TEPC is a joint project of the Universities of the Western Cape and Cape Town in partnership with the Cape Town Archives Repository and the National Archives at The Hague, with the overall goal of eq uitable access to significant archival resources associated with the history of the Cape.

The goal is to make a complete transcription of certain papers from deceased estates administered by the Orphan Chamber at the Cape from 1673 to 1834, and a catalogue of associated documents.

The original document is transcribed, using a special computer programme

The former Netherlands Consul General in Cape Town initiated the project. A historian herself, she enthusiastically endorsed the proposal and ensured that adequate funding was provided. The first phase of the project lasted 15 months, to 31 December 2005. Due to the success of the project, the Royal Netherlands Embassy in Pretoria has approved an application for a second phase, running from 1 February to the end of December 2006.

The original document is transcribed, using a special computer programme

3 gemeene leggers en 1/2 legger 1/2 aam 1 bier pijp soo slegt sijn word gereekend à 30 rijksd: ƒ90 aan huijs meubelen: ƒ120

Hier volgen aan nog 4 afgeleefde slaven, en beneffens een slavin soo door haaren swaren ouderdom, en van kragten ontbloot, door de vogden, en beneffens ovrige getuijgen als onbequaam gereekend sijn.

Dat soo boven benoemde goederen soo wel van ons borgen en beneffens bij sijnde getuijgen wel over sien en gewaardeert sijnde, word hiermede van ons eijgen handig betuijgt Elsenbosch den 3 April 1779.

Vrederik Lievenberg Barend Lievenberg, ik als burg voor het kind

A joint UWC and UCT research group investigating social life under the VOC identified the estate papers as the most appropriate series for transcription. They also participate as advisors to the project and assist in various events, such as seminars and public workshops. Members of each university are involved in the planning of the project, and materials are used by students and researchers. The project is headed by Prof Nigel Worden, Department of Historical Studies, UCT, supported by Dr Sue Newton-King, Department of History, UWC, and is under the supervision of a project manager, Dr Antonia Malan, Historical Archaeology Research Group, UCT.

A team of three editors and four transcribers work at the Cape Town Archives Repository, and together with specialist computer consultants (Sentrum) customized the computer software, collected specialist resources, and transform hand-written Dutch into a digital database.

The TECP transcription team in the Archives Reading Room, April 2006 Back left to right: Helena Liebenberg, Annemarie Krzesinski, Fiona Clayton, Kobus Faasen and Erika van As. Front: Maureen Rall and Illona Meyer.

In 2005 a series of public workshops showed what these fascinating documents contain and explored how they can be used and developed by different groups. Participants contributed towards a handbook for researchers, “Household Inventories at the Cape: A Guidebook for Beginner Researchers”. The transcription process is closely associated with a collaborative transfer of skills and capacity-building project for interested parties in the public sphere.

A public workshop was held in Caledon for educators from schools, museums and tourism in the Overberg.

A public workshop was held in Caledon for educators from schools, museums and tourism in the Overberg.

Contacts

• TEPC Project: www.capetranscripts.co.za

Published with kind permission: Dr Antonia Malan (TANAP Project)