Family history and genealogy
May 29, 2025
It is one of Vladimir Tretchikoff’s most sensual paintings, titled “Thou Shalt Not Commit Adultery”. The model was an ordinary woman from Grabouw, who drank Earl Grey tea and shared a home-made Swiss roll cake with the Russian artist at Read more…
May 22, 2025
How many South African visitors to San Francisco know about the city’s connection to South Africa? Very few! Norton the First was the Emperor of the United States of America from the day he proclaimed his ascension to the throne Read more…
A South African was buried in a common grave at Arlington National Cemetery, Virginia, USA, and unbeknownst to his family for 30 years. Lieutenant Victor Potgieter was born on 30 November 1914 and grew up in Carolina, South Africa, the Read more…
May 20, 2025
On 20 May 1873, Levi Strauss and Jacob William Davis received a US patent for the process of putting rivets in men’s work trousers, marking the birth of what would become a fashion staple worldwide. Although denim trousers had been Read more…
May 12, 2025
This article was originally written in 1999. Following the Anglo-Boer War, large numbers of Boers left South Africa. They emigrated to Comodoro Rivadavia in Argentina, Mexico, German East Africa (Tanganyika) and the USA. Pieter (Piet) Arnoldus CRONJE was born on Read more…
May 11, 2025
Ivan DE VILLIERS was born on 31 March 1892 in the Griquastad area of South Africa, the son of Pieter Gysbertus DE VILLIERS and Agnes Margaret Josephine MELLE. His nickname was Slim. His father was born on 05 December 1839 Read more…
South Africa’s early aviation is rich in stories and often little-known facts. I’ve looked at some people and events that shaped the industry. FACT OR MYTH? William John HOUSHOLD immigrated to South Africa from England with his wife, Elizabeth, and Read more…
The SOUTHEY family gathered at Hoekwil, near George, in September 2008 for the celebration of the 100th birthday of Ruth SOUTHEY, daughter-in-law of the late Fred SOUTHEY of Hillmoor, Steynsburg. The almost 100 guests were mostly descendants of Fred and Read more…
May 10, 2025
Six people died and thirty-six were injured in Kuruman after a bomb was accidentally dropped on a crowd during a military show on 28 May 1924 at about 16:00. The air show was organised by the Kuruman Commando with Defence Read more…
If you’ve had a glass of Chateau Libertas, Nederburg, Lieberstein, Grünberger, Tassenberg, Graça or many other wines, you can raise a glass to Dr William Charles WINSHAW. Many of South Africa’s most popular wine brands belong to present-day producer-wholesaler Distell Read more…