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Dan Sleigh
Photo by Die Burger
Dan Sleigh talking to Erika Murray-Theron during Sanlam-Insig Prize Awards 2007

Dan Sleigh

Historian, novelist, conservationist

Daniel Sleigh was born on 3 November 1938 on the farm Geelbeksfontein, West Coast. After matriculating at Vredenburg High School he joined the Navy. He studied at the Paarl Training College to become a Physical Education teacher and taught at schools in Namibia and Cape Town.
In 1969 he completed his BA Degree in History and English Literature at UNISA. He obtained a MA Degree cum laude, followed by a Doctorate in History in 1987 at Stellenbosch University (Supervisors: Profs Dirk Kotze and D.J. van Zyl.).
Dan Sleigh was Head of the Education Museum and then Provincial Co-ordinator of Conservation Education, Western Cape Education Department, from which he retired in 1996. A former editor in the transcription department of the Cape Archives he specialised in the first Dutch colonial period.
As editor of the Tanap project he transcribed the VOC archives world wide into a data base. (Tanap: Towards a New Age of Partnership; a Dutch/Asian/South-African programme of cooperation)
Apart from academic and public lectures, Dan Sleigh took part in radio talks and TV programmes.
Field of study: The Dutch Seaborne Empire (1602-1795)
Dan Sleigh was editor and translator for Van Riebeeck Society series in 2003 and is editor of the Castle Military Museum series Cape Military history.
He is a freelance researcher and consultant to various bodies, including: Department of Culture, Art and Technology of the Western Cape Province, SA Heritage Resources Agency, SAN Defence Force and Castle Military Museum, Blaauwberg Municipality, Gawie Fagan Restoration Architects, SA Government, Land Claims Court (Richtersveld case)
Languages: English, Afrikaans, Dutch. Reading French and German.
Dan Sleigh was married to Dewetia and lives in Pinelands.

Memberships of Conservation and Cultural Organisations:
VOC Foundation (Secretary) 1995 -
SA Society of Archivists 1984 /
SA Cultural History Society 1984 -
SA Military History Society 1978 -
Friends of the Castle Military Museum 1998 -
Simon van der Stel Foundation (Life Member) - 1983 -
Friends of Mostert's Mill 1994 -
Jakkalsfontein Nature Reserve (ex-Director) 1997 -
SA Museums Association (Corporate Member) 1988-1997
National Monuments Council (Western Cape): Regional Committee Member 1981/1996
Cape Town City Council Committee for Street Names

Awards:

C Louis Leipoldt Prize 1971 for Duif oor water
For Eilande he received:
the Sanlam/Insig Prize 2001, the WA Hofmeyr Price 2003, RAU - prize 2003, M-Net prize, 2003, and the Helgaard Steyn Prize 2004
Simon van der Stel Medal (gold) for Conservation
Molteno Medal of the Cape Centenary Foundation (gold) for Conservation
SA Academy Medal for History 2007

Publications:
Articles for magazines and newspapers (23 years)

Books:
Duif oor water (poetry), 1974.
History and Cultural History, 23 titles, and 9 novels include:
Die nege-maande-mars, Tafelberg, 1972

'n Man om te hardloop, 1973
Tussen twee vlae, Tafelberg, 1974
Vryburger Tas, Tafelberg, 1979/1984
Sersant Barodien, Kaapse Korps, Tafelberg, 1977
'n Kanon vir Barbier, Tafelberg, 1978
Jan Compagnie: the world of the Dutch East India Company, Tafelberg, 1980 - Jan Kompagnie; Die Wêreld van die VOC, 1980
The Huguenots, 1988
The Forts of the Liesbeek Frontier, 1996
They rode against an empire, Castle Military Museum, 1999
Eilande, Tafelberg, 2001
Islands, Secker & W, 2004
Stemmen uit Zee, 2004
Die Buiteposte van die VOC onder Kaapse bestuur, 1652-1795, HAUM 1992/Protea, 2004
Afstande, Tafelberg, 2010


Information by Dan Sleigh, February 2007

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