Thank you Philip for raising this in G2G (and your confidence in me J). My interests are in developing clear cut understandable place name categorizations for South Africa, taking into account the geo-political history of the nation, the Boer Republics and the earlier Dutch and British interests, before Union and eventually Republic.
Why? I am presently categorizing some 1,000 Rhodesian/Southern Rhodesian profiles, many of whom have origins in the Cape. The other half of my family I am beginning to research have deep South African roots and origins (principally the Mullers and the Pietersens). Many profiles in my Rhodesian Rolls of Honour (personal) project are of South African origin. Little work has been done on South African Place name categorization, and hence little categorisation exists on Cemeteries (there are only about 5 South African cemeteries listed!) and other genealogical significant categories. As it stands, I can see a little of what has been done to be incorrect, there are duplications, or categorization has not followed the place name guidelines of the Categorization Project, of which I am a member.
That said, I understand the deep concerns of those in the various South African projects. As I see it, this ‘mini-project’ is an iterative process and it shall see gradual introduction of place names over a period of time, as and when required. I also accept the need for collaboration with the projects, hence my joining the South African Roots Project. I am happy to join others for purpose of collaboration. I did message the SA Roots Project through its Google Group, but am yet to receive a response. My concern is that if nobody starts working place name categories, hence my initiative, then nothing will happen. That means the cemeteries work cannot be done.
To Esme van der Westhuisen, might I fully agree that there so much work to do, but as I say above it’s a gradual and iterative process. Someone needs to kick start it. I am volunteering to do the work on South African place names, working on accepted guidelines of the Categorisation Project. I should also stress the point, that we must not set up hundreds of categories which remain unused, but we must have a logical, understandable structure for everybody to work with. So this should not be seen as a ‘large bulk project’ . Philip well knows the dangers of creating categories too quickly.
Might I suggest that all the South African Projects, get their heads together and agree a strategy on place names. I am happy to volunteer leading a sub-project on place names.
I do not believe Natalie should stop the bot, but I shall ask if rather than a ‘rename category’ we do a ‘merge category’ for exactly the reasons first proposed by me. Agreed that perhaps it can go on the back burner for now. I have requested the change based on historic fact. The category, Cape Colony, will be easily misconstrued as either the Dutch or the British Cape Colonies. The category, The Dutch Cape Colony 1652-1806 was specifically set up to avoid the confusion. Natalie and I have communicated on the 'back channel' on this matter.
Andrew Field.
