Papers of Naomi Mitchison

Diaries, writings and papers relating to Botswana, 1955-1972. Much of the material relates to the period 1966-1972. Includes material on the Botswana National Front, 1966-1967; the Mochudi Centre and Kgatleng Development Association, 1969-1971; diaries; manuscripts, including 'The Importance of Uncles' (play) and various articles on tribal values and African development; manuscript of 'Because of a Rebel', a Shona novel in English by Claude Mararike.

Naomi Mitchison was born in Scotland in 1897, the daughter of the physiologist John Haldane (1892-1964). She studied science at Oxford and, in 1916, married the barrister Gilbert Mitchison (1890-1970). Gilbert ('Dick') Mitchison shared his wife's socialist beliefs and was later Labour MP for Kettering (1945-1964). He was made a life peer (Baron Mitchison of Carradale) in 1964.
Mitchison herself was a prolific author and completed over ninety works in her lifetime. These included historical and contemporary novels, poetry, plays, short stories, children's and fantasy fiction, and a set of memoirs. Politically active in the 1930s when she stood as a Labour Party candidate for the Scottish Universities in 1935, advocacy - especially of women's rights but also in respect of Scottish island communities - remained an important part of her life. She travelled widely and had a particular interest in African affairs. Africa provided a setting for some of her novels. In 1963 she was made a tribal adviser ('Mmarona' or 'mother') to the Bakgatla of Botswana. The close relationship with this tribal community began when, having been stranded while travelling, the chief offered her hospitality. A lasting relationship with the Bakgatla developed from this and she continued to visit even in her later years.
Naomi Mitchison died in 1999.

Records are open to the public, subject to the overriding provisions of relevant legislation, including data protection laws. 24 hours' notice is required to access photographic material.

The papers were donated by Mitchison to the University of York.

Naomi Mitchison was born in Scotland in 1897, the daughter of the physiologist John Haldane (1892-1964). She studied science at Oxford and, in 1916, married the barrister Gilbert Mitchison (1890-1970). Gilbert ('Dick') Mitchison shared his wife's socialist beliefs and was later Labour MP for Kettering (1945-1964). He was made a life peer (Baron Mitchison of Carradale) in 1964.
Mitchison herself was a prolific author and completed over ninety works in her lifetime. These included historical and contemporary novels, poetry, plays, short stories, children's and fantasy fiction, and a set of memoirs. Politically active in the 1930s when she stood as a Labour Party candidate for the Scottish Universities in 1935, advocacy - especially of women's rights but also in respect of Scottish island communities - remained an important part of her life. She travelled widely and had a particular interest in African affairs. Africa provided a setting for some of her novels. In 1963 she was made a tribal adviser ('Mmarona' or 'mother') to the Bakgatla of Botswana. The close relationship with this tribal community began when, having been stranded while travelling, the chief offered her hospitality. A lasting relationship with the Bakgatla developed from this and she continued to visit even in her later years.
Naomi Mitchison died in 1999.

A typescript catalogue, to file level, is available for consultation in the Borthwick Institute's searchrooms.

Description compiled by Dr Charles Fonge, September 2010.

Quotation in published works of material from personal unpublished papers/manuscripts, letters or diaries relating to Naomi Mitchison or Chief Linchwe must be with the permission of the estate of Lady Mitchison.
A reprographics service is available to researchers subject to the access restrictions outlined above. Copying will not be undertaken if there is any risk of damage to the document. Copies are supplied in accordance with the Borthwick Institute for Archives' terms and conditions for the supply of copies, and under provisions of any relevant copyright legislation. Permission to reproduce images of documents in the custody of the Borthwick Institute must be sought.

Further accruals are not expected.

Further papers belonging to Mitchison and relating to Botswana, 1964-1974, are held by the School of Oriental and African Studies at the University of London (reference: GB 0102 MS English 361017).
For more information on the location of Mitchison's personal, family and literary archives, consult the National Register of Archives. Principal collections relating to Mitchison and the Haldane family are at the National Library of Scotland (Haldane Papers, 1853-1958, ref. GB233/Acc.4549; Naomi Mitchison manuscripts and typescripts, ref. GB233/Acc.5912).
Letters between Mitchison and Richard Crossman and Zita Baker are also held in the Crossman Papers at Warwick University (GB 0152 MSS.154/3/AU/1/60-4, MSS.154/3/ZB/73-241).

Published

GB 193