Gustav Preller

Who was Gustav Preller?

Gustav Schoeman Preller is known as 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 was the son of Comdt. Robert Logie Preller and Stefina Schoeman. His parents farmed near Standerton where he attended school for only 3 years. Later he worked in Pretoria as a shop-assistant, an articled clerk and a civil servant, studying diligently when he found the time. When the Boer War started, he was working as a clerk for the Department of Mines and was married to Johanna, the granddaughter of M. W. Pretorius and Deborah Retief.

The South African Academy of Science and Art gives out annually the Gustav Preller Award that has been awarded since 1909.