Ferdinand Postma
{{Short description|South African male writer}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| honorific_prefix =
| name = Ferdinand Postma
| honorific_suffix =
| image =
| alt =
| caption = Ferdinand Postma
| order =
| office = Rector of Potchefstroom University for Christian Higher Education
| term_start = 1921
| term_end = 1950
| deputy =
| predecessor = Office established
| successor = Van Rooy, J.C.
| birth_name =
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1879|7|15|df=y}}
| birth_place = Aliwal North, South Africa
| death_date = {{Death date and age|1950|11|4|1879|7|15|df=y}}
|death_place = Potchefstroom, South Africa
| nationality = South African
| otherparty =
| spouse = Margaretha Jacoba Coetsee
| relations =
| children =
| mother =
| father =
| residence =
| education =
| alma_mater = Vrije Universiteit
| known_for =
| awards =
| signature =
| signature_alt =
| website =
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| footnotes =
}}
Ferdinand Postma was the first rector of the Potchefstroom University for Christian Higher Education, in Potchefstroom, South Africa.
Personal life
Postma was the second son of Marthinus Postma and Elizabeth Wilhelmina Josina Spiller. He was born on 15 July 1879 in Aliwal North, Eastern Cape Province, South Africa.{{cite web |url=http://www.sahistory.org.za/dated-event/ferdinand-postma-professor-theological-seminary-reformed-church-burgersdorp-and-later-po|accessdate=17 July 2018|title=Ferdinand Postma, professor of the Theological Seminary of the Reformed Church in Burgersdorp and later Potchefstroom, is born}}{{cite web |url=https://morneweb.wordpress.com/2018/05/13/14-mei-1853-bettie-spiller-gebore/ |title= (Afrikaans)14 Mei 1853 Bettie Spiller gebore (translated: 14 May 1853 Bettie Spiller is born)|accessdate=17 July 2018}} In 1880 the family moved to Burgersdorp. Up till 1890 he went to school in Burgersdorp. In 1890 his father, a pastor moved to Middelburg and Postma attend the Christian school there. He passed standard 10 (grade 12) in 1896 in Burgersdorp. He passed the intermediate exam of the University of Good Hope in Cape Town. After the local war in South Africa he studied with a bursary at the Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, the Netherlands. Here he completed his Theological studies. In 1903 he obtained the qualification Litterarum Humaniorum Candidatus.{{cite web |url= https://www.gksa.org.za/teologieseskool.htm |title=(Afrikaans) Teologiese skool (Theoloigal Centre) |accessdate=17 July 2018}} He was married to Margaretha Jacoba Coetsee.{{cite web |url= https://morneweb.wordpress.com/2018/06/22/23-junie-2000-betsie-van-der-walt-oorlede/ |title=(Afrikaans) 23 Junie 2000 Betsie van der Walt oorlede (translated: Betsie van der Walt died) |accessdate=17 July 2018}} He died in Potchefstroom on 4 November 1950.{{cite web |url= https://www.sahistory.org.za/dated-event/professor-ferdinand-postma-educationist-and-rector-potchefstroom-university-dies-potchef |title= Professor Ferdinand Postma, educationist and rector of the Potchefstroom University, dies in Potchefstroom |publisher=SAHO|accessdate=17 July 2018}}
Education
In January 1904 he became a professor in Literature at the Theological Centre of the Reformed Church in Potchefstroom.{{cite web |url= https://repository.nwu.ac.za/bitstream/handle/10394/8363/hoeksteenlegging_fpbiblioteek_e.pdf?sequence=2 | title= Ferdinand Postma Library: Stone Laying, 17 March 1951|accessdate=17 July 2018}} He was involved in the establishing of the first Afrikaans School in Potchefstroom, called Potchefstroom Gimnasium.{{cite web |url= http://www.gimmies.co.za/hoofblad.htm |title=Potchefstroom Gimnasium|accessdate=29 June 2018}} In 1913 he studied further in Classical language in the Netherlands and obtained his PhD with the title:” De Numine Devino quid senserit Vergilius".{{cite web |url=https://catalog.hathitrust.org/Record/100455973|title=De numine divino quid senserit Vergilius Disputatio litteraria quam submissurus est Ferdinand Postma |publisher=Hathi Trust Digital library}} In 1919 he became the first rector of the Potchefstroom University for Christian Higher Education.{{cite web |url=https://www.artlink.co.za/news_article.htm?contentID=33392| title= Book launch and exhibition of NWU Art Collection|publisher= Artslink|accessdate=17 July 2018|date=23 July 2013}} From 1936–1938 he was chairman of the senate of University of South Africa.{{cite web |url= http://cke.christians.co.za/2016/03/25/postma-ferdinand/|title=Ferdinand Postma|accessdate=17 July 2018 |publisher=CKE}} An honoury PhD, Doctor Educationis honoris was awarded to him by the University of South Africa.{{cite web |url=https://journals.koers.aosis.co.za/index.php/koers/issue/view/139|title= Ferdinand Postma : 'n Herinnering*|author=van der Walt, S.P.|date=1980|accessdate=17 July 2018|publisher=bulletin for Christian Scholarship}}
Writer
He wrote the following books:
- (Afrikaans) Hy het sy merk gemaak. (Translated: He made his mark ){{cite web |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=uiorswEACAAJ&q=ferdinand+postma|title=Hy het sy merk gemaak|date=1927|publisher= De Bussy}}
- Kleopatra{{cite web |url= http://doczz.pl/doc/969714/geskiedenis-van-die-afrikaanse-literatuur-1 |title=(Afrikaans) Geskiedenis van die Afrikaanse literatuur 1 (translated: History of Afrikaans literature) |date=2010|publisher=JC Kanemeyer |accessdate=17 July 2018}}
- (Afrikaans) Beknopte woordeboek: Afrikaans-Latyn / Latyn-Afrikaans (translated: Concised dictionary Afrikaans- Latin, Latin –Afrikaans){{cite web | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=kVkeMwEACAAJ&q=ferdinand+postma |title= Beknopte woordeboek: Afrikaans-Latyn / Latyn-Afrikaans |date=1927}}
- (Afrikaans) Vuurpyle (translated: Rockets){{ Cite book |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/14630244 |publisher= De Bussy|date=1943|title=Vuurpyle|oclc= 14630244}}
- (Afrikaans) Paul Kruger: Christen-Volksman-Staatsman (translated: Paul Kruger, Christian, father of the Nation, Statesman){{cite web |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=SHaGswEACAAJ&q=ferdinand+postma |publisher=Pro-Ecclesia|date=1944|title=Paul Kruger: Christen-Volksman-Staatsman }}
- (Afrikaans) Paulus, ’n geroepe apostel van Jesus Christus (translated: Paul a disciple of Jesus Christ){{cite web |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=kVvrOwAACAAJ&q=ferdinand+postma |publisher=Van Schaik|date=1949|title= Paulus,'n geroepe apostel van Jesus Christus }}
- (Afrikaans) Erfstukke uit die klassieke oudheid (translated: Classic inherited peaces){{cite web |url= http://www.scielo.org.za/pdf/koers/v82n1/03.pdf |title= (Afrikaans) Op die spore van filosofiese onderwys op Potchefstroom honderd jaar gelede (translated: In the steps of education in Potchefstroom 100 years ago)|publisher=koersjournal |author=van der Walt, B.J|accessdate=17 July 2018}}
Recognition
A high school in Potchefstroom is named after him and also the university library.{{cite web |url=https://www.ferdies.co.za/info/algemeen/geskiedenis |title=(Afrikaans) Geskiedenis (translated: History)|accessdate=17 July 2018}}{{cite web |url=http://www.nwu.ac.za/nwu-potchefstroom-campus-news-ferdinand-postma-library-sixtieth-anniversary |title=Ferdinand Postma Library – sixtieth anniversary|accessdate=17 July 2018}}
References
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Category:Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam alumni
Category:Academic staff of North-West University
Category:South African male writers
Category:Dutch Reformed Church in South Africa clergy