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Author of historical publications and administrator of WAT (Woordeboek van die Afrikaanse Taal)
Rector of the University of Stellenbosch, 1955 - 1969, and Chancellor
Hendrik Bernardus Thom was born on 13 December 1905 in Jamestown and grew up in Burgersdorp. He was also known as Quintus or Quintie Thom, because he was the fifth Hendrik Bernardus of the Thom family.
He matriculated at Burgersdorp High School and studied at the Universities of Stellenbosch ( BA History and Dutch, cum laude, 1926 and MA History, cum laude, 1928). He continued his studies in Germany at the Friedrich Wilhelms Universität in Berlin (1928-1929), at the Sorbonne in Paris (1930) and in Amsterdam, researching his doctoral thesis, which he completed on his return to Stellenbosch (PhD, Title of thesis: Die geskiedenis van die skaapboerdery in Suid-Afrika , 1930) .
1931: Lecturer of History at the University of Stellenbosch. 1935: Senior lecturer
From 1954 H. B. Thom was Rector of the University of Stellenbosch until his retirement in 1969. In 1983 he was voted Chancellor.
He was a member of : Archives Commission (Argiefkommissie) and chairman 1950 - 1955
the Historical Monuments Comission (Historiese Monumentekommissie, now Raad vir Nasionale Gedenkwaardighede) , 1948 -1954
Simon van der Stel Foundation
Stellenbosch Museum and of its Board of Trustees, 1962 - 1968
Nederlandse Koninklijke Akademie voor Wetenschappen 1952
die Maatschappij der Nederlandse Letterkunde te Leiden
Suid-Afrikaanse Akademie vir Wetenskap en Kuns 1981
For 18 years he was chairman of the FAK (Federasie van Afrikaanse Kultuurvereniginge) and he was a sought after speaker.
(Photo of the painting found on
Die Matie Special edition in honour
of H B Thom, 29 August 1969)
See also Artist's portraits
of famous Stellenbosch Authors
H.B. Thom enjoyed tennis, fishing and photography. He was married to Maria du Toit in 1934. They had no children. He died on 4 November 1983.
Academy Award for History 1952
Honorary medal extraordinaire for the promotion of Afrikaans literature and culture 1959
Honorary medal extraordinaire for services rendered on behalf of university education 1969
D.F. Malan Medal 1975
Academy Award ( vir volksdiens) 1980
Doctor honoris causa of Stellenbosch and Orange Free State universities
The university drama theatre was named H B Thom theatre.
Die Boodskap van 'n Honderd Jaar (Feesrede), 1947
Die Lewe van Gerrit Maritz, 1947 (Second edition 1965)
Die Geloftekerk en ander Studies oor die Groot Trek, 1949
Daghregister van Jan Antonisz van Riebeeck, 1952 (translated by HB and Maria Thom)
Die Nuwe Beeld van ons Weermag (editor), 1963
Die Uitdaging van die Toekoms (editor), 1965
Stellenbosch, 1866 - 1966 (co-author), 1966
D.F. Malan, 1980 (incomplete)
Contributed to: Geskiedenis van Suid-Afrika (editors: Van der Walt, Wiid en Geyer), Suid-Afrikaanse Bibliografiese Woordeboek and Argief-jaarboek
Member of the editorial staff of Nederlandse tydskrif Bijdragen voor de Geschiedenis der Nederlanden
www.StellenboschWriters.com © Rosemarie Breuer
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