Dr Coenraad Beyers (1893–1975) was a South African

historian A historian is a person who studies and writes about the past and is regarded as an authority on it. Historians are concerned with the continuous, methodical narrative and research of past events as relating to the human race; as well as the stu ...

archivist An archivist is an information professional who assesses, collects, organizes, preserves, maintains control over, and provides access to Document, records and archives determined to have long-term value. The records maintained by an archivist c ...

, and

herald A herald, or a herald of arms, is an officer of arms, ranking between pursuivant and king of arms. The title is commonly applied more broadly to all officers of arms. Heralds were originally messengers sent by monarchs or noblemen to ...

. He joined the State Archives in 1927, and was Chief Archivist from 1944 until he retired in 1953. In 1956, he served on the official committee appointed to investigate the practical aspects of setting up an heraldic authority. In 1959, he was appointed the head of the Heraldry Section established by the Department of Education, Arts & Sciences to manage official arms and flags, and register the arms and badges of associations and institutions. When this section was superseded by the

Bureau of Heraldry Bureau ( ) may refer to: Agencies and organizations *Government agency *Public administration * News bureau, an office for gathering or distributing news, generally for a given geographical location * Bureau (European Parliament), the administrat ...

in 1963, he served as the first State Herald. He stepped down in 1964 to become the Bureau's senior professional officer, and retired finally in 1971.

References

* ''Dictionary of South African Biography'' South African heraldists 1893 births 1975 deaths Afrikaner people Officers of arms South African heraldry {{SouthAfrica-historian-stub

See also

References