A History of South Africa for Use in Schools

Originally published in 1910, A History of South Africa for Use in Schools by Dr. E.C. Godée Molsbergen offers a fascinating window into early twentieth-century historical education. Written for secondary school students, the text provides a chronological overview of South Africa’s past, from early indigenous societies and European exploration to the establishment of the Cape Colony and the rise of Boer republics. It was designed to present a structured and accessible account of historical events in an age when national identity and colonial narratives were still being defined.

Molsbergen, a respected historian and educator, combines factual precision with the didactic tone typical of its era. Maps, timelines, and illustrations support the text, allowing students to visualise territorial changes and significant moments in the country’s development. Although the interpretation reflects the perspectives of its time, the book remains valuable for understanding how South African history was taught and perceived during the early 1900s.

Today, this edition is prized by collectors of early textbooks, historians of education, and cultural scholars. A History of South Africa for Use in Schools stands as both a historical document and a teaching artefact — a tangible record of how history, identity, and education intersected in the formative years of South Africa’s modern state.