The Depression of 1929-1933 was a world-wide phenomenon, in which "no aspect of the economy, no part of the world, escaped devastation". ¹ Accordingly the study of a medium sized rural town in South Africa during the period of the Depression, should show effects and reactions that were, in general, indicative of worldwide trends. In choosing Graaff- Reinet, I felt that being a close-knit community , with its urban and rural populations closely associated with each other, and the white, coloured and black sections of the population interdependent, it adequately represented a microcosm of South Africa as a whole. Then, too, Graaff- Reinet was ideally suited to illustrate the reality, that in South Africa during the Depression " the farmers were the most heavily hit of all". ² The single most significant product of the Graaff- Reinet district was wool, which at the time of the Depression was South Africa's second most important export, and consequently the well-being of the whole district depended largely on the market performance of this product . During the Depression the price of wool dropped drastically and the Graaff-Reinet farmers suffered in consequence . Graaff-Reinet also went, almost according to a blueprint, through the general phases of the Depression. The privations of the farming community led to the financial embarrassment of the local financial institutions causing their collapse , which in its turn led to the widespread hardship of everyone in the town. But these events all had a particular Graaff-Reinet quality, and the twists to the general outline are rooted deep in the local character of the district . Historically Graaff-Reinet is extremely interesting. It is the fourth oldest town in South Africa, being established in 1786, and in studying Graaf-Reinet one cannot but become conscious of the immense tradition and the awareness of history , which all its people have. The study itself starts with a general outline of the Worldwide Depre ssion, its causes and results, then moves on to the Depression in South Africa . The study of Graaff-Reinet in the Depression is divided into three basic sections, the Farmers, the Townspeople, and the Politics of Graaff-Reinet during the Depression. All three contain their own sub-divisions dealing with different aspects. In the Graaff-Reinet sections are included references to national events, tying them to, and explaining the course of, local happenings. In short the study becomes the story of how the Depression effected the people of Graaff-Reinet, how they suffered during this period and how they reacted to it. A final concluding section deals with their general recovery from the Depression. ¹ Heaton, H. : Kruger, D. W. The Economic History of Europe. p. 696. ²The Making of a Nation; a history of the Union of South Africa 19l0 - 1960. p. 158.

Thesis (MA)--Stellenbosch University, 2014. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The aim of this research is to develop a specific period in the history of the historically important Karoo town of Graaff-Reinet. The importance of the period under discussion lies in the fact that during the period in question, Graaff- Reinetters engaged in a series of socially divisive conflicts that divided the society on a racial basis based on an individual’s use of either Afrikaans or English. In the aftermath of the Anglo-Boer War, an Afrikaner nationalistic trend established a foothold on the Afrikaans speaking population of Graaff-Reinet and forced them to counter the dominance of an Imperialist and British viewpoint that had been dominant in society up to that point. This was done by fighting for the importance of Afrikaans as a language as opposed to English. These two groups of language speakers engaged in a series of literal and metaphorical frictions within different sections of society, including on a political level well as in the education of students. Apart from the conflicts between the Afrikaans and English speaking population, this research will also examine the occurrence of conflicts within the Afrikaans community of Graaff- Reinet regarding the loaded decision about what language to use from the pulpit. In short this research examines the origin and development of Afrikaner nationalism in Graaff-Reinet during the period after Unification, but more than that and on a much deeper level it also looks at the social tendencies that manifested itself within this relatively small and rural Karoo society. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die mikpunt van hierdie navorsing is om ’n spesifieke periode in die geskiedenis van die histories belangrike Karoodorp, Graaff-Reinet te belig. Die belangrikheid van die periode onder bespreking lê opgesluit in die feit dat Graaff-Reinetters in daardie tydperk in ’n reeks sosiaal verdelende konflikte gewikkel was wat die samelewing op ’n rassegrondslag verdeel het; die konflik was gebaseer op ’n individu se taalgebruik van hetsy Afrikaans of Engels. In die periode ná die Anglo-Boereoorlog het ’n Afrikanernasionalistiese tendens ’n houvas gekry op Afrikaanssprekendes op Graaff- Reinet en dit het hulle genoop om in alle erns die oorheersing van ’n Imperialistiese Britse sienswyse in die samelewing teen te werk. Dit het behels dat die belangrikheid van Afrikaans vir Afrikaanssprekendes belig is teenoor die Imperialistiese Ryksgesindes wat weer Engels as die summa summarum van tale aangevoer het. Hierdie twee groepe taalgebruikers het op etlike terreine vir mekaar die letterlike en metaforiese stryd aangesê: ondermeer in die politieke speelterrein op die dorp sowel as in die opvoeding van leerders en met die samestelling van skool- en afdelingsrade. Buiten die konflikte tussen die Afrikaans- en Engelssprekendes wat op hierdie verskillende terreine belig gaan word, kyk hierdie navorsing ook na die voorkoms van taalkonflikte binne Afrikanerkringe self en hoe dit tot uiting gekom in die keuse van ’n taal by godsdiensbeoefening op die dorp. In kort fokus hierdie tesis dus op die voorkoms en opbou van Afrikanernasionalisme op Graaff-Reinet in veral die tydperk ná Uniewording, maar dit kyk ook op ’n wyer vlak na die onderliggende sosiale tendense wat deur die dekades heen op hierdie relatief klein Karoodorp gemanifesteer het.

The study of local history in South Africa is still in its infancy and has not been accorded the same recognition as elsewhere. There is no convenient manual to guide the would-be local historian of the Cape. There are few models that provide an insight into the main problems encountered by the local historian of a Cape community. In such local histories as exist, attention has been focussed predominantly on the foundation and physical growth of towns, the naming of streets, the establishment of schools and hospitals. Many of these accounts were written for publicity purposes or to commemorate the founding of towns. Although there is no history of the Dutch Reformed Church in Graaff-Reinet, the history of local congregations of the Dutch Reformed Church has generally been well covered in the form of Gedenkboeke and other studies. These frequently have a particular relevance as many towns such as Burgersdorp and Colesberg were founded as a result of the initiative of the church. Preface.

Thesis (PhD)--Stellenbosch University, 2014. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This study aims to understand the role that 19th century photography can play in the reconstruction of an era and in the conservation of cultural heritage in the 21st century. The photo collection of William Roe, a photographer from Graaff-Reinet, is used as an example. The origin and development of Graaff-Reinet is used as background information and major events such as the Great Trek, the arrival of the railway, the Anglo-Boer War, the First World War and the Great Flu are touched upon. Aspects such as education, churches, the library and the hospital in Graaff-Reinet complement the study. An overview of the development of photography covers several early photo-making processes. These include the daguerreotype process, Talbot's paper negative process, collotype and the popular carte de visite photographs. Photography specifically in South Africa is also conferred, with particular reference to the first photographers working in the country. Reference is made to the important influences major events like the discovery of diamonds and gold as well as the Anglo-Boer War had on photography. The discussion of William Roe as human being and his legacy as a photographer forms an integral part of the study. The Victorian period is discussed since this was the period in which Roe worked and lived. It had a formative influence on his workmanship. An overview of the Victorian period in England is followed by specific focus on South Africa during this time. The rush to the diamond fields, issues with language and the trends of the times are pointed out. Many of these trends are specifically indicated and discussed as they appear in Roe’s photos. The photos have been categorized to clarify analysis of the different cultural phenomena. The architecture and historical background of Graaff-Reinet’s churches and public buildings are discussed. Streetscapes and images of the town as a whole show the development and daily activities that took place. Photos of clothing represent a reconstruction of the fashions of the concurrent Victorian era and those of public events such as sporting events, celebrations, plays and a gathering during the Anglo-Boer War, display the social life of the community. The role of human memory in the writing of cultural history is compared with the “memory” role of photographs. At the same time the ability of photographs to reflect not only physical culture, but also abstract concepts, receives attention. The use of these abilities of photography in the preservation of culture is a challenge for conservationists of the 21th century. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie studie het ten doel om die rol wat 19de-eeuse fotografie kan vervul in die rekonstruksie van ’n era en in die bewaring van kultuurgoedere vir die 21ste eeu, aan te spreek. Die fotoversameling van William Roe van Graaff-Reinet word as voorbeeld gebruik. Die ontstaan en ontwikkeling van Graaff-Reinet word as agtergrond behandel en belangrike gebeurtenisse soos onder meer Die Groot Trek, die koms van die spoorlyn, die Anglo- Boereoorlog, die Eerste Wêreldoorlog en die Groot Griep word uitgewys. Aspekte soos opvoeding, kerke, die biblioteek en hospitaal is aanvullend bestudeer om ’n volledige beeld van Graaff-Reinet daar te stel. ’n Oorsig oor die ontwikkeling van fotografie dek verskeie vroeë fotoprosesse soos die daguerreoproses, Talbot se papiernegatief, die calotipe-fotoproses en die gewilde carte-devisite- foto's. Fotografie in Suid-Afrika word bespreek met spesifieke verwysing na die eerste fotograwe wat in die land werksaam was. Daar word verwys na die invloed wat belangrike gebeurtenisse soos die ontdekking van diamante en goud, asook die Anglo-Boereoorlog, op fotografie in Suid-Afrika gehad het. Die ondersoek na William Roe as mens sowel as sy nalatenskap as fotograaf vorm ’n belangrike onderdeel van die studie. Die Victoriaanse era word bespreek aangesien dit die tydperk was waarin Roe geleef en gewerk het, en dus ’n vormende invloed op sy werk gehad het. ’n Oorsig oor die Victoriaanse era in Engeland word gevolg deur ’n beskouing van dié era in Suid-Afrika. Die stormloop na die diamantvelde, taalkwessies en heersende modeneigings word uitgewys. Baie van die modeneigings word tydens die ontleding van die kultuurverskynsels op die Roe-foto’s opgemerk en bespreek. Die foto’s vir die ontleding van kultuurverskynsels is in kategorieë ingedeel. Die argitektuur en historiese agtergrond van kerke en openbare geboue word bespreek. Straat- en dorpsbeelde dui die ontwikkeling van en bedrywighede op die dorp aan. Kleredragfoto’s bied ’n rekonstruksie van die modes van die Victoriaanse era terwyl die foto’s van openbare geleenthede soos sportbyeenkomste, feesvieringe, toneelopvoerings asook ’n samekoms tydens die Anglo-Boereoorlog die sosiale lewe van die inwoners van die dorp aandui. Die rol van die menslike geheue in kultuurgeskiedskrywing word vergelyk met die rol van foto’s as “geheue”. Terselfdertyd word die vermoë van foto’s om nie net fisiese kultuur te weerspieël nie, maar ook abstrakte konsepte te verteenwoordig, behandel. Die aanwending van hierdie eienskappe van fotografie in kultuurbewaring is ’n uitdaging vir bewaringskundiges van die 21ste eeu.