New Collection Release from British Online Archives: British Colonial Rule in the Cape of Good Hope and Basutoland, 1854–1910
Established by the Dutch East India Company in 1652, the Cape colony came under British control in 1806. The discovery of diamonds and gold in the 1860s rendered it perhaps the most important and prosperous British colony in Africa. Containing over 90,000 images, this collection tracks the administration of the Cape from 1854 to the formation of the Union of South Africa in 1910. It also includes material on British Kaffraria and Basutoland (present-day Lesotho).
The sources evidence the development of constitutional governance and infrastructure, as well as the growth of key industries, such as mining. Although the Cape was controlled by a minority class of white settlers, this collection nevertheless provides valuable glimpses into African culture and communities, providing numerous examples of resistance to imperialism.
It will interest students and researchers exploring the development of South Africa. The collection should also appeal to those engaging with the broader histories of Africa and British imperialism.