CAPE TOWN FAMILY HISTORY SOCIETY

NEWS FROM THE WESTERN CAPE ARCHIVES: JUNE 2008

The Reading Room is presently being renovated to conform to modern standards and facilitate the newest computer technology. New and additional tables/workplaces will be available. The eastern and western sections of the room will have 26 and 14 tables respectively, in total seating for 40 researchers. Each table has electrical points and wiring to facilitate future computer connectivity.
The computer rooms behind the counter will have 6 computer workstations initially, with a further 2 workstations to be added later.

New shelving in the Reading Room sections, as well as in the Finding Aids Room section, will house the prints of the photograph collections, finding aids and computer printouts. The new lighting conforms to the latest energy saving technology and also modern design standards. Aesthetic touches to all doors such as modern doorhandles and colour finishes, new window blinds and floor tiles complete the picture of the new Reading Room.

The Reading Room staff are very enthusiastic about the new look of their working environment and trust that it will also enhance the research experience of our regular clients and also first time visitors in the future.

OF INTEREST: OUR OLDEST DOCUMENT

Many visitors to the Western Cape Archives ask to see the oldest document in our holdings. It is shown to them and the date is mentioned, but as it is very difficult to read the exact content and the reason why it was created is not always elaborated on. So here is a title and short description:

RESOLUTIONS OF THE COUNCIL MEETING ON BOARD THE SHIP DROMMEDARIS, SATURDAY 30 DECEMBER 1651 (C. 1, p. 2)

Six days prior to the above date, on Sunday 24 December 1651, the fleet of three ships of the Chamber of Amsterdam that was to establish the VOC replenishment station at the Cape of Good Hope, left Texel in the Netherlands. The ships were:

Drommedaris (Captain Davit Coninck)
Goede Hoope (Captain Symen Turver)
Reijger (Captain Jan Hoochsaet)

Six days later, on Saturday 30 December 1651, a Council meeting of these three captains, Jan van Riebeeck and Pieter van Helm, the Provisional Secretary, was held on board the Drommedaris. Our oldest document represents the minutes of this meeting. The exact wording and also translations thereof are available in a number of sources and anyone interested can visit our Reading Room.

Jaco van der Merwe
Principal Archivist
Western Cape Archives and Records Service