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  • About
  • The Global ETD Search service is a free service for researchers to find electronic theses and dissertations. This service is provided by the Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations.
    Our metadata is collected from universities around the world. If you manage a university/consortium/country archive and want to be added, details can be found on the NDLTD website.
11

The use of historical photographs as source for cultural histor : the Sammy Marks photograph collection

Malan, Andre January 1996 (has links)
During his sojourn on earth man leaves traces behind. Subsequent generations can follow these traces through research in order to find out more about his forebears. The term document can be interpreted much wider than referring to written material so that different types of material can serve as source from which this knowledge can be drawn. Pictorial sources is one subsection underneath which photographic material in turn resorts. This study looks at the use of historical photographs as source from which the cultural historian can draw information .. Historical photographs are often merely seen and used as illustration material while they are sources in own right. It is the only source which captures and eternalises a moment in time visually. Unfortunately it is still a human with all his faults and deficiencies who stands behind the camera. That means that although the photograph as source is generally speaking very reliable and objective, historical criticism still has to be applied. To err is human, over and above wilful misrepresentation. Furthermore there are certain pitfalls and limitations inherent to the photograph. At the Sammy Marks Museum just east of Pretoria, a large collection of photographs has been preserved which shows the everyday life of the Marks family over a long period of time. By examining these photographs a clear picture can be formed of the everyday life of a well-to-do Victorian family in the Transvaal during the period 1890 to 1920. The actual images captured by the camera tell the story of these people's weal and woe like words cannot do. No source can be all-revealing .on its own. The photographs and the information drawn from them, are supported and confirmed by references and quotations from the personal correspondence of the family of which much has also been preserved. It is kept at the University of Cape Town. The biography of Sammy Marks by Richard Mendelsohn (Cape Town, 1991) as well as other literary sources has been studied and applied. The study also contains a broad background sketch of the period and its spirit. By making comparisons between the findings about the lives of Sammy Marks and his family and what is known generally about the people of the time, one can see to what degree they conformed or differed. The development of photography itself is also. briefly discussed. The historical photographs which were preserved by the Marks family, serve as example of how valuable such photographs are for our knowledge and the eventual reconstruction of the past. Without them the task of the physical restoration of the house, outbuildings and garden to their original shape would have been much more difficult. At the same time and even more important, they breathe life into the house through the information they contain about the people who used to inhabit it. / Dissertation (MA)--University of Pretoria, 1996. / gm2014 / Historical and Heritage Studies / unrestricted
12

A history of New Zealand's military horse: The Experience of the Horse in the Anglo-Boer War and World War One.

Wilson, Marcus James January 2007 (has links)
The horse is an essential component of New Zealand's social, environmental, economic and military history, yet despite this obvious truth, it is a topic which was been overlooked by New Zealand historiography. The horse's role throughout our history has been identified by prominent environmental historians as an area in desperate need of examination; however, it is one yet to be undertaken. As far as New Zealand history books would suggest the horse was good for the racing industry and little else, and even within these histories, its origins seem to be of little historical significance. In military histories much has been written on the impact of New Zealand troops during the Anglo-Boer War and World War One, with emphasis placed on the role of mounted infantry in the many military histories published over the past century. Yet an examination of the specific experience of the horse has been ignored. Veterinary histories have been produced which give detailed accounts of the role and care of the horse, but offer nothing which provides a picture of the war experience from the horse's point-of-view. In an effort to start filling the gap in New Zealand's equine historiography,this thesis will use the late nineteenth and early twentieth century military context as a microcosm for the history of New Zealand's horse. By first tracing the history of the horse through 5,000 years of military experience to its early-nineteenth century New Zealand origins, the history of New Zealand's military horse will explore issues of environment, role, mobilisation, transport, care and casualities to create an informed hypothesis of what New Zealand's military horse experienced in these two moderm wars. The nature of war is awful in itself, but when animals are unconsciously included in the context, as horses were in these two modem wars, the impact of the experience is nothing less than horrific.
13

Grondleggende argitekte van die Departement Openbare Werke in Transvaal tot 1910, hul werk en invloed (Afrikaans)

Minnaar, Enla Marie 17 January 2007 (has links)
The void in available literature pertaining to the origin of the official architecture of the 'Publieke Werken Departement' in the 'Zuid-Afrikaansche Republiek', the destruction of the Department by the Anglo Boer-War and the subsequent reconstruction of the Department as the Public Works Department of the Transvaal Colony, is addressed. A new perspective is set regarding the architectural data of the period, by analysis of the cultural doctrine of the different departments. The history of the Department is divided into four periods. The first deals with the era from the establishment of the Department in 1877, until the appointment of Sytze Wierda. The second incorporates the time from 1887 with his engagement up to the outbreak of the Anglo Boer-War in 1899. This period is generally seen as the golden age of Transvaal Republican architecture. The third relates the effect of the war on the Department and the architects while the fourth deals with the colonial time from the annexation of Pretoria in 1900, until Unification in 1910. The structure and work procedure of each department are examined to derive an image of the type of training the architects had undergone and a survey is made of what can be found of the original libraries of the departments. Specific careers are investigated. In this context, buildings are chosen from the researched lists, to be examined. The designated buildings are regarded as documents, and are analized with regard to cultural doctrine and business stance. The first period produced pragmatic thatched buildings. During the second phase, Wierda attained the embodiment of cultural doctrine in architecture, rising above mere utility in building. He strived to create a sophisticated, ideal townscape for the Z.A.R. Continuity was lacking, however, as the Department was at first brought to a standstill, and then wiped out by the war. During the fourth phase, the British Colonial Department brought about specialization of architects as quantity surveyors, engineers and architects. At first, only utility buildings were designed by the Department while prestige projects were given to private architectural firms. / Thesis (PhD (Architecture))--University of Pretoria, 2000. / Architecture / unrestricted
14

Africa in Cleveland: Colonial Wars and Perceptions of Race and Empire in American Newspapers

Selby, Amy Lynn 22 June 2012 (has links)
No description available.
15

The Natal Afrikaner and The Anglo-Boer War

Wassermann, Johannes Michiel 07 March 2006 (has links)
The invasion by the Boers of Natal set a process in motion that changed the lives of Natal Afrikaners forever. As a group which shared family, cultural, and other ties with the invaders, but were British subjects by citizenship, they had to make a difficult decision: join the Republican forces or remain loyal to the crown. Factors which influenced this decision, amongst others, were the pre-war suspicion of all Natal Afrikaners by the Natal authorities and the prevalence of a general anti-Republican sentiment. Despite the above-mentioned, and the sympathy which existed for the plight of the Republics, very few Natal Afrikaners joined the commandos. Doing that would have meant economic annihilation. This the Natal Afrikaners understood and the majority remained neutral. Matters were complicated when the British Army and the colonial authorities withdrew south, leaving especially the Afrikaners of the Klip River county unprotected. When occupation did not convince the Afrikaners of the area to join, a well-thought out strategy based upon fear and misinformation, brought most into the fray. Duty on these commandoes was generally slack, subversive in nature, and as much as one can expect from people forced into military combat. A small group, however, managed, despite the pressures placed upon them, to remain loyal to Britain. For these loyalists the greatest rewards were in terms of economics and power. In stark contrasts were the economic experiences of the Natal Afrikaners who were somehow, either directly or indirectly, guilty of high treason. All their possessions were systematically looted or destroyed, leaving most of them in an impoverished state. Secondly, through a range of court cases 409 Natal Afrikaners or associated people were convicted of treason, mostly by the purposefully introduced Special Court and special magistrate. The outlined experiences coincided with victimization on socio-political and cultural levels under Martial Law. Afrikaners resident in the southern part of Natal, and especially in Umvoti county, did not suffer directly because of the war but experienced a different kind of war namely a pseudo war in which they were spied upon, viewed with suspicion and under Martial Law harassed. However, these Afrikaners managed to maintain some political power while economically they carried on as before the war. They attempted to use these assets to assist the Afrikaners who had to endure desertion by their own government and Boer occupation. Natal Afrikaners also experienced other aspects of the war normally associated with the Republics. Some were arrested as POWs, while others were deported to concentration camps within the Colony. Furthermore, as a result of the war, relations between Natal Afrikaners and English colonists and Africans suffered. The collective impact and legacy of the war, as well as the shared experiences of suffering under the British, with their Republican brothers and sisters, eventually helped to bring Natal Afrikaners into the broader Afrikaner fold. / Thesis (DPhil)--University of Pretoria, 2007. / Historical and Heritage Studies / unrestricted
16

Deneys Reitz (1882 – 1944) : krygsman, avonturier en politikus (Afrikaans)

Calitz, Gerhard Johann 31 May 2009 (has links)
Afrikaans Deneys Reitz, die derde van president F.W. Reitz se vyf oorlewende seuns, is op 2 April 1882 te midde van die politieke en ekonomiese ontwaking van die Vrystaat in Bloemfontein gebore. Hy het op die ouderdom van 17 by die Boeremagte aangesluit en doen hier die ondervindinge op wat hy later in sy eerste boek, Commando: A Boer journal of the Boer war, weergee. Met die sluit van vrede weier hy om die eed van getrouheid teenoor Brittanje af te lê en wend hom na Madagaskar waar hy onder meer as ‘n transportryer werk. Hy keer in 1903, op aandrang van Isie Smuts, na Suid-Afrika terug, kwalifiseer as ‘n prokureur en open ‘n prokureurspraktyk in die Noordoos-Vrystaatse dorp Heilbron. Gedurende die 1914-rebellie skaar hy homself aan die Botha-Smuts regering se kant en voer hy die Heilbronkommando aan teen die rebelle. Tydens die Eerste Wêreldoorlog sluit hy hom aanvanklik by Botha en Smuts in Duits-Suidwes-Afrika aan en daarna by die Britse leër in Brittanje. Hy spandeer die meeste van die Eerste Wêreldoorlog in die loopgrawe aan die Wesfront in Frankryk en vorder tot die rang van kolonel in bevel van ‘n bataljon van die First Royal Scots Fusiliers. Met sy terugkeer na Suid-Afrika in 1920 wend hy hom tot die politiek en as lid van die Suid-Afrikaanse Party verteenwoordig hy eers Bloemfontein-Suid (1920) en later Port Elizabeth. Vanaf 1929 verteenwoordig hy Barberton. Hy dien aanvanklik in die parlement as Minister van Lande, waar hy onder meer betrokke raak by wetgewing i.v.m. die totstandkoming van die Krugerwildtuin. Hy dien ook as Minister van Lande in die koalisie kabinet van J.B.M. Hertzog (1933) en daarna as Minister van Landbou en Bosbou (1935), Minister van Mynwese (1938), Minister van Naturellesake (1939) en as adjunkpremier in Smuts se Oorlogskabinet (1939-1943). Vir die periode van 1924 tot 1933 dien hy as deel van die amptelike opposisie, terwyl hy hoofsaaklik as ‘n prokureur in Johannesburg werk. In dié periode het hy ook uitgebreide private- en sakereise na onder meer Noord- en Suid-Rhodesië, die Belgiese Kongo en die Kaokoveld in Suidwes-Afrika onderneem. Sy bekendheid het hy grootliks verwerf uit die publikasie van sy herinneringe van die Anglo Boereoorlog, gepubliseer as Commando in 1929. Dit is erken as ‘n boek van uitstaande gehalte en word beskou as ‘n klassieke werk oor die Anglo-Boereoorlog. Die res van sy lewe, vanaf 1902 tot 1940, het hy in die boeke Trekking on en No outspan beskryf. Deneys Reitz was getroud met Leila Agnes Buissine Reitz (13/12/1887 – 29/12/1959). Sy was Suid-Afrika se eerste vroulike parlementslid en het Parktown verteenwoordig. Leila was veral by maatskaplike werk betrokke en het spesifiek op kinders en kindermisdadigers gefokus. Deneys en Leila het twee seuns gehad - Jan en Michael. Weens swak gesondheid word Reitz in 1943 as Hoë Kommissaris in Londen aangestel, waar hy in 1944 sterf. English Deneys Reitz, the third of president F.W. Reitz’s five living sons, was born in Bloemfontein on 2 April 1882 during the political and economical awakening of the Orange Free State. As a boy of seventeen he joined the Boer forces in the Anglo-Boer War, gaining the experience he set down in his first book, Commando: A Boer journal of the Boer war. After the peace he was an irreconcilable and lived as a transport rider in Madagascar, returning to South Africa in 1903 after prompting by Isie Smuts. He qualified as an attorney and practiced in the town of Heilbron in the north-east Free State. During the 1914 rebellion he commanded the Heilbron Commando against the rebels in support of the Botha-Smuts government. During World War I he first joined Botha and Smuts in German South West Africa and then in German East Africa, where after he enlisted with the British Army. He spent most of the First World War in the trenches in France, where he rose to command a battalion of the First Royal Scots Fusiliers. Upon his return to South Africa he entered Parliament in 1920 as a member of the South African Party, representing first Bloemfontein South (1920) and later Port Elizabeth. He represented Barberton from 1929. He initially held the portfolios of Lands (1923-24), becoming involved in developing legislation for the establishment of the Kruger National Park. He also served as Minister of Lands in the coalition government of J.B.M. Hertzog (1933), Minister of Agriculture and Forestry (1935), Minister of Mines (1938), Minister of Native Affairs (1939) and as deputy premier in Smuts’ War Cabinet (1939-1943). Reitz was a member of the formal opposition from 1924 to 1933, while also working as an attorney in Johannesburg. In this period he travelled extensively in both his private and official capacities to North and South Rhodesia, the Belgian Congo and the Kaokoveld in South West Africa. His real claim to fame, however, arises from his memoirs of the Anglo-Boer War, which he published under the title of Commando in 1929. This was immediately recognised as a work of outstanding quality and has become a South African classic on the Anglo Boer War. Later he wrote Trekking on and No outspan, continuing the story of his career. Deneys Reitz was married to Leila Agnes Buissine Reitz (13/12/1887 – 29/12/1959), the first South African women elected to parliament. She was member for Parktown. Leila, who was involved in welfare work, focused on children and delinquents. Deneys and Leila had two sons of their own - Jan en Michael. Due to ill health Reitz was appointed Union High Commissioner in London in 1943, where he later passed away. / Thesis (DPhil)--University of Pretoria, 2009. / Historical and Heritage Studies / unrestricted
17

Machadodorp tot en met dorpstigting in 1904 (Afrikaans)

Jooste, Cecilia Petronella 13 November 2008 (has links)
Die verhandeling begin met 'n beknopte oorsig oor die plek en aard van plaaslike geskiedenis in Westerse en Suid-Afrikaanse historiografie. Machadodorp se geografiese ligging, sowel as fisiese faktore soos geografie en klimaat was bepalend tydens die vroeë vestigingsgeskiedenis. Uit argeologiese navorsing wat in die groter streek gedoen is, is vasgestel dat Steentydperkmense, Ystertydperkmense en swart gemeenskappe soos die Koni, Pedi en Swazi van die vroegste inwoners van die gebied was. Gedurende die laaste helfte van die negentiende eeu het die eerste wit setlaars die gebied binnegekom. Die bou van die hoofspoorlyn, die Oosterlijn, na die Portugese hawe Delagoabaai was belangrik vir die behoud van die politieke en ekonomiese onafhanklikheid van die ZAR. Die geskiedenis van die opmeet, bou en ontwikkeling van hierdie spoorlyn en die ontstaansgeskiedenis van Machadodorp is nou verweef. Aanvanklik was albei nedersettings, Machadodorp en Carolina, deel van die Lydenburglanddrosdistrik. Toe Carolina in 1893 tot onafhanklike landdrosdistrik geproklameer is, moes die ZAR-regering uitsluitsel gee tot watter distrik Machadodorp sou hoort. Die uiteindelike besluit dat dit deel van die Lydenburg-landdrosdistrik moes bly, sou vir Machadodorp en omgewing langdurende administratiewe gevolge inhou. Die Anglo-Boereoorlog was die mees ingrypende gebeurtenis in Machadodorp se geskiedenis voor 1904. Nadat Pretoria, die hoofstad van die ZAR, deur die Britse magte beset is, het Machadodorp die tydelike regeringsetel van die ZAR geword (5 Junie 1900 tot 27 Augustus 1900). Die Britse troepe het Machadodorp op 28 Augustus 1900 beset en op 1 September 1900 het lord Roberts, die opperbevelhebber van die Britse troepe in suider-Afrika, die Transvaal as deel van die Britse ryk geproklameer. Britse troepe was op die dorp tot na die vredesluiting in 1902. Die verhandeling word afgesluit met 'n bespreking van die administratiewe proses waarvolgens Machadodorp tot dorp geproklameer is. Hierdie proses, wat deur die uitbreek van die oorlog onderbreek is, is tydens die koloniale tydperk voltooi. Op 30 Desember 1904 is Machadodorp tot dorp geproklameer en het die eerste fase in die dorp se ontwikkelingsgeskiedenis tot 'n einde gekom. ENGLISH : The dissertation begins with a brief review of the nature and status of local history in Western and South African historiography. The geographic location of Machadodorp as well as physical factors, such as geology and climate, determined early settlement patterns. From archaeological research in the area it was determined that the earliest inhabitants of the greater Machadodorp area were Stone Age people, Iron Age people and black communities, such as the Koni, Pedi and Swazi. During the last half of the nineteenth century the first whites settled in the region of Machadodorp. To retain their political and economic independence the ZAR had to obtain a non- British route to the outside world. This idea could only be realized if a railway line, the Oosterlijn, was built to the Portuguese harbour of Delgoa Bay. There is a very close link between the surveying, planning, building and development of this railway line and the history of the establishment of Machadodorp. Initially, the two settlements, Machadodorp and Carolina were part of the Lydenburg magisterial district. When Carolina was proclaimed an independent magisterial district in 1893, the ZAR government had to make a decision regarding the district to which Machadodorp would belong. The eventual decision that Machadodorp should remain part of the Lydenburg magisterial district resulted in long term administrative consequences for the Machadodorp area. The Anglo Boer War was the most influential event in the history of Machadodorp prior to 1904. After Pretoria, the capital of the ZAR was occupied by the British forces Machadodorp became the temporary seat of the ZAR government (5 June 1900 – 27 August 1900). On 28 August 1900 the town was occupied by the British troops and on 1 September 1900 Lord Roberts, Commander-in-chief of the British troops in Southern Africa, proclaimed the Transvaal as part of the British Empire. The British troops remained in Machadodorp until after the peace negotiations in 1902. The dissertation concludes with a discussion of the process by which Machadodorp was proclaimed a town. This process which started before the outbreak of the war was disrupted by the war and was only completed after the war. On 30 December 1904 Machadodorp was proclaimed a town, whereby the first phase in Machadodorp’s developmental history was concluded. / Dissertation (MA)--University of Pretoria, 2011. / Historical and Heritage Studies / unrestricted
18

Die lewe, werk en invloed van F.V. Engelenburg in Suid-Afrika (1889 – 1938) / Linda Eugéne

Brink, Linda Eugen January 2015 (has links)
This dissertation is a historical biography of F.V. Engelenburg (1863-1938) and covers the period from 1889 to 1938, when Engelenburg lived and worked in South Africa. The study situates Engelenburg in the historical landscape of the Zuid-Afrikaansche Republiek during the late nineteenth and early twentieth century. The focus is mainly on Engelenburg’s journalistic career at De Volksstem, but attention is also given to his many other interests, including the development and promotion of Afrikaans and the Afrikaans academic culture, especially in the northern parts of South Africa. His work pertaining to the development of architecture, literature, aviation, the visual and performing arts, history, libraries, museums and educational institutions comes under the spotlight. His private life is considered as well in order to portray his versatility as a person. The chapters have been subdivided to highlight the variety of matters he was involved in, and a chronological approach has been followed as is customary in a biography. The study is based on archival research. In particular, Engelenburg’s private collections were used, as well as the private collections of some of his contemporaries. Engelenburg assumes a central place in the biography, with special focus on how he perceived and experienced conditions and everyday life in South Africa from the point of view of his transnational European background. His role as influential opinion-maker and political commentator on local and international politics is highlighted. His ties with political leaders and his involvement in government affairs are emphasised. The study also refers to his continued contact with his motherland, the Netherlands, and with the Dutch language. After the Anglo- Boer War, he realised that the languages of the future in South Africa would be Afrikaans (not Dutch), alongside English. His continuing support for Afrikaans as a language of instruction in schools and universities and the development of the Afrikaans literature, as well as his support for the standardization of Afrikaans helped to establish Afrikaans as an official language alongside English and Dutch in South Africa. Engelenburg’s active contribution to the work of the Zuid-Afrikaanse Akademie voor Taal, Lettere en Kuns (now the Suid- Afrikaanse Akademie vir Wetenskap en Kuns), helped to put the organization on a sound footing for future development. The Akademie can be seen as a living monument to his work in South Africa. / PhD (History)--North-West University, Vaal Triangle Campus, 2015.
19

Die lewe, werk en invloed van F.V. Engelenburg in Suid-Afrika (1889 – 1938) / Linda Eugéne

Brink, Linda Eugen January 2015 (has links)
This dissertation is a historical biography of F.V. Engelenburg (1863-1938) and covers the period from 1889 to 1938, when Engelenburg lived and worked in South Africa. The study situates Engelenburg in the historical landscape of the Zuid-Afrikaansche Republiek during the late nineteenth and early twentieth century. The focus is mainly on Engelenburg’s journalistic career at De Volksstem, but attention is also given to his many other interests, including the development and promotion of Afrikaans and the Afrikaans academic culture, especially in the northern parts of South Africa. His work pertaining to the development of architecture, literature, aviation, the visual and performing arts, history, libraries, museums and educational institutions comes under the spotlight. His private life is considered as well in order to portray his versatility as a person. The chapters have been subdivided to highlight the variety of matters he was involved in, and a chronological approach has been followed as is customary in a biography. The study is based on archival research. In particular, Engelenburg’s private collections were used, as well as the private collections of some of his contemporaries. Engelenburg assumes a central place in the biography, with special focus on how he perceived and experienced conditions and everyday life in South Africa from the point of view of his transnational European background. His role as influential opinion-maker and political commentator on local and international politics is highlighted. His ties with political leaders and his involvement in government affairs are emphasised. The study also refers to his continued contact with his motherland, the Netherlands, and with the Dutch language. After the Anglo- Boer War, he realised that the languages of the future in South Africa would be Afrikaans (not Dutch), alongside English. His continuing support for Afrikaans as a language of instruction in schools and universities and the development of the Afrikaans literature, as well as his support for the standardization of Afrikaans helped to establish Afrikaans as an official language alongside English and Dutch in South Africa. Engelenburg’s active contribution to the work of the Zuid-Afrikaanse Akademie voor Taal, Lettere en Kuns (now the Suid- Afrikaanse Akademie vir Wetenskap en Kuns), helped to put the organization on a sound footing for future development. The Akademie can be seen as a living monument to his work in South Africa. / PhD (History)--North-West University, Vaal Triangle Campus, 2015.
20

Bydrae van Erich Mayer tot die vestiging van 'n estetiese bewussyn en die bevordering van 'n kunsidentiteit in Suid-Afrika tot aan die einde van die 1930's

Basson, Eunice L. 30 June 2003 (has links)
Text in Afrikaans / This thesis entitled The contribution of Erich Mayer towards the establishment of an aesthetic consciousness and the promotion of an art identity in South Africa to the end of the 1930s, is a study of the ideas, ideals and contributions of the German-Jewish artist Erich Mayer concerning the establishment of a national art identity in South Africa. Mayer was born in Germany in 1876. Because of ill health he came to South Africa, where he settled in 1898 and developed an affinity with the Afrikaner pioneers in the rural areas. This natural connection with the Afrikaner pioneers was the main motivation behind his participation in the Anglo-Boer War. With his sound European background and training at various art academies in Berlin and Stuttgart, he soon realised that a knowledge of European art history or any awareness of an aesthetic consciousness concerning the fine and applied arts was sadly lacking within the general South African community and more specifically amongst the early Afrikaners. As a student, Mayer developed a keen interest in traditional German arts and crafts, which, according to him, contributed to the specific national Germanic character. This interest prompted him to conduct research and document examples of folk art among the Afrikaners as well as other indigenous communities, in an attempt to establish an aesthetic awareness in South Africans, and more specifically among Afrikaners. Mayer was of the opinion that the development and marketing of these cultural objects and artefacts would contribute towards a unique art identity with a strong South African national character. Apart from his interests in the fine and applied arts, Mayer also researched the vernacular architecture, furniture design and household articles of both Afrikaner pioneers and Africans. He travelled widely in South Africa, researching his interests and presented lectures on these themes which he published in newspapers and magazines in an effort to create an awareness of the rich indigenous folk art. / Hierdie proefskrif is 'n studie oor die bydrae van die Duits-Joodse kunstenaar Erich Mayer tot die vestiging van 'n estetiese bewussyn en die bevordering van 'n kunsidentiteit in Suid-Afrika tot aan die einde van die 1930's. Mayer is in 1876 in Duitsland gebore. Weens gesondheidsredes het hy hom in 1898 in Suid-Afrika gevestig waar hy veral met die Boerepioniers op die platteland geidentifiseer het em hom gou tuis gevoel het in die landelike milieu. Hierdie natuurlike toegeneentheid tot die vroee Afrikaners het aanleiding gegee tot sy later deelname aan die Anglo-Boereoorlog. Met sy grondige Europese agtergrond en opleiding aan verskillende kunsakademies in Berlyn en Stuttgart, het Mayer gou besef dat die Suid-Afrikaanse gemeenskap in die algemeen, maar veral die vroee Afrikaners in die besonder, 'n algehele gebrek geopenbaar het aan enige Euopese kunshistoriese kennis of enige estetiese bewussyn oor die beeldende en toegepaste kunste. Mayer is vroeg reeds blootgestel aan en het besonder belanggestel in die kunshandwerk van die Duitsers wat deel uitgemaak het van eeue-oue Duitse tradisies en wat bygedra het tot die unieke nasionale volksaard van die Duitsers. Met hierdie belangstelling het Mayer stelselmatig begin om die unieke kunshandwerk van die Afrikanerpioniers te versamel. Hy het hier 'n geleentheid gesien om via voorbeelde van plaaslike kunshandwerk 'n estetiese bewussyn by die Suid-Afrikaans gemeenskap en meer spesifiek by die Afrikaner aan te wakker. Mayer was van mening dat die sinvolle ontwikkeling en bemarking van hierdie kulturele voorwerpe en ontwerpe daartoe sou kon bydra om 'n eie kunsidentiteit met sterk nasionale karakter in Suid-Afrika tot stand te bring. Wat die beeldende en toegepaste kunste betref, het Mayer 'n wye belangstellingsveld gehad en het hy ook omvattende navorsing oor die inheemse boukuns, meubelontwerpe en kunshandwerkartikels van die vroee Boerepioniers, asook oor die van die inheemse bevolkingsgroepe, onderneem. Hy het die land deurreis op soek na geskikte voorbeelde van kunshandwerkartikels, gereeld lesings aangebied en artikels gepubliseer, die alledaagse Boerelewe op die platteland visueel gedokumenteer en op die manier 'n besondere ryk nalatenskap daargestel. / History / D. Litt et Phil. (Geskiedenis)

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