Scope and arrangement
The Jean Herskovits papers, dated 1920 to 2018, document Jean Frances Herskovits' work as an academic of African history through her research on Southern and West Africa, with an emphasis on Nigeria, and to a lesser extent the Kingdom of Lesotho. Her research and studies of Africa began during her doctorate studies in the late 1950s. Herskovits' correspondents include historians, government officials, diplomats, corporate heads, and others whom she knew over a forty-year period. Two prominent contacts with whom Herskovits stayed connected with for decades were the Nigerian generals and diplomats Joseph Nanven Garba and Olusegun Obasanjo. (see Series II and III).
Nigeria, officially known as the Republic of Nigeria, is one of the most populous countries in the world, with a population estimate of over two hundred million, and two hundred and fifty ethnic groups. Herskovits' studies of Nigeria indicate that she focused on the political and economic stability of the country. One of the major upheavals that Herskovits followed closely was the Biafra War (also known as the Nigerian Civil War) beginning in 1967, where the Igbo felt they were victims of oppression by the Muslim Hausa-Fulani and the Yoruba. The collection holds printed matter generated during this period.
Herskovits traveled regularly to Nigeria when on sabbatical from her teaching duties to attend conferences, give lectures, and was an official observer during the elections in 1979. This proved to be a pivotal year because it was the first time Nigeria held democratic elections, electing Shehu Shagari of the National Party of Nigeria. The printed matter includes various literature generated by political parties.
The Subject Files offer the broadest range of Herskovits' scholarly interest and studies, that include Africa's relationship with European countries and the United States, the relationship between Nigeria and other African countries, current political developments, and the United States Congress. The latter includes Herskovits' testimonies before various committees regarding the economic and political conditions in Africa.
The Education Files focus mostly on notes that describe the courses for students at multiple colleges. Other files include current activities on the college campus, requests for sabbaticals, and other academic issues. Herskovits' teaching focused on her studies of Africa, and the files also hold material from conferences, where she was both an attendee and presented her scholarly papers.
There are extensive files from Herskovits' work as a consultant at for-profit and non-profit organizations, including the Carnegie Corporation of New York, the Citizens Energy Corporation, Council on Foreign Relations, and the United Bank for Africa. These documents mostly focus on promoting business and economic ties and the development of Africa.
Outside of professional work, the collection includes a large component of Herskovits' personal material such as correspondence with friends, and holiday greetings. Most significant are Herskovits' calendars of daily activities, her journals, and letters to her parents. Also of note are journals where Herskovits recorded her daily life for forty years, and letters that she wrote to her parents. Together, the journals and letters detail Herskovits' observations and feelings. Other family-related material includes files where Herskovits functioned as the legal representative for her father's estate.
A greeting card image deemed to be exploitative is located in box 143 folder 11.
The Jean Herskovits papers are arranged in eleven series:
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1953-2007
This series represents the network of Herskovits' correspondents that include authors, diplomats, economists, educators, friends, historians, organizations, politicians, and trade consultants. The correspondence is mostly incoming with occasional copies of Herskovits' letters.
The files mostly reflect Herskovits contacts and interest in the current affairs of West Africa, mainly Nigeria, and concurrently the countries of the Kingdom of Lesotho and South Africa. Nigeria's economic and political stability was of prime importance. (For a broader overview see also: Series V. Subject Files). As a historian, Herskovits' correspondence reflects those individuals and colleagues who sought her opinions on West Africa, invitations to speak at conferences, reviews of her writings, and letters from friends.
Correspondents include Hamzat Ahmadu, a Nigerian diplomat who wrote from various postings as ambassador; Chief Obafemi Jeremiah Oyeniyi Awolowo, a Nigerian politician and activist; Nnamdi Azikiwe, whom served twice as President of Nigeria; Donald Easum, President of the African American Institute; J. Wayne Fredericks, a diplomat who was also the Assistant Secretary of African Affairs (1961-1967); Graham Hovey, an editorial writer; Steven Jervis, an educator; Baba Gana Kingibe, a Nigerian diplomat; Thomas R. Pickering a United States ambassador to Nigeria (1981-1983); Phillip Shea a historian; and Maude Southwell Wahlman, an American author. Organizations include The African-American Institute, The American Committee on Africa (ACOA), the Center for Strategic and International Studies, Foreign Affairs publication, the International Center for Policy Development, and the Overseas Development Council.
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1981-2002
The correspondence, dated 1976 through 1995, indicates that Garba and Herskovits maintained a professional relationship and friendship for over thirty years. The files hold correspondence regarding issues of importance related to Nigeria; Herskovits' role as a liaison and supporter for Garba to attend Harvard University; copies of Garba's letters to officials; and op-eds to newspapers regarding Nigeria and other political topics. One of the notable highlights is an engraved invitation for Herskovits to attend Garba's installation as The Dan-Iya of Langtang at the Palace Langtang (Garba's home province) in 1981.
One of the final partnerships with Garba is described in a letter to Herskovits from the International Peace Academy confirming her appointment as consultant for the "West African Regional Security Study Project" (dated April 21, 1997). As a consultant for the project, Herskovits was to finalize the Southern African Security Project report entitled "Militaries, Democracies, and Security in Sub-Saharan Africa." Herskovits was also directed to assist Garba, the senior consultant for the project.
The Writings, dating from the mid-1970s to 2000s, includes a draft outline for Diplomatic Soldiering: Nigerian Foreign Policy, 1975-1979. Herskovits was mentioned in the book as a mentor and advisor for this publication. Most of the other materials are Garba's addresses during his tenure at the United Nations.
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1976-1999
The series, dated from the 1980s through the 1990s, reflects Olusegun Obasanjo's aspirations and concerns for the economic and political future of Africa. The General Files includes information on the establishment of the Africa Leadership Forum by Obasanjo. This was a private initiative to assist incumbent and potential leaders to develop skills for leadership, which Obasanjo outlined in his pamphlet Proposal for the Africa Leadership Forum (June 1987). The files include Obasanjo's proposal, initial planning documents, and his address at the 4th Africa Leadership Forum held in Washington, DC in 1989.
The series also holds Ford Foundation orientation documents from Obasanjo's 1987 tenure on the board of trustees, documentation of his 1990 leadership prize, and Herskovits' copies of Obasanjo's speeches on Africa, Nigeria, foreign policy, and nation building.
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1959-1996
This series focuses on King Moshoeshoe II. Correspondence between Moshoeshoe and Herskovits date back to his studies at corpus Christi College, Oxford University. As former college friends, Herskovits usually addressed King Moshoeshoe II by his given name "Bereng." Their letters would continue through the 1990s. The correspondence indicates that Herskovits had planned to write a biography that did not materialize.
Herskovits closely followed the events in Lesotho as evident from her "Crises in Lesotho" files that chronicles the political turmoil. Herskovits was also an official observer for the International Republican Institute (IPI) during the 1993 elections in Lesotho. Related material includes a portfolio titled "Elections in Lesotho" that was specially prepared with background information about Lesotho's political environment.
The files include documentation on the initial offering of the Lesotho Highland Water Project (LHWP). The LHWP was a joint agreement between Lesotho and South Africa. The intent was a two-fold effect: to divert water from the mountains of Lesotho to South Africa, and for Lesotho to benefit with money and hydroelectricity for its people.
Several files about King Letsie II regard his coronation, wedding, and swearing-in ceremony.
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1960s-2007
This series focuses on Africa's economic and political stability over a thirty years period from the 1970s through 2007. Current events were documented through articles, correspondence, and other printed matter. Nigeria is the most documented. There are files present about agriculture, economic development, languages, and elections. The files include rare examples of flyers and leaflets distributed by the many political parties who sought to win elections.
Herskovits' research included the economic dynamics between Nigeria, European countries, and the United States. Several of the files focus on Nigeria's oil production and natural gas distribution and the country's relationship with other African nations, European nations, and the United States. The files also include Herskovits' testimonies before the United States Congress regarding Africa.
The files also hold some information about the impact of AIDS in Africa, educational development, migrants to Nigeria, and various coup attempts. Most of Herskovits' original folder titles were retained, but some were updated to more accurately describe the content.
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1959-2012
This series holds Herskovits writings for publications, conference presentations, meetings, and seminars from the 1970s through the 2000s. These writings were prompted by current events in West Africa. Herskovits' articles were often published in scholarly journals, and op-eds in The New York Times. There are instances where she conducted interviews or was interviewed. The series holds Herskovits' thesis Liberated Africans And the History of the Lagos Colony to 1886, and an early draft of the subsequent publication Preface to Modern Nigeria. A small group of research notes accompanies the writings.
The file also holds writings by scholars and others who specialized in African history, economic, and political events. Some of the papers were forwarded to Herskovits for editorial reviews or comments.
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1950s-1990s
The Teaching Files reflect Herskovits' career, beginning in the 1960s, as an educator teaching at Brooklyn College, the City University of New York, Brown University, Columbia University, and Purchase College. With an emphasis on Africa's history, the files indicate that Herskovits mostly taught undergraduates. The bulk of the files reflect her long tenure at Purchase College located in Harrison, New York. These files are mostly preparatory notes for classroom instructions and class outlines. The subjects include Africa (general) and Nigeria, and focus on history, the economy, and political systems.
The Swarthmore College Undergraduate Studies files hold classroom papers and notes for Herskovits' studies as an undergrad. Most of this material focuses on European history and general world history. The notes are located in notebooks and notes written on index cards. While some similar topics were grouped together, most notes lack an arrangement.
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1969-2013
This series holds descriptive information on conferences, seminars, workshops and events that represent Herskovits' scholarly interest in the economic, political, and social affairs of Africa. These conferences, sponsored by corporations, private institutions, governments, and universities were held mostly in the United States and Southern Africa. The subjects focus on Nigeria and Southern Africa, including South Africa. These wide-ranging conferences include: Africa: Continuity and Change in the 1980s; The American Assembly Africa and United States National Interests; International Conference on Post-Colonial Africa; Militaries, Democracies and Security in Sub-Sahara Africa, Peacekeeping and Peacemaking in Southern Africa; and United States and Africa: A View from Nigeria.
Herskovits was frequently asked to present on contemporary topics with a focus on Nigeria and Southern Africa, and assisted others to plan conferences such as "Africans Solving African Problems: Militaries, Democracies, and Security in West and Southern Africa." These files hold articles, correspondence, invitations, lists of participants, notes, policy statements, programs, and schedules.
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1970s-2007
This series represents the organizations Herskovits aligned with that promoted causes for the benefit of democracy, economic development, and financial support. As a consultant, she worked on solutions for issues relating to the democratic and economic development of Africa. The Carnegie Corporation of New York, Citizens Energy Corporation, Conoco Phillips Company, Council on Foreign Relations, and the United Bank for Africa are the most represented.
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1953-2000s
This series reflects mostly Nigeria through newspaper clippings, pamphlets, and serials. This printed matter was mostly generated in Nigeria, by commercial publications, government issued printed matter, and privately printed material for local distribution. While this material focused on economic, military, and political events in Nigeria, several of the publications represent other concerns. A sampling of the publications includes African Traditional Beliefs Concepts of Health and Medical Practice, Fight Against Leprosy, Kano State of Nigeria publications (Kano State is located in the northern region of Nigeria), Nigeria The Problem of Relief in the Aftermath of the Nigerian Civil War, and Ojukwu's Rebellion and World Opinion. The latter two publications reflect upon the Nigerian Civil War between the government of Nigeria and the state of Biafra. Since Herskovits regularly traveled to Nigeria and other African countries, she was able to obtain this material. She designated a group of material "Biafra Propaganda" without explanation. The files also hold maps of Nigeria, posters, and stamps.
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1920s-2000s
This series focuses on Herskovits' personal life and the achievements and recognitions that she received throughout her career. The correspondence offers an intimate view of Herskovits' feelings and opinions as she wrote to her parents from her Oxford student days to the development of her career as a historian. For almost fifteen years, Herskovits would correspond with her parents on life, travels, and interests. A smaller group of letters in the files refers to her former husbands Igor Kopytoff and Robert Childres.
A more granular portrait of Herskovits may be available in her journals, dated from 1953 to 2018. Herskovits' journals and letters to her parents present a rounded portrait of her personal and professional career.
The calendars focus on daily activities and are straightforward. The Appointments, Grants, and other Activities offers insights into grants for research, grants that were denied, appointments to committees, and achievements as a historian.
Also included are some documents about Herskovits' parents. These files mostly relate to her father's career as an anthropologist and the African Studies program that was established at Northwestern University.