The Heraldry Society of Southern Africa (HSSA) was founded in

Cape Town Cape Town ( af, Kaapstad; , xh, iKapa) is one of South Africa's three capital cities, serving as the seat of the Parliament of South Africa. It is the legislative capital of the country, the oldest city in the country, and the second largest ...

on 27 August 1953. It has not been active since 2007, but as it has not been wound up it is, in effect, in suspense.

Activities

The HSSA's main activity was regular meetings and lectures. In its early years, the HSSA also took an active role in promoting good heraldic practice in

South Africa South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the southernmost country in Africa. It is bounded to the south by of coastline that stretch along the South Atlantic and Indian Oceans; to the north by the neighbouring countri ...

, as there was no official heraldry authority in the country at that time, the HSSA provided a design and advice service, with particular emphasis on municipal arms. The HSSA also acted as unofficial liaison with the

College of Arms The College of Arms, or Heralds' College, is a royal corporation consisting of professional Officer of Arms, officers of arms, with jurisdiction over England, Wales, Northern Ireland and some Commonwealth realms. The heralds are appointed by the ...

in London, through the then

Chester Herald Chester Herald of Arms in Ordinary is an Officer of Arms, officer of arms at the College of Arms in London. The office of Chester Herald dates from the 14th century, and it is reputed that the holder was herald to Edward, Prince of Wales, also kn ...

, who was an HSSA member. The HSSA staged the first heraldry exhibition in South Africa, "Heraldry at the Cape", in 1956.

Publications

The HSSA published a regular ''

Newsletter A newsletter is a printed or electronic report containing news concerning the activities of a business or an organization that is sent to its members, customers, employees or other subscribers. Newsletters generally contain one main topic of int ...

'' from 1953 to 1958. This was replaced with a quarterly journal named ''Arma'', in 1958.

President and chairmen

During the 54 years that it was active, the HSSA had only five chairmen : *

Colin Graham Botha Colin Graham Botha (born Knysna 15 August 1883; died Johannesburg 1 February 1973) was a South African civil servant, historian, archivist, heraldist, soldier and South African Freemason. Soldier He served in home defence units in the Anglo-Bo ...

: 1953-54 * Frank Waller : 1954-1957 * Dr

Cornelis Pama Cornelis Pama (1916 - 1994) was a Dutch bookseller, publisher, heraldist and genealogist, who spent the second half of his life in South Africa. He was born in Rotterdam. During World War II, when the Netherlands were under German occupation, he ...

: 1957-1994 * Robert Laing : 1994-2002 *

Frederick Brownell Frederick Gordon Brownell } (8 March 1940 – 10 May 2019) was a South African herald, vexillologist, and genealogist. He designed the flags of Namibia and South Africa. Family and early life Brownell was born in Bethlehem, in what was th ...

: 2002- C. Graham Botha was honorary life president from 1954 until his death in 1973.

External links

South African Heraldry Website
*{{worldcat, oclc=866414443, name=ARMA: Journal of the Heraldry Society of Southern Africa Heraldic societies South African heraldry 1953 establishments in South Africa Organizations established in 1953

Activities

Publications

President and chairmen

See also

External links