The archival records on Chinese slaves, convicts, exiles and ‘free blacks' at the Cape of Good Hope (1654 -1838): Conceptualising a digital curation project

dc.contributor.advisorKahn, Michelle
dc.contributor.advisorBam-Hutchison, June
dc.contributor.authorChen, Vanessa
dc.date.accessioned2022-02-09T08:56:01Z
dc.date.available2022-02-09T08:56:01Z
dc.date.issued2021
dc.date.updated2022-01-31T11:37:03Z
dc.description.abstractDespite the growth of digital archives, there is no dedicated repository that systematically compiles the history of Chinese migration to South Africa. This qualitative study used 62 archival records housed at the Western Cape Archives and Records Service, to explore how the application of digital curation (particularly digitisation of materials) can be used in presenting, preserving and sharing the history on the first wave of Chinese slaves, convicts, exiles and ‘free blacks' at the Cape of Good Hope (1654 -1838). The study method consisted of three parts. First, a thorough literature search and understanding on the theoretical, practical and technical components of the subject. Second, the systematic collection and analyses of archival records (through a customised document analysis form) and third, an exploration on what digital curation can offer in terms of facilitating the access to and the preservation of these records. The study exists under a relativist paradigm which believes that reality is a product of power relations. It was found that the records provide valuable insight into the Cape's political development (from Dutch to British rule) and social hierarchies between Chinese individuals at the time. The archival content, being of historical significance, is in fact at a risk of physical and epistemological loss. This loss can be addressed through the application of digital curation which this study explores conceptually from the conception of a digital project to the use, reuse and dissemination of digital surrogates. It is hoped that this study can be used as a foundation or framework for refiguring the colonial archive and bringing other neglected South African histories to the forefront.
dc.identifier.apacitationChen, V. (2021). <i>The archival records on Chinese slaves, convicts, exiles and ‘free blacks' at the Cape of Good Hope (1654 -1838): Conceptualising a digital curation project</i>. (). ,Faculty of Humanities ,Department of Knowledge and Information Stewardship. Retrieved from http://hdl.handle.net/11427/35654en_ZA
dc.identifier.chicagocitationChen, Vanessa. <i>"The archival records on Chinese slaves, convicts, exiles and ‘free blacks' at the Cape of Good Hope (1654 -1838): Conceptualising a digital curation project."</i> ., ,Faculty of Humanities ,Department of Knowledge and Information Stewardship, 2021. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/35654en_ZA
dc.identifier.citationChen, V. 2021. The archival records on Chinese slaves, convicts, exiles and ‘free blacks' at the Cape of Good Hope (1654 -1838): Conceptualising a digital curation project. . ,Faculty of Humanities ,Department of Knowledge and Information Stewardship. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/35654en_ZA
dc.identifier.ris TY - Master Thesis AU - Chen, Vanessa AB - Despite the growth of digital archives, there is no dedicated repository that systematically compiles the history of Chinese migration to South Africa. This qualitative study used 62 archival records housed at the Western Cape Archives and Records Service, to explore how the application of digital curation (particularly digitisation of materials) can be used in presenting, preserving and sharing the history on the first wave of Chinese slaves, convicts, exiles and ‘free blacks' at the Cape of Good Hope (1654 -1838). The study method consisted of three parts. First, a thorough literature search and understanding on the theoretical, practical and technical components of the subject. Second, the systematic collection and analyses of archival records (through a customised document analysis form) and third, an exploration on what digital curation can offer in terms of facilitating the access to and the preservation of these records. The study exists under a relativist paradigm which believes that reality is a product of power relations. It was found that the records provide valuable insight into the Cape's political development (from Dutch to British rule) and social hierarchies between Chinese individuals at the time. The archival content, being of historical significance, is in fact at a risk of physical and epistemological loss. This loss can be addressed through the application of digital curation which this study explores conceptually from the conception of a digital project to the use, reuse and dissemination of digital surrogates. It is hoped that this study can be used as a foundation or framework for refiguring the colonial archive and bringing other neglected South African histories to the forefront. DA - 2021_ DB - OpenUCT DP - University of Cape Town KW - Digital Curation LK - https://open.uct.ac.za PY - 2021 T1 - The archival records on Chinese slaves, convicts, exiles and ‘free blacks' at the Cape of Good Hope (1654 -1838): Conceptualising a digital curation project TI - The archival records on Chinese slaves, convicts, exiles and ‘free blacks' at the Cape of Good Hope (1654 -1838): Conceptualising a digital curation project UR - http://hdl.handle.net/11427/35654 ER - en_ZA
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/11427/35654
dc.identifier.vancouvercitationChen V. The archival records on Chinese slaves, convicts, exiles and ‘free blacks' at the Cape of Good Hope (1654 -1838): Conceptualising a digital curation project. []. ,Faculty of Humanities ,Department of Knowledge and Information Stewardship, 2021 [cited yyyy month dd]. Available from: http://hdl.handle.net/11427/35654en_ZA
dc.language.rfc3066eng
dc.publisher.departmentDepartment of Knowledge and Information Stewardship
dc.publisher.facultyFaculty of Humanities
dc.subjectDigital Curation
dc.titleThe archival records on Chinese slaves, convicts, exiles and ‘free blacks' at the Cape of Good Hope (1654 -1838): Conceptualising a digital curation project
dc.typeMaster Thesis
dc.type.qualificationlevelMasters
dc.type.qualificationlevelMPhil
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