Some caution may be in order when responding to the news item about the
National Museum (formerly the Rhodes-Livingstone Museum). Joseph Chuubi who
was the Museum's archivist up to 1978 said that he had left because the
Livingstone collection (diaries, letters, etc of the great explorer) had
been spirited away to the National Archives. Whilst JC was studying
overseas the then Director of the National Archives reportedly took the
opportunity to claim the core collection.
If this version of events is accurate then the musum records referred to may
be routine administrative material rather than anything more valuable. It
may be as well to add that a few Livingstone documents are still in the
Museum because they form part of the public displays.
Alistair Tough,
Tanzania Records Management Project
----- Original Message -----
From: Archives - Dudley MBC <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Friday, March 31, 2000 1:55 PM
Subject: Zambian archives
> There has been a (very small) story in the news this week about the
records
> at the Livingstone Museum in Zambia, which you may have seen, but I
thought
> was worth drawing attention to. If you haven't seen it, have a look at the
> BBC news web pages (full address:
>
<http://news2.thls.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/world/africa/newsid%5F693000/693807.
stm>
> Apparently the building is in such a state as to put the archives at risk,
> and the EU have given financial aid to this institution. But has the SoA
> commented? If not, shouldn't we? It seems to me to be a good opportunity
to
> point out the importance of investing in our archival heritage, and
perhaps
> expressing support for the EU's financial committment. Any thoughts?
>
> Sam Robins
> Assistant Archivist
> Dudley Archives & Local History Service
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