Buchanan-Smith glass plates of Nigeria and the Cameroons

A collection of uncaptioned glass plates relating to Buchanan-Smith's service in Nigeria, showing his official residence, duties and travel, and Nigeria's people and landscape. Y3043ZZ/29 appears to be a Yoruba Oba (chief) from southern Nigeria. It may be possible to identify the images with reference to Buchanan-Smith's Nigerian photographs at Y3043U-Y.

Walter Buchanan-Smith was born on 25 May 1879 and educated at Bilton Grange Bolton and Repton. In January 1903 he was selected by the British North Borneo Company for their administrative service. He spent five years in North Borneo, and in 1909 was appointed Acting District Commissioner in Southern Nigeria. He served with the Nigeria Regiment in the Cameroons in 1914-15 and German East Africa 1916-18, being awarded the Military Cross. Returning to Nigeria he was appointed a First Class District Officer in 1918, serving in the Southern Provinces and the Cameroons, and from 1930 until his retirement in 1935 he was Lieutenant Governor of the Southern Provinces. He administered the Government of Nigeria in 1930 and 1934. In 1939 he administered the Government of the Seychelles. Buchanan-Smith became Honorary Secretary-General of the Royal Empire Society in 1941 and died on 27 November 1944.

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).

Donated by the Rev. T.E. Dorey in 2015.

Includes index.

A catalogue of the collection can be found on ArchiveSearch.

good condition

Buchanan-Smith's photographs of North Borneo are at Y3034A, and his photographs from the Seychelles are at Y30484A.

DateText: The dates are approximate..

Smith, Sir, Walter Buchanan-, 1879-1944, Knight