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South Africa-Transvaal photograph album

 Collection — Box: 1
Identifier: MS-0611

Scope and Contents

These photographs portray rural and urban areas in South Africa near Krugersdorp, Hatherley, Pretoria, Lydenburg, Paard Kraal, Krugersdorp and Johansburg aorund 1892. The images show the development of Johannesburg: Market Buildings, Natal Bank, Grand National Hotel, Palace Buildings, Market Place, Wanderers' Club (the second oldest athletics club in South Africa), Post Office and other buildings. There are also images (and news clippings) of local businesses, such as Hatherly Distillery and Eerste Managing; and of gold mine companies, such as Princess Estate Gold Mine, Willons Silver Mine and Ferreira Mine (established by Colonel Ignatius Philip Ferreira around 1886). The photographs also portray the local community and possibly a family who emigrated from Madeira, since there are pictures of this Portuguese island inserted in the album; as well as native Kaffir Kraal individuals. One of the most impressive images is a portrait of President Paul Kruger (1825 - 1904) and his wife Gezina Susanna Fredrika Wilhelmina du Plessis (1831-1901). Kruger was president of the South African Republic from 1883 until his flight to Europe in 1900, after the outbreak of the Second Boer War.

Dates

  • Creation: circa 1892

Conditions Governing Access

This collection is housed off-site and requires 48-hours notice for retrieval. Please contact Special Collections for more information.

Conditions Governing Use

Single copies may be made for research purposes. Researchers are responsible for determining any copyright questions. It is not necessary to seek our permission as the owner of the physical work to publish or otherwise use public domain materials that we have made available for use, unless Johns Hopkins University holds the copyright.

Biographical / Historical

This album contains photographs The South African Republic (SAR, ZAR or Transvaal Republic), an independent Boer-ruled country in Southern Africa during the second half of the 19th century. These images were taken by unknown photographers around 1892, during the inter-war period between the First Anglo-Boer War (1880 - 1881) and the Second Anglo-Boer War (1899 - 1902). They depict the development of the region after gold had been discovered in the Witwatersrand area (1886) and a new metropolis, Johannesburg, had arose some 40 miles (64 km) south of the tiny republican capital, Pretoria. Among the subjects of the photos are different settlers who had established a cosmopolitan community in the midst of a rural Boer society. A depicted family is probably from Madeira, emigrants traditionally associated with horticulture and commerce, which form the largest group within South Africa's Portuguese community.

Extent

0.167 Cubic Feet (1 volume)

Language of Materials

Undetermined

Immediate Source of Acquisition

This collection was bought in February 2012.

Physical Description

Transvaal Photograph Album with 56 Photographs (two loose) and two loose news clippings. Some pictures are faded and they all have handwritten captions.

Processing Information

This is no known processing information for this collection.

Source

Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin

Repository Details

Part of the Special Collections Repository

Contact:
The Sheridan Libraries
Special Collections
3400 N Charles St
Baltimore MD 21218 USA