Cape Panel

The Cape of Good Hope Panel is a vital research initiative that focuses on the collection and analysis of tax censuses from the Cape Colony, spanning the 17th to 19th centuries. This project aims to transcribe and digitize these annual tax censuses, known as opgaafrolle, which encompass detailed information about a diverse population of over 50,000 settlers, enslaved individuals, and indigenous Khoesan people living within the colony's economic framework. Supported by a generous grant from the Bank of Sweden Tercentenary Foundation, the project aspires to illuminate economic and social dynamics of the colonial period through robust data analysis.

The Cape of Good Hope Panel also collaborates with renowned academic institutions, enabling innovative research on topics such as living standards, social mobility, and the impact of slavery on the colonial economy. Recent presentations at esteemed venues, including MIT and the Bonn Center for Dependency and Slavery Studies, showcase the project's commitment to enriching the understanding of this complex historical landscape.