Stowell Kessler

Stowell Van Courtlandt Kessler (born 1934) was an American historian, theologian and civil rights activist whose research focused on the experiences of Black South Africans during the South African War of 1899–1902. He is known for his research into the concentration camps established for Black people by the British military during the war.

Early life and military service Kessler was born on 2 October 1934 in the United States and left school at an early age to support his parents. He later served as a United States military conscript during the Korean War. He arrived in the Korean war zone in 1952 and remained there after the end of the fighting, working on mine-clearance operations until September 1953. During his military service he completed his high school diploma.

Education and theological work Kessler studied theology at Princeton Theological Seminary. His theological work developed an interest in South African history, politics, and religion. His early academic work was a research into Afrikaner religious and political thought. His master's research examined the theological roots of apartheid and the relationship between Afrikaner suffering, religious identity and civil religion and it was called ‘The suffering of the Afrikaners and their civil religion: The theological roots of apartheid’. He later completed his PhD in historical studies at the University of Cape Town and his doctoral thesis was titled The Black Concentration Camps of the South African War, 1899–1902. In an interview published by the University of Cape Town at the time of his graduation, Kessler estimated that as many as 25,000 Black people died in the camps.

The Black concentration camps Kessler's research focused particularly on the historical treatment of Black people who were displaced and interned during the South African War. He argued that the Black concentration camps had been inadequately represented in earlier historical accounts of the war. The University of Cape Town's research resources identify Kessler's work as a major contribution to the study of the camps.

Publication of his major work The Black Concentration Camps of the Anglo-Boer War (1899-1902) was published posthumously in 2012 by the Anglo-Boer War Museum in Bloemfontein, where some of his records are kept. The book is 352 pages long and includes maps, illustrations, bibliographical references and an index. The War Museum described the book as the result of a decade and a half of archival research and stated that Kessler had identified at least 26,000 Black deaths in 65 camps. These figures should be understood as findings attributed to Kessler's research rather than as uncontested historical figures.

Personal life Kessler lived in Mamafubedu, formerly known as Petrus Steyn and was married to Marie Steyn, an Afrikaner woman. He has children in the United States of America from his previous marriage.

Death Kessler died in 2007.

Legacy Kessler's research contributed to the expansion of historical scholarship concerning Black experiences during the South African War. His work has subsequently been cited by historians examining Black concentration camps, civilian displacement and the broader social consequences of the war.

Selected publications