Duggan-Cronin Gallery

credit: https://museumsnc.co.za/new_site/satellites/duggan-cronin-gallery/

AVAILABLE: Guided Tours | Family Friendly | OPEN: Monday – Friday | MORE INFO: Museum Website

Table of Contents

Introduction

If you’re looking for a unique and fascinating destination in the Northern Cape, the Duggan-Cronin Gallery is definitely worth a visit. Located in the historical city of Kimberley, this photographic museum houses a collection of rare and intriguing photographs of the indigenous peoples of southern Africa, taken between 1919 and 1980.

About the Gallery

The Duggan-Cronin Gallery is named after Alfred Duggan-Cronin, the first curator of the collection. Duggan-Cronin arrived in Kimberley in 1897 and began to build up a photographic record of the different tribes working in the De Beers mines. He later undertook expeditions to the main tribal areas, where he captured photographs of the people before Western influence drastically changed their traditional ways of life.

Today, the McGregor Museum is responsible for managing and maintaining the Duggan-Cronin Gallery. The collection at the gallery consists of negatives, prints, and artefacts of material culture of the tribes. These artefacts include beadwork, costumes, pottery, iron tools, and wood carvings. The gallery is housed in a building originally known as “The Lodge”, which was built in 1889 for John Blades Currey, the manager of the London and South African Exploration Company. The building became the property of De Beers Consolidated Mines Ltd. in 1899 and was used as a home for William Pickering, the Secretary and later Director of De Beers, before being donated to the Kimberley City Council in 1938.

Interesting Facts

One of the most intriguing aspects of the Duggan-Cronin Gallery is the insight it provides into traditional life and dress that has now largely vanished.
The photographs on display depict the various tribes and cultures that once thrived in the southern African region, including the Bushmen and Bantu tribes. Many of the photographs have been included in publications such as The Bushmen Tribes of Southern Africa and The Bantu Tribes of South Africa.
In addition to the fascinating photographs, visitors can also marvel at the various artefacts on display, which offer a glimpse into the material culture of the different tribes.
The beadwork, costumes, pottery, iron tools, and wood carvings are all testament to the remarkable skill and creativity of the indigenous peoples of southern Africa.

Physical Location

Conclusion

The Duggan-Cronin Gallery is a must-visit destination for anyone interested in the history and culture of southern Africa. The photographs and artefacts on display provide a unique and fascinating insight into the traditional ways of life and dress of the various tribes that once inhabited the region. So make your way to Kimberley and discover the wonders of the Duggan-Cronin Gallery for yourself.