Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- Created c1932-1977 (Creation)
Level of description
Extent and medium
25 boxes
Context area
Name of creator
Biographical history
Leonard John Barnes was born in London on 21 July 1895. He was educated at St. Paul's School in Hammersmith and served in the First World War in the King's Royal Rifle Corps. He was wounded three times and awarded the Military Cross with bar. In 1919 he went to University College, Oxford. Following the completion of his degree he entered the Colonial Office for a short time. He then went to South Africa, where he worked as a farmer, and later as a journalist in Cape Town. He returned to England in 1932 and wrote The New Boer War documenting his experiences overseas. Barnes concentrated on his writing on colonial and development issues until in 1936 he was appointed lecturer in education at the University of Liverpool. In 1943 he married Margaret (Peggy). Barnes was a member of the Carr-Saunders Commission to Malaya in the late 1940s to enquire into education provision and the foundation of a university. In 1947 the Barneses moved to Oxford following his appointment as Secretary and Director of the Delegacy for Social Training in Oxford University (later the Department of Social and Administrative Studies). Barnes stayed at Oxford until his retirement in 1962.
Following his retirement, he visited Central and East Africa several times under the auspices of the United Nations Economic Commission. He was employed as a consultant to examine how African countries were coping with modernisation and sociological problems. In 1973 he was invited by Kenneth Kaunda to report on Zambia's political and economic problems, resulting in Zambia 1973: Comment and Appraisal. He was a prolific writer, publishing a large number of books on the situation in Africa, educational problems, the Empire and the Commonwealth. He also wrote poetry and biographical material. He died on 10 March 1977.
Archival history
GB 0102 PP MS 9 Created c1932-1977 Collection (fonds) 25 boxes Barnes , Leonard John , 1895-1977 , author and journalist
Leonard John Barnes was born in London on 21 July 1895. He was educated at St. Paul's School in Hammersmith and served in the First World War in the King's Royal Rifle Corps. He was wounded three times and awarded the Military Cross with bar. In 1919 he went to University College, Oxford. Following the completion of his degree he entered the Colonial Office for a short time. He then went to South Africa, where he worked as a farmer, and later as a journalist in Cape Town. He returned to England in 1932 and wrote The New Boer War documenting his experiences overseas. Barnes concentrated on his writing on colonial and development issues until in 1936 he was appointed lecturer in education at the University of Liverpool. In 1943 he married Margaret (Peggy). Barnes was a member of the Carr-Saunders Commission to Malaya in the late 1940s to enquire into education provision and the foundation of a university. In 1947 the Barneses moved to Oxford following his appointment as Secretary and Director of the Delegacy for Social Training in Oxford University (later the Department of Social and Administrative Studies). Barnes stayed at Oxford until his retirement in 1962.
Following his retirement, he visited Central and East Africa several times under the auspices of the United Nations Economic Commission. He was employed as a consultant to examine how African countries were coping with modernisation and sociological problems. In 1973 he was invited by Kenneth Kaunda to report on Zambia's political and economic problems, resulting in Zambia 1973: Comment and Appraisal. He was a prolific writer, publishing a large number of books on the situation in Africa, educational problems, the Empire and the Commonwealth. He also wrote poetry and biographical material. He died on 10 March 1977.
Donated in 1977.
Papers, c1932-1977, of Leonard John Barnes, comprising books, articles, unpublished manuscripts, reports, travel notebooks and some correspondence. The majority of papers in the collection relate to his interests in Africa, though there are also some papers relating to his educational work.
The collection is arranged into the following classes: published books written by Leonard Barnes; published books to which Leonard Barnes contributed; published books in which Leonard Barnes is mentioned; journal articles by Leonard Barnes; reports in which Leonard Barnes was involved; bound manuscripts relating to Africa; bound and unbound manuscripts relating to various topics including education, society and Africa; notebooks and rough notes for books; notes and writings on visits to Africa; general and miscellaneous notes; correspondence.
Unrestricted.
No publication without written permission. Apply to archivist in the first instance.
English
Unpublished handlist.
For correspondence and literary papers, see Location register of 20th Century English Literary MSS (1988). Correspondence with Rita Hinden (1944-1947) (Ref: MSS Brit Emp s 365) and letters to FS Livie-Noble (Ref: MSS Afr s 1427) are held at Oxford University, Rhodes House Library.
16 May 2000 Academic teaching personnel Africa Authors Barnes , Leonard John , 1895-1977 , author and journalist Central Africa Colonial countries Communication personnel East Africa Educational personnel Educational personnel training Educational planning Journalists Malaysia Political systems South Africa South East Asia Southern Africa Teachers Travel Travel abroad United Nations Economic Commission University of Liverpool x Liverpool University University of Oxford x Oxford University West Africa Writers Zambia Personnel People by occupation People
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
Donated in 1977.
Content and structure area
Scope and content
Papers, c1932-1977, of Leonard John Barnes, comprising books, articles, unpublished manuscripts, reports, travel notebooks and some correspondence. The majority of papers in the collection relate to his interests in Africa, though there are also some papers relating to his educational work.
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling
Accruals
System of arrangement
The collection is arranged into the following classes: published books written by Leonard Barnes; published books to which Leonard Barnes contributed; published books in which Leonard Barnes is mentioned; journal articles by Leonard Barnes; reports in which Leonard Barnes was involved; bound manuscripts relating to Africa; bound and unbound manuscripts relating to various topics including education, society and Africa; notebooks and rough notes for books; notes and writings on visits to Africa; general and miscellaneous notes; correspondence.
Conditions of access and use area
Conditions governing access
Unrestricted.
Conditions governing reproduction
No publication without written permission. Apply to archivist in the first instance.
Language of material
- English
Script of material
- Latin
Language and script notes
English
Physical characteristics and technical requirements
Finding aids
Unpublished handlist.
Allied materials area
Existence and location of originals
Existence and location of copies
Related units of description
For correspondence and literary papers, see Location register of 20th Century English Literary MSS (1988). Correspondence with Rita Hinden (1944-1947) (Ref: MSS Brit Emp s 365) and letters to FS Livie-Noble (Ref: MSS Afr s 1427) are held at Oxford University, Rhodes House Library.
Publication note
Notes area
Note
Alternative identifier(s)
Access points
Subject access points
- Educational personnel » Teachers » Academic teaching personnel
- Authors
- Political systems » Colonial countries
- Communication personnel
- Educational personnel
- Educational personnel training
- Educational planning
- Communication personnel » Journalists
- Political systems
- Educational personnel » Teachers
- Travel
- Travel » Travel abroad
- Authors » Writers
- Personnel
Place access points
Name access points
Genre access points
Description control area
Description identifier
Institution identifier
Rules and/or conventions used
Status
Level of detail
Dates of creation revision deletion
Language(s)
- English