W. Powell collection on Africa 1930s

This material is held atRoyal Commonwealth Society Library

Reference
- GB 115 RCS/Y304M-O
Dates of Creation
- 1930-1939
Name of Creator
- Powell, W, fl1930 - 1939
Language of Material
- English .
Physical Description
- 2 archive box(es) 935 images in 2 boxes

Scope and Content

A collection of photographs on 125 brown loose album sheets. There are two 'Title pages' which have been transcribed at Y304M and Y304N, dated 1934 and 1935-36. The album sheets which appear to correspond with these have been housed with them, and briefly listed, but as explained in the note on Y304M, the writing is not always clear, and the order is a tentative one. In addition there are seven sheets with photographs of Algeria, Morocco and Niger, and as the first two are not listed on either title page, and the Niger photos seem to be closely linked with them, they have been assumed to refer to a third journey and appear at Y304O.

Administrative / Biographical History

It appears that the photographs were taken by W. Powell, whose name appears on the title page of Y304N. Y304M/334 shows 'Daniels and Clarke'. The former is David Kingsley Daniels, CBE (1905-1986) who served in Tanganyika (now Tanzania) from 1928-1940, was later in Malaya, became Director of Malayan Students in the UK 1955-1958, and was Secretary-General of the Royal Commonwealth Society 1958-1967. He was unable to identify Powell, nor has he been traced in any reference work. Powell appears in a number of photographs, e.g. Y304M/21, 67-69, 198, 204, 249, 302, 348-349, 394, 438-439, 469, 484, 520; Y304N/99-100, 109, 137; Y304O/22, 58. He appears to have travelled in a personal capacity and was presumably a man of some means.

Access Information

Unless restrictions apply, the collection is open for consultation by researchers using the Manuscripts Reading Room at Cambridge University Library. For further details on conditions governing access please contact mss@lib.cam.ac.uk. Information about opening hours and obtaining a Cambridge University Library reader's ticket is available from the Library's website (www.lib.cam.ac.uk).