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Funeral Programmes Project

IN LOVING MEMORY TO OUR DEAREST FAMILY AND FRIENDS
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This collection of Funeral Letters is dedicated as a Tribute, Honouring the persons who made a significant difference to our lives.
The Funeral Letter project is a joint venture between the Genealogical Society of South Africa (GSSA) and the SAGenealogy mailing list with GSSA acting as host for the total collection of Funeral Letters. The collection of Funeral Letters was started in 2005 by the owners of SAGen and permission was granted for the total amount of Funeral Letters to be transferred from SAGen to GSSA's website for publication.
GSSA's approach to the project is as follows:
(1) When Funeral Letters are submitted for publication, GSSA automatically assumes that the contributor has obtained the necessary permission or consent from the families concerned and accepts no responsibility for this.
(2) Funeral Letters are only published after a year or more from the Date of Death. Any Funeral Letters sent to us prior to the 12-month period will be processed and placed on hold for the public until the period expires.
(3) Surnames with pre-fixes e.g. DE BEER, VAN DER MERWE are filed according to the main part of the surname e.g. BEER-DE, MERWE-VAN-DER etc.
If you have any questions, Funeral Letter contributions, or if you find an error that has been made please contact the project co-ordinator  This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
View the Funeral Letters Collection
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Who developed this GSSA Google Earth Cemetery Initiative?

Written by Cemetery Project Administrator.

DSC03198The Moss family being presented with the GSSA Extra Mile Award for development of the GSSA Google Earth Cemetery Initiative.
Cemetery location information in GPS form was collected from the numerous volunteers who over the years provided information to the Cemetery Recording Project and the Photo Project. This information is collated in the master Cemetery Index by Peter and Beverley Moss.
Their sons Stewart and Adrian, who spent many happy hours of their childhood sitting in hot cars while Peter & Beverley recorded yet another cemetery of interest, provided the impetus and technical expertise for the initiative:
  • Stewart conceived the initial idea and undertook the software development so that Google Earth could read and display the Cemetery Index data.
  • Adrian designed and built the initial Google Earth Cemetery Initiative web page.
We thank them most sincerely for their time and effort, without which this initiative would never have got off the ground.
In the photo left to right: Hendrik Louw, President of the GSSA, presenting the Extra Mile Award to the Moss family (Peter, Beverley, Adrian and Stewart) - March 2011.
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Familia Best Articles

Written by Germaine Smith.

The GSSA’s Northern Transvaal branch annually sponsors the award for ‘Best FAMILIA article’ published during the preceding year. Some of the criteria the adjudicators take into consideration for eligible articles include:

  • Does the article provide a significant contribution to genealogical knowledge, i.e. does it contain new information?
  • Is the article professionally compiled with good sources, references, etc.?
  • Is the article an easy read, is the presentation interesting and engaging, and does it maintain a good balance between readability and academic correctness?
 Year  Author  Title  Original
  Issue
 Article
 2023
 Simon du Plooy
 Reserve between the rivers - Moments and Fragments
  Translated 60/2 ✔
 2022
 Francesco Uys Rootenberg
 The origins of the Afrikaner Van der Merwe family – An enigma unravelled
  English 59/1/2/3  ✔
 2021
 Nic Dinham
 Louisa Hack (1873-1945) – Fallen angel?
  English 58/1 ✔
 2020
 Dr Rentia Landman
 Ancestor from Africa to Africa
  Translated 57/1 ✔
 2019
 Dr Wilhelm Bernhardt
 An economic frameworkd for genealogical research?
  Translated 53/3 ✔
 2018
 Charlie Els
 The outcasts
  Translated 55/2 ✔
 2017
 Sam Basch
 Of Mine and Mines - A brief look at descendants of Alexander Basch in SA
  English 54/1 ✔
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Archive tours - Report back

Written by Germaine Smith.

Participants are encouraged to share their impressions by means of some comments after each tour. Feedback /reports on some of the completed archive tours. tes
Date
Destination
Participants
Comments
Download report
 Oct 2024
 Western Cape
10
Again the tour programme was very much according to the previous shcedule but this time two older Settlers' farms were visited, i.e. Boschendal and La Motte.
✔
 Aug 2024
 Gauteng
9
Everything was done according to the basic programme but the visit tot eh LDS could not happen as their research centre was closed for a certain period.
✔
 Mar 2024
 Western Cape
18
A 2-day mini tour was offered, initiated by the eGGSA branch ahead of the GSSA's AGM and as part of the GSSA's 60 year anniversary.
✔
 Oct 2023
 Western Cape
10
All was done according to the previous proven shcedule.
✔
 Aug 2023
 Gauteng
10
Now, permanently the number of participants is restrained to 10 as this is the maximum fits into the GSSA's genealogical library as part of the Hertiage Foundation on the site of the Voortrekker Monument.
✔
 May-2022
 Western Cape
9
 
The tour to and in the Western Cape eventually took place in May 2022. Lots of effort was put into the preparations as it was postponed several times due to the corona pandemic and various lockdowns. It also asked for patience, not only on my side but also of the participants. But what a fabulous result! The six days in the various research centres were not only very successful but also fun. Fun we had after hours with shop talk and getting to know each other better at meals and excursions.
 ✔
 Sep-2021
 Gauteng
10
This tour now seems to be a favourite amongst GSSA members and most probably will be repeated in 2022. For me as organiser the Corona lock down still restrained me a bit and we could only be ten participants whic h seems to be the norm until the pandemic is gone for good.
✔
 Oct-2020
 Gauteng
10
This was a major success - despite the various challenges caused by the Corona lock down and protocol!
✔
 Oct-2019
 Gauteng
15
 Participants living or visiting in the Gauteng area gathered from Monday to Friday morning at ca. 08:00 at the various research facilities.  Until 16:00, everybody did his/her own research, with the tour leader helping where she could.  In-between they had a picnic lunch or, when available, a light lunch at the canteen/kiosk in situ.
✔
 Aug-2017 
 Western Cape
11
Tours are usually fully booked, but only a maximum number of 15 is manageable, i.e. the number of persons to fit in the various reading rooms etc.
✔
 Oct-2016
 Free State
11
This tour started by minibus in Pretoria, a great icebreaker.
✔

 

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Ancestral Chart Challenge

Written by Germaine Smith.

The “ancestral chart” / “pedigree chart” together with an “Ahnentafel” report are suitable formats to document family lineage and  history. It is available in most genealogical software packages, such as Legacy, MyHeritage and RootsMagic. Below some clarification of the Concepts, Examples (which can also be downloaded together with a blank set of MSWord forms) and a nifty Planning Tool.
Having invited Gauteng North Branch members to submit their ancestral chart, we now expand GSSA’s Ancestral Chart project with a challenge to all other members of the society and genealogy researchers.
This project aims to document, share and preserve as much data of South African families as possible. In this way, the current South African Family Registers (SAF) will also be updated.

Choose to take part – it is entirely voluntary

  • Data will be kept confidential within the Genealogy community
  • Participation is not confined to GSSA branch members. Send this to your friends and acquaintances
  • Select any #1 person (yourself, an ancestor, whomever) for your ancestral charts
  • Commit to document at least 5 generations (31 individuals) or more

(Extensions and additions can still be submitted later)

  • MS Word document
  • MS Excel file
  • PDF document
  • Genealogy file, preferably exported to GedCom format

(Submit the Ancestral Chart and/or the entire database for safekeeping along with accompanying document(s))

  • Remember to list bibliography and sources, where applicable

Download a copy of the ancestral charts to be used for personal use.

English
Family Sheet (MS Word)
Pedigree Chart (MS Word)
 
Afrikaans
Gesinsblad (MS Word)
Kwartierstaat (MS Word)

Submit your results by email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

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Ancestral Chart Project / Challenge

Written by Germaine Smith.

Each Vaal Triange branch member is encouraged to complete and submit their Ancestral Chart for custody as well as introduction to fellow members. In this way, discussions about joint surnames and ancestors are encouraged. Noami Keyter and Germaine Smith are steering this project.

The “ancestral chart” / “pedigree chart” together with an “Ahnentafel” report are suitable formats to document family lineage and  history. It is available in most genealogical software packages, such as Legacy, MyHeritage and RootsMagic. Below some clarification of the Concepts, Examples (which can also be downloaded together with a blank set of MSWord forms) and a nifty Planning Tool.

Having invited Vaal Triangle Branch members to submit their ancestral chart, we now expand GSSA’s Ancestral Chart project with a challenge to all other members of the society and genealogy researchers.

This project aims to document, share and preserve as much data of South African families as possible. In this way, the current South African Family Registers (SAF) will also be updated.
Choose to take part – it is entirely voluntary
  • Data will be kept confidential within the Genealogy community
  • Participation is not confined to GSSA branch members. Send this to your friends and acquaintances
  • Select any #1 person (yourself, an ancestor, whomever) for your ancestral charts
  • Commit to document at least 5 generations (31 individuals) or more

(Extensions and additions can still be submitted later) 

  • MS Word document
  • MS Excel file
  • PDF document
  • Genealogy file, preferably exported to GedCom format

(Submit the Ancestral Chart and/or the entire database for safekeeping along with accompanying document(s))

  •  Remember to list bibliography and sources, where applicable.

Download your preferred chart from the list below

Submit your results by email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

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