H. B. Thom
Encyclopedia
Hendrik Bernardus Thom was born in Jamestown
, Eastern Cape
, and grew up in Burgersdorp
, South Africa
. Because he was the fifth grandchild of his grandfather and namesake with the first names Hendrik Bernardus, his parents decided to call him by the nickname Quintus ("Five") to distinguish him from his cousins; he was known as Quintie Thom throughout his life.
He matriculated at Burgersdorp High School and studied at Stellenbosch University
(BA History and Dutch, cum laude, 1926 and MA History, cum laude, 1928). He continued his studies in history 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. The title of his doctoral thesis (Ph.D., 1930) was: Die geskiedenis van die skaapboerdery in Suid-Afrika (The history of sheep farming in South Africa).
During the next year he was appointed as Lecturer of History at the Stellenbosch University, and promoted to Senior Lecturer in 1935. In 1937 he was appointed as professor of history at the same institution.
From 1954 H.B. Thom was Rector of the Stellenbosch University until his retirement in 1969. In 1983 he was voted Chancellor, but he died at the end of the same year having served as Chancellor of the university for only nine months. The HB Thom theatre at the university was named in his honour.
H.B. Thom enjoyed tennis, fishing and photography and married Maria du Toit in 1934; the marriage was childless.
He played a major role in the cultural life of the Afrikaner people, and wrote a number of important historical books.
He served on the Archives Commission (Argiefkommissie) and acted as chairman from 1950 to 1955. He was a member of the Historical Monuments Commission (Historiese Monumentekommissie, later Raad vir Nasionale Gedenkwaardighede), 1948–1954; Van Riebeeck-Vereniging; Simon van der Stel Foundation; Stellenbosch Museum and chairman of its Board of Trustees, 1962 - 1968.
He received honorary memberships of the following organisations:
For 18 years he was chairman of the FAK (Federasie van Afrikaanse Kultuurvereniginge) and he was a sought after speaker.
He served as Administrator of the Woordeboek van die Afrikaanse Taal (WAT).
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 for Arts and Science Award ( vir volksdiens) 1980
Doctor honoris causa of Stellenbosch and Orange Free State universities
Die Lewe van Gerrit Maritz, 1947 (Second edition 1965)
Die Geloftekerk en ander Studies oor die Groot Trek, 1949
Jannie Marais, 1950
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.
Jamestown, Eastern Cape
Jamestown is a town on the N6 national road between Aliwal North and Queenstown in the Joe Gqabi District Municipality , Eastern Cape, South Africa. It is at the centre of a fertile sheep-, cattle- and wheat-farming area and was the terminus of a branch railway line from Molteno...
, Eastern Cape
Eastern Cape
The Eastern Cape is a province of South Africa. Its capital is Bhisho, but its two largest cities are Port Elizabeth and East London. It was formed in 1994 out of the "independent" Xhosa homelands of Transkei and Ciskei, together with the eastern portion of the Cape Province...
, and grew up in Burgersdorp
Burgersdorp
Burgersdorp is a small town in the Ukhahlamba District Municipality of the Eastern Cape province of South Africa.The Afrikaner Bond political party was founded in Burgersdorp in 1881.-Rail:The first rail connection to Burgersdorp was opened on 19 March 1885...
, South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
. Because he was the fifth grandchild of his grandfather and namesake with the first names Hendrik Bernardus, his parents decided to call him by the nickname Quintus ("Five") to distinguish him from his cousins; he was known as Quintie Thom throughout his life.
He matriculated at Burgersdorp High School and studied at Stellenbosch University
Stellenbosch University
Stellenbosch University is a public research university situated in the town of Stellenbosch, South Africa. Other nearby universities are the University of Cape Town and University of the Western Cape....
(BA History and Dutch, cum laude, 1926 and MA History, cum laude, 1928). He continued his studies in history in Germany at the Friedrich Wilhelms Universität
Humboldt University of Berlin
The Humboldt University of Berlin is Berlin's oldest university, founded in 1810 as the University of Berlin by the liberal Prussian educational reformer and linguist Wilhelm von Humboldt, whose university model has strongly influenced other European and Western universities...
in Berlin (1928–1929), at the Sorbonne
Sorbonne
The Sorbonne is an edifice of the Latin Quarter, in Paris, France, which has been the historical house of the former University of Paris...
in Paris (1930) and in Amsterdam, researching his doctoral thesis, which he completed on his return to Stellenbosch. The title of his doctoral thesis (Ph.D., 1930) was: Die geskiedenis van die skaapboerdery in Suid-Afrika (The history of sheep farming in South Africa).
During the next year he was appointed as Lecturer of History at the Stellenbosch University, and promoted to Senior Lecturer in 1935. In 1937 he was appointed as professor of history at the same institution.
H.B. Thom enjoyed tennis, fishing and photography and married Maria du Toit in 1934; the marriage was childless.
He played a major role in the cultural life of the Afrikaner people, and wrote a number of important historical books.
He served on the Archives Commission (Argiefkommissie) and acted as chairman from 1950 to 1955. He was a member of the Historical Monuments Commission (Historiese Monumentekommissie, later Raad vir Nasionale Gedenkwaardighede), 1948–1954; Van Riebeeck-Vereniging; Simon van der Stel Foundation; Stellenbosch Museum and chairman of its Board of Trustees, 1962 - 1968.
He received honorary memberships of the following organisations:
- Nederlandse Koninklijke Akademie voor Wetenschappen 1952
- Maatschappij der Nederlandse Letterkunde te Leiden
- Linschoten Vereniging
- The Hakluyt Society
- Suid-Afrikaanse Akademie vir Wetenskap en Kuns 1981
- Suid-Afrikaanse Historiese Vereniging
For 18 years he was chairman of the FAK (Federasie van Afrikaanse Kultuurvereniginge) and he was a sought after speaker.
He served as Administrator of the Woordeboek van die Afrikaanse Taal (WAT).
Awards and honours
SA Academy for Arts and Science Award for History 1952Honorary 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 for Arts and Science Award ( vir volksdiens) 1980
Doctor honoris causa of Stellenbosch and Orange Free State universities
Books written
Die Boodskap van 'n Honderd Jaar (Feesrede), 1947Die Lewe van Gerrit Maritz, 1947 (Second edition 1965)
Die Geloftekerk en ander Studies oor die Groot Trek, 1949
Jannie Marais, 1950
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.