Rudolf Marloth (1855-1931), a German chemist and pharmacist who immigrated to the Cape of Good Hope in 1883, is regarded as one of South Africa’s greatest early botanists. Marloth is best known for his magnum opus, The Flora of South Africa, compiled between 1912 and 1932 in collaboration with botanical illustrator, Ethel Dixie. Over the years the Marloth family donated the original illustrations and plates with handwritten notes to Stellenbosch University Library. This precious collection has now been taken up in the SUNDigital Collections of the Stellenbosch University Library.

Marloth’s association with Stellenbosch University started in 1888, when he was appointed as a lecturer in Chemistry and Experimental Physics at the then Victoria College, the forerunner of today’s Stellenbosch University. He was promoted to professor in 1889, but gave up this position in 1891. Later he became involved again as a lecturer in science at the then Government School for Agriculture and Viticulture, today’s Elsenburg. In 1922 the University of Stellenbosch awarded him with an Honorary Doctorate in recognition of his contribution to the understanding and knowledge of the Cape Floral Kingdom.

The Special Collections Division in the Stellenbosch University Library also hosts many of his personal documents, correspondence and photographs.

Marié Theron