Adriaan Nicolaas Petrus Pelzer

Adriaan Nicolaas Petrus Pelzer (25 December 1915 – 15 October 1981) was a South African Afrikaans academic, historian, author and Professor at the University of Pretoria, South Africa. He retired from the University of Pretoria as vice rector and acting rector in 1980. Among the books he published are the following "The Afrikaner-Broederbond: First 50 Years" and "Verwoerd Speaks: Speeches 1948–1966 (1966)". He was also member of the "National Monuments Council" and in 1978 received the Laureate Award from the University of Pretoria. The Laureate Award is the highest award granted by the University of Pretoria. From 1965 to 1978 he was vice president and a member of the executive committee of the Northern-Transvaal Rugby Union, and a life member from 1979.

He finished school in 1932 and in 1933 continued his studies as a student at the University of Pretoria (UP) and the student house of "Sonop" (Sunrise) and received his bachelor's degree (BA-degree) cum laude with major subjects Afrikaans and History. Two years later in 1937 he obtained simultaneously a master's degree in history and an advanced certificate in education, both cum laude. )

Marriage, family and children

On 28 June 1941, at the age of 25, he married Reinette Johanna Margaretha Denyssen in the Pretoria-East NG Church. They had three children, Antionette Pelzer born 1 September 1942, Wilna Pelzer born 9 May 1944 and Adriaan Nicolaas Petrus Pelzer born 30 March 1948. The family lived in Pretoria.