# Gustav Preller

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

## Background

Gustav was the son of Comdt. Robert Logie Preller and Stefina Schoeman (daughter of the [Voortrekker](/source/Voortrekker) Gen. [Stephanus Schoeman](/source/Stephanus_Schoeman)). His parents farmed near [Standerton](/source/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](/source/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](/source/Marthinus_Wessel_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](/source/Ermelo,_Mpumalanga) and sent to [India](/source/India) as a prisoner of war.[1]: 524[2]: 130 On his return to the [Transvaal Colony](/source/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](/source/Louis_Botha) future party, *[Het Volk](/source/Het_Volk_(political_party))*.[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](/source/South_African_Party) member from its creation in 1910 with the formation of the [Union of South Africa](/source/Union_of_South_Africa). He was a [South African Freemason](/source/Freemasonry_in_South_Africa).|[3] He was editor of *[Die Brandwag](/source/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](/source/National_Party_(South_Africa)) 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](/source/Great_Trek) and Anglo-Boer wars.[1]: 525 In 1936, Preller was appointed as the state historian, a 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](/source/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](https://doi.org/10.1017/s0021853700030607). [JSTOR 182354](https://www.jstor.org/stable/182354)

1. 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](https://doi.org/10.1017/s0021853700002772). [JSTOR 179803](https://www.jstor.org/stable/179803)

1. Zaayman, V. ["(Afrikaans) Vertel my van vrymesselary (Translated: tell me about freemasonry)"](http://www.freemason.org.za/Vertel%20my%20van.htm). Retrieved 18 September 2018.

## External links

- [Preller Award](https://web.archive.org/web/20080215091835/http://akademie.org.za/tuisblad/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=30&Itemid=39)
- [S.A. History](http://www.sahistory.org.za/pages/people/bios/preller,g.htm)

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Gustav Preller](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gustav_Preller) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gustav_Preller?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.