Michael Crowder papers
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- Creator
- Crowder, Michael (1934-1988) historian
TitleMichael Crowder papers
Reference codeICS123
Date1958-1988 (mainly 1982-1985)
Scope and ContentThe Michael Crowder Papers relate to his academic career. The collection falls into three general series. First, Botswana material, which consists mostly of photocopies and notes made towards his biography of Tshekedi Khama, regent of Bamangwato in Bechuanaland, 1929-1950, in whom Crowder became interested while Professor of History at the University of Botswana in 1982-1985. This constitutes the bulk of the material. Secondly, west African material which mostly predates the Botswana material. Thirdly, material from the last two years of his life when Crowder was in London most of the time. Apart from primary and secondary research material there are drafts of chapters, papers, books, and course outlines, as well as related academic and university administrative correspondence. There is also a box of photo-slides taken by Crowder during trips to the Caribbean, Morocco and west Africa.
Conditions governing accessPermission from Professor Neil Parsons required for access to Box 45 (General Correspondence, 1983-1988 and Boxes 48-49 (papers on Crowder's tenure as editor of the Journal of African History). At least 24 hours notice before a research visit. Access to this collection is unrestricted for the purpose of private study and personal research within the supervised environment and restrictions of the library. However, access to individual items in the Institute of Commonwealth Studies Library archival collections may be restricted under the Data Protection Act or the Freedom of Information Act.
Extent50 boxes (0.8 cubic metres)
System of ArrangementThe papers on Botswana have been sorted into boxes 1-37, following, where possible, the organisational pattern set by Crowder. This division (1) is either collated by archival source or by subject. The archival material originates mostly from Botswana National Archives (BNA) in Gaborone or the Tshekedi Khama Papers (TKP) held at the Khama III Memorial Museum in Serowe. The material organised according to source is listed sequentially using the original reference numbers of the archive in question. The material collated under subject derives from various sources and was pooled by Crowder in preparation for writing specific chapters or papers. The next division (2) relates to Crowder's time in west Africa from 1958-1978, and is in boxes 38-42. These papers have been arranged in the following way: administrative papers; drafts and notes for journal and conference papers; articles by others collected by Crowder, and pamphlets and other historical material from the time. The division (3) relates to Crowder's time in Botswana and his last years in London and the United States (1982-1988). The material has been arranged in the following way: administrative papers; academic papers, including correspondence notes and drafts for conference papers; correspondence and notes related to published work by Crowder. New file titles were provided where necessary. Where BNA and other archival material had been collected but was not allocated a title by Crowder, a suggested subject-title, based on the content of the material, is provided in square brackets. All comments by Dr Milton are in square brackets, including speculation on unconfirmed sources or dates. The principle followed with unsorted archival material was, where possible, to return it to the original archive source. If the source of the material was not known then it was placed under one of Crowder's subject collations. Some unallocated material has been placed in folders and listed separately.
Finding aidsHandlist available in the Special Collections reading room: a pdf copy is attached to this description.
Related files
Further papers are held by the following institutions. In Botswana: National Archives, Gaborone; Khama III Memorial Museum, Serowe; University of Botswana, Gaborone. In South Africa - Rhodes University: University of Cape Town; Witswatersrand University, South African Institute of Race Relations; South African National Archives. In the UK: The National Archives, Kew [see list of National Archives (Public Record Office) documents in the relevant to Tshekedi Khama, prepared by Neil Parsons, Box 36]; Rhodes House Library, Oxford; India Office Library, London; School of Oriental and African Studies, London. In Zimbabwe: National Archives of Zimbabwe. Relevant publications are also available in Institute of Commonwealth Studies Library.
Level of descriptionfonds