Showing posts with label genealogy. Show all posts

12.7.25

Using AI to identify photos.

I inherited this unnamed photograph from my father, who in turn inherited it from my grandmother, Pieteriza Cilliers van Ellewee. You can read more about the photo here.
I requested additional details and a date for the picture from ChatGPT.
I made use of the free edition.

It was a really fast response.

🗓️ Dating the Photo Based on your grandmother’s birth in 1901, and the visual clues in the photo, the school photo most likely dates from around 1908 to 1912, possibly as early as 1905. Here’s why: 🔍 Visual & Historical Clues
📚 Setting & Chalkboard: The writing on the back wall says “A III School Mesklip” (or possibly “A IIIe klas” — which would be “Standard III”, or grade 5 in the old Cape Colony school system). The rough plaster wall and bare ground are typical of rural Cape Province school buildings in the early 1900s. “Mesklip” likely refers to Matzikama region, possibly near Vanrhynsdorp, which fits beautifully with your family’s history.
👗 Clothing Styles: The girls’ dresses, with high necklines, long sleeves, and bows, are typical of 1900–1912. Boys wear a mix of Norfolk jackets, sailor collars, and short pants — all popular before WWI. Hair is neatly parted and long on the girls, short and slicked on the boys — another early Edwardian trend.
🪑 Photographic Style & Format: The sepia tone and the cabinet card-style mount (6½” × 4″) were standard in late 1800s to early 1900s. The mounting style suggests this was a studio photographer’s field visit or a photo professionally developed offsite. 🇿🇦 Cape Colony Education Context In 1905, the Cape Education Department was expanding formal schooling in rural areas like Vanrhynsdorp. By 1907–1910, even smaller farm schools were photographing their pupils, especially around standard III–V.
✅ Final Estimation:
📅 Circa 1908–1912, likely taken in the Mesklip (or Masklip) area near Vanrhynsdorp, at a rural school where your grandmother may have been a student or just too young to attend. I've added more images along with really useful descriptions. I think it's a very helpful tool.

ChatGPT: AI-Powered Genealogy – See Your Images Differently Gen-AI and Genealogy Made Simple Orphan Photo/Onbekende foto.

P.S. My signature was made with ChatGPT.

13.1.24

Genealogy do-over.

What better way to start the new year than with a genealogy do-over, especially with the chilly weather we have been having?

Thomas MacEntee - My Genealogy Do-Over.

I've made a useful Google Sheets chart to monitor the development of my family history research. Excel can also be used for this. The spreadsheet displays some of the genealogical records I own for individuals in my family tree. Seeing what I still need and using this chart during free campaigns, like Ancestry's free Remembrance Day search, is quite helpful. Easily sharing the material with family and having access to it across several devices are just a couple of the benefits.

An easy Google docs tutorial for family history work [2022]

I've included links to online documents, family trees, websites, etc. To save space, I've inserted comments. You can download a copy of the template here to edit or print for personnel use only.

Genealogy do-over group on Facebook, look in the files for free PDFs.

Google Sheets: Getting Started

Ancestry Free Charts and Forms

You might also like:

Organizing family photos.

Familie fotos organisasie

Tokeloshe©

29.1.23

Nieuwoudt.

Nieuwoudt (Nederland)

Isaak Nieuwout (Niewout), SV/PROG was my 6de Oupagrootjie.

‘Geslagsregisters van die Ou Kaapse Families’, deur C.C. de Villiers, en C. Pama, 1966 Isaac

NIEUWOUDT (* Holland), van Amsterdam “kwam naar Zuid-Afrika als weduwenaar en hertrouwde Anna van Wijk”. Sy aankoms aan die Kaap was omstreeks 1716. Blykbaar kon hy eers trou nadat hy in 1723 burgerskap ontvang het in Drakenstein. Nieuwe Woudt is ŉ pleknaam naby Groningen, Holland. Hy was soldaat en later chirurgyn x Kaapstad Johanna (Anna) VAN WYK (≈ 13 Jun 1688), d.v. Willem van Wyk en Catharina Hillebrandt

Skakels:

Ou Kaapse Families A-O Oude Kaapsche Familien Part 2 by Christoffel Coetzee DE VILLIERS
NIEUWOUDT Kwartierstaat
Moustache
Nieuwoudt en Scheepers.
Nieuwoudt Familie Navorsing Facebook Groep
Ball (Wolfaadrt, Nieuwoudt, Van Biljon, ens.)

Ons Nieuwoudt Stamboom.

Petrus Smit (16.2.1857-23.8.1937) my Oupagrootjie en sy vrou Anna Catharina Nieuwoudt (25.10.1863- 7.7.1906) Foto Die foto is gerestoreer en gekleur deur "Restoring and Coloring Old Family Pictures", 'n groep op Facebook.

My Oupa Jan Harmse Nieuwoudt Smit en sy swaer Jan Harmse NIEUWOUDT * April 01, 1862 Calvinia, Namakwa, Noord Kaap, Suid Afrika,

Circa 1948 Clanwilliam

Ek het fotos van haar broer en familie as iemand belangstel daarin kan hulle my hier kontak.

TOKELOSHE ©

19.10.22

The Strangers in the Box.

These are photos I acquired from Where on Earth? Antique Mall in Airdrie, Alberta, Canada. Unfortunately, the photos do not have much information. Click on thumbnails for larger images.

I think most of the photos are from Circa 1900 and were probably taken in Canada and the U.S.A. Some are printed on postcards with handwriting on the back. One postcard has the photographer's stamp on the back. Some are matted and stamped with the photographer's signature.

The Strangers in the Box.

Come, look with me inside this drawer
In this box I’ve often seen,
At the pictures, black and white, |
Faces proud, still and serene.

I wish I knew the people,
These strangers in the box,
Their names and all their memories
Are lost among the socks.

I wonder what their lives were like,
How did they spend their days?
What about their special times?
I’ll never know their ways.

If only someone would have taken time,
To tell who, what, and when,
Those faces of my heritage
Would come to life again.

Could this become the fate
Of the pictures we take today?
The faces and the memories
Someday to be tossed away.

Make time to save your pictures,
Seize the opportunity when it knocks,
Or someday you and yours could be
The strangers in the box.

Author: Pam Harazim.

Photographer's signatures.

Baldwin, Sioux City, (Iowa, USA)

Baldwin, Successor to Beamer, Sioux City, (Iowa, USA)

C.C Du Pois, Melfort, Saskatchewan (Canada.)

I. Hilcell, Artist, Beresford, S.O. Dak (South Dakota, U.S.A)

I. Frad, Photographer, Centerville, S.D. (South Dakota, U.S.A)

Waterworth Studio, Central Avenue. Prince Albert, (Saskatchewan) Canada. Printed on the back of the postcard

Artist, Beresford. (New Brunswick, Canada)

Keller's, Beresford. (New Brunswick, Canada)

Orphan photo

"The Old Scrapbook" By C. Nathalie Ellen Milliken

It speaks of times now long ago
In a voice so soft and low,

Come, my friend, see what you can see,
Come and take a look at me.

My bright colors are faded and dim,

But my spirit is bright within,

Pictures of people in days gone by,
Laughing and crying, we know not why,

Cards and pamphlets, and programs old,
What are the stories they have told?

Wrapping paper, an old gift tag,
Pieces of this, and bits of that,

Little treasures that people have saved,
Celebrations of special days,

So many mem’ries my pages fill,
They’re waiting now to give you a thrill,

So come, my friend, come take a look,
I am a very special old book,

My binding is cracked, but my heart is whole.
Looking at me is like finding gold.

TOKELOSHE ©

17.10.22

With the Flag to Pretoria.

WITH THE FLAG TO PRETORIA, AND AFTER PRETORIA: THE GUERILLA WAR. Part 65 A History of the Boer War 1899-1900. Size: 13" x 10" General Louis Botha is on the cover with his decorated Mauser rifle and was himself present at the battle of Brakenlaagte. Printed Circa 1901 in Canada. There is no index. Acquired from Where on Earth? Antique Mall in Airdrie, Alberta, Canada.

WITH THE FLAG TO PRETORIA, AND AFTER PRETORIA: THE GUERILLA WAR Image from Magazine. A picture of General Louis Botha (1862-1919), the South African statesman and first Prime Minister of the Union of South Africa (1910-19)

General Louise Botha on Geni.com

"Louis Botha (Afrikaans pronunciation: [ˈlu.i ˈbuəta]; 27 September 1862 – 27 August 1919) was a South African politician who was the first prime minister of the Union of South Africa—the forerunner of the modern South African state. A Boer war hero during the Second Boer War, he eventually fought to have South Africa become a British Dominion." - Wikipedia

With Colonel Benson's column in the Transvaal: Boers surprised at breakfast. Page 35 Drawing by Charles M. Sheldon Charles Mills Sheldon worked as a war correspondent In South Africa for the Second Boer War from 1899

"Reading the histories of the Boer War, the column commander who most stands out for his skill, leadership and cunning is Colonel George Benson, RA."- Anglo Boer War.

The Boers charge at Brakenlaagte. Drawing by John Charlton

"John Charlton (1849–1917) was an English painter and illustrator of historical and especially battle scenes, mainly from contemporary history." - Wikepedia

"The Battle of Bakenlaagte occurred on 30 October 1901 during the guerrilla phase of Anglo-Boer war of 1899–1902. The battle saw the Eastern Transvaal Boer commandos of Generals Grobler, Brits, Viljoen and Louis Botha attack the rear guard of Colonel Benson's much feared No. 3 Flying Column while it was in marching formation to its base camp."

Slag van Bakenlaagte Battle of Bakenlaagte

Boer families in the concentration camp at Eshowe, Zululand. Photo.

Commandant Christoffel Botha.

The man on the left with a grey beard is C. Botha. Cousin of Commandant General. He was wounded at Elandslaagte and when barely recovered from his wound was captured by General Plumer between Wakkerstroom and Piet Retief. Being a leader, he was banished under Lord Kitchener's proclamation. Photo. "The Boer Commandos or "Kommandos" were volunteer military units of guerilla militia organized by the Boer people of South Africa. From this came the term "commando" into the English language during the Second Boer War of 1899-1902 as per Costica Andrew."- Wikipedia

TOKELOSHE ©

27.4.21

Sommige Skole in Suid Afrika.

Alfabeties.

L.W. Die fotos is laë resolusie, sodat hulle vinnig kan laai.
Kontak my hier, indien U in hoër resolusie fotos belangstel.
For English use the Translate button on the right.

Discoveryskool, Roodepoort
Std. 5. Afr,
Februarie 1948
My Ma: Twede ry, derde van links.
Foto : Photo Zaal, Roodepoort
Slegs Laë Resolusie.

Hoërskool Richardsbaai. Ons seun het na die skool toe gegaan. Slegs Laë Resolusie.

Laerskool President, Klerksdorp. Facebook

Facebook Ek was in Std 3 in die skool

Laerskool Werda, Springs (Facebook) Ek en my man het na die skool toe gegaan. Slegs Laë Resolusie.

Laerskool Werda, Springs (Facebook) Slegs Laë Resolusie.

Mesklip Namakwaland Klik bo vir meer informasie.

Piet Potgieter Hoërskool, Potgietersrus. Webtuiste Piet Potgieter skoolmaats (Facebook Group)
Slegs Laë Resolusie.

My Ma het Piet Potgieter Hoërskool toe gegaan

Piet Potgieter Hoërskool, Potgietersrus. Jaarblad 1950 Voorblad

2 de van regs voor is Mara Myburgh my Ma se musiek onderwyseres.

My ma is in die foto bo heel links.

Ek dink dit is 'n groep foto van my Ma se klas. Ek dink sy het haarself uit die foto uit geskeur.
Piet Potgieter Hoërskool, Potgietersrus. Circa 1952.

Primêre Skool Richardsbaai. Richards Bay Primary School (Facebook)
Ons seun was in die skool.
Slegs Laë Resolusie.