It is curious that as well as the 352 affiliated Institutes, we have found 34 that were sometimes called Institutes but did not affiliate with the SA Institute. All but three of these erected a building for their communities and a few maintained a library. A handful of these Institutes were initiated by churches, but the majority were community projects. Often led by a single person, a group would see the need for a place where their community could gather, share information and concerns, and socialise. Several Institutes doubled as a school for a time. Their building was more than a hall, and so they named it an Institute – at least when it opened.
You can read our files on these 34 non-affiliated Institutes.