Gustav Preller

Gustav Schoeman Preller (4 October 1875 in Klein Schoemansdal, Klipdrift, Pretoria – 7 October 1943 in Pelindaba) was a journalist, historian, writer and literary critic. He fought for the recognition of Afrikaans. Preller helped the Afrikaner to awake to the importance of the history of South Africa. He made great contributions to the writing of South African history, through his research and the literature. He also contributed greatly to making South Africans aware of the legacy of the Voortrekkers and also played an early part in planning the Voortrekker Monument.

Gustav Preller
Born
Gustav Schoeman Preller

(1875-10-04)4 October 1875
Klein Schoemansdal, Klipdrift, Pretoria
Died7 October 1943(1943-10-07) (aged 68)
Pelindaba, South Africa
NationalitySouth African
Known forAuthor, editor and historian
SpouseHannie Pretorius
Parents
  • Robert Logie Preller (father)
  • Stefina Schoeman (mother)

Background

Gustav was the son of Comdt. Robert Logie Preller and Stefina Schoeman (daughter of the Voortrekker Gen. Stephanus Schoeman). His parents farmed near Standerton where he attended school for only 3 years.[1]: 524  Later he worked in Pretoria as a shop-assistant, an articled clerk and a civil servant, studying diligently when he found the time.[1]: 524  When the Boer War started, he was working as a clerk for the Department of Mines and would marry Johanna, the granddaughter of M. W. Pretorius (i.e. 'Swart Martiens', the cousin of M. W. Pretorius) and Deborah Retief, in 1898.[1]: 524 

During the Anglo-Boer War, he was part of the Pretoria Commando serving in the artillery but was captured at Ermelo and sent to India as a prisoner of war.[1]: 524 [2]: 130  On his return to the Transvaal Colony in 1902 at the end of the war, there was no job for him at the Department of Mines and he considered emigrating to Argentina, but was offered the editorship of Land en Volk.[1]: 524  By 1903 he was editor of De Volkstem, the mouthpiece of Louis Botha's future party, Het Volk.[1]: 524  He increased the circulation from 2,000 to 20,000.[1]: 525 

As a supporter of Louis Botha, he became a South African Party member from its creation in 1910 with the formation of the Union of South Africa.He was a South African Freemason.|[3] He was editor of Die Brandwag magazine from 1910 until 1922.[1]: 524  After the death of Botha in 1919 his loyalty wavered and he joined the National Party in 1925.[1]: 524  He became editor of the party's mouthpiece, Ons Vaderland.[1]: 524  During the period of his various editorships, he conducted historical research into the histories of the Boers in Natal and the Transvaal and the Great Trek and Anglo-Boer wars.[1]: 525  In 1936, Preller was appointed as the state historian, which position he held until his death.[1]: 525 

Bibliography

Some of his works included,[2]: 130 

  • Piet Retief, 1906
  • Voortrekkermense, 1918–38, six volumes of documents about the Great Trek
  • Oorlogsoormag, 1923, study of the Anglo-Boer War
  • Andries Pretorius, 1938
  • Ons Parool, 1938
  • Talana, Die Drie Generaals-slag by Dundee, met Lewensskets van Genl. Daniel Erasmus, 1942

Legacy

The South African Academy of Science and Art (Afrikaans: Die Suid-Afrikaanse Akademie vir Wetenskap en Kuns) gives out the annual Gustav Preller Award, which has been awarded since 1909.

Further reading
  • Antonissen, Rob (1973). Die Afrikaanse Letterkunde - van aanvang tot hede. (The Afrikaans Literature - from beginning till now) Nasou.
  • Dekker, G. (1974). Afrikaanse Literatuurgeskiedenis. (History of Afrikaans Literature) Nasou Limited.
  • Geldenhuys, D.J.C. (1967). Pannevis en Preller - met hul pleidooie. (Pannevis and Preller - with their pleas) Johannesburg: Voortrekkerpers.
  • Rousseau, Leon (1984). Die Groot Verlange. (The great yearning) Kaapstad: Human en Rousseau.
  • Scholtz, J. du P. (1980). Wording en Ontwikkeling van Afrikaans. (The origin and development of Afrikaans) Kaapstad: Tafelberg-Uitgewers Limited.

References
  1. Hofmeyr, Isabel (1988). "Popularizing History: The Case of Gustav Preller". The Journal of African History. 29 (3): 521–535. doi:10.1017/s0021853700030607. JSTOR 182354.
  2. Thompson, L. M. (1962). "Afrikaner Nationalist Historiography and the Policy of Apartheid". The Journal of African History. 3 (1): 125–141. doi:10.1017/s0021853700002772. JSTOR 179803.
  3. Zaayman, V. "(Afrikaans) Vertel my van vrymesselary (Translated: tell me about freemasonry)". Retrieved 18 September 2018.
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