocated to South Africa, where he taught himself topographical and hydrographical surveying between 1910 and 1915. In 1914 he was called to serve in the war effort in France. He returned to South Africa in 1919, damaged by chlorine mustard gas from which he suffered to end of his life. Continuing his career in mapping South Africa, he worked in the Orange Free State, made a reconnaissance in Basutoland, prepared his gazetteer for which he was honored by the Queen, and awarded a prize by the Royal Geographical Society. Webb also fought to verify the traditional lands claims of the Basotho people who lived near the Orange Free State, the Eastern Cape Colony, and Southern Transvaal. In 1955 he was evicted from his home, and 89 percent of his property was appropriated by the state. This collection contains some of his maps, surveys, papers, and record ledgers.

In addition to the materials found in this collection, U.S.U. Special Collections & Archives also houses a collection of African books donated by William F. Lye catalogued as Book Collection 55; William F. Lye African Collection. Lye's Andrew Smith's Journal of his Expedition into the Interior of South Africa; 1834-1836 is available in USU Special Collections & Archives (call # 8.8:63 no. 1). Webb's Gasetteer for Basutolandis also available (call # ASL 916.861 W384).