Record

CollectionGB 0231 University of Aberdeen, Special Collections
LevelFonds
Ref NoMS 3767
TitleDr Adrian Adams, anthropologist, Kounghani, Senegal: correspondence with John Desmond Hargreaves, historian
Date1976 - 2005
Extent3 folders, 2 booklets
Creator NameAdams; Adrian (1945 - 2000); anthropologist
John Desmond Hargreaves (1924 - 2015), historian
Administrative HistoryAdrian Adams was born in 1945 and began her higher education in the University of Dakar where her father was working as an officer of the US State Department. She undertook her doctoral studies at the London School of Economics and in 1971 began a lectureship in social anthropology at Aberdeen University. In 1975 she left for a preliminary study of agriculture in the village of Kounghani in the Senegal valley. In 1979 she left Aberdeen to live, marry and work with her husband Jaabe who was the leader of a Federation of peasant co-operatives devoted to improving farming methods. During the next 21 years her work moved from academic duties to political advocacy on behalf of the Federation, to pioneering literacy and publication of the Soninke language. She died in a road accident not far from Kounghani in 2000.

For further details on Adams's life in Kounghani, see Hargreaves's short biography, 'Adrian Adams in Kounghani: A memoir with letters' (Banchory: Woodend Publishing, 2005)
Custodial HistoryThe collection was in the possession of Adams's former colleague at Aberdeen and close personal friend, Professor John Desmond Hargreaves, prior to being gifted to the University.
SourceDeposited by Professor JD Hargreaves in 2005.
DescriptionThe greatest part of this small collection comprises letters and postcards from Adams, written in Kounghani during the years 1977 through to 2000, to John and Sheila Hargreaves in Banchory, Aberdeenshire. In addition, there are a number of literacy and numeracy booklets in the Soninke language, including 'Duna', Nos. 1-2, 1988 - 1989, as well as off-prints and typescripts of papers by Adrian Adams for the period 1976 - 2000.
AppraisalThe collection has been retained in its entirety although two items were transferred to the Local Collection in Special Libraries and Archives: John Hargreaves, 'Adrian Adams in Kounghani: A memoir with letters' (Banchory: Woodend Publishing, 2005), and Adrian Adams, 'Quel Avenir Pour La Vallee ?' (International Institute for Environmental Development, 2000).
AccrualsNone expected.
ArrangementThe correspondence and postcards had been arranged chronologically prior to deposit and this scheme was adopted at the point of cataloguing.
Access StatusOpen
Access ConditionsThe records are available subject to the signed acceptance of the Department's access conditions.
Physical DescriptionNo physical conditions affecting use of collection.
Publication NoteJohn Hargreaves, 'Adrian Adams in Kounghani: A memoir with letters' (Banchory: Woodend Publishing, 2005). Based upon the correspondence and other papers listed above.
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