Collection GB 0097 SCHAPERA - SCHAPERA, Isaac, b 1905, social anthropologist

Identity area

Reference code

GB 0097 SCHAPERA

Title

SCHAPERA, Isaac, b 1905, social anthropologist

Date(s)

  • c1929-c1982 (Creation)

Level of description

Collection

Extent and medium

19 boxes

Context area

Name of creator

Biographical history

Isaac Schapera was born in 1905 in Garies in Little Namaqualand, south of the Orange River in the Northwestern Cape. Here he acquired a fluency in Afrikaans and an interest in the peoples around him. He enrolled at the University of Cape Town where he intended to study law, but after attending a course of lectures by A R Radcliffe-Brown, he changed to anthropology. After completing his masters degree in 1925, Schapera was accepted as a doctoral candidate at the London School of Economics. He joined Malinowski's seminar and was for a time his research assistant. His supervisor was C G Seligman. He held an assistant lectureship at LSE for a year, 1928-1929, and then returned to South Africa. He lectured for a year at the University of Witwatersrand and then returned to the University of Cape Town, where he was made Professor in 1935.In 1950, he returned to the LSE where he accepted a chair in anthropology. He retired from teaching in 1969. Over the years, Schapera made many trips to Botswana and had a deep interest in the history of the Tswana people. As part of his historical research, he made a study of missionary records, and undertook the editing of Robert Moffat's journals and letters and the unpublished writings of David Livingstone.

Archival history

GB 0097 SCHAPERA c1929-c1982 collection 19 boxes Schapera, Isaac, b 1905, social anthropologist
Isaac Schapera was born in 1905 in Garies in Little Namaqualand, south of the Orange River in the Northwestern Cape. Here he acquired a fluency in Afrikaans and an interest in the peoples around him. He enrolled at the University of Cape Town where he intended to study law, but after attending a course of lectures by A R Radcliffe-Brown, he changed to anthropology. After completing his masters degree in 1925, Schapera was accepted as a doctoral candidate at the London School of Economics. He joined Malinowski's seminar and was for a time his research assistant. His supervisor was C G Seligman. He held an assistant lectureship at LSE for a year, 1928-1929, and then returned to South Africa. He lectured for a year at the University of Witwatersrand and then returned to the University of Cape Town, where he was made Professor in 1935.In 1950, he returned to the LSE where he accepted a chair in anthropology. He retired from teaching in 1969. Over the years, Schapera made many trips to Botswana and had a deep interest in the history of the Tswana people. As part of his historical research, he made a study of missionary records, and undertook the editing of Robert Moffat's journals and letters and the unpublished writings of David Livingstone.

Schapera's field notebooks from his work in Botswana (then Bechuanaland), recording work on the Kgatta, Kwena, Ngwato and Ngwakelse tribes; working papers and notes, including genealogies of royal families, correspondence, drafts of an unpublished book on David Livingstone; various printed documents on the subject of Botswana; and books from Schapera's library on the subject of David Livingstone.

This collection is arranged in 3 sections: 1. Field Note Books, 1929-1938; 2. Papers, 1940-1964; 3. Printed Material, 1848-1982.

OPEN

COPYRIGHT IS HELD BY THE DONOR
English

Printed handlist and online catalogue available.

Output from CAIRS using template 14 and checked by hand on May 29, 2002 May 29, 2002 Anthropology Bechuanaland Botswana Ethnic groups Genealogy Kgatta , tribe Kwena , tribe Livingstone , David , 1813-1873 , missionary and explorer Monarchy Ngwakelse , tribe Ngwato , tribe Political systems Schapera , Isaac , b 1905 , social anthropologist Southern Africa Tribes

Immediate source of acquisition or transfer

Content and structure area

Scope and content

Schapera's field notebooks from his work in Botswana (then Bechuanaland), recording work on the Kgatta, Kwena, Ngwato and Ngwakelse tribes; working papers and notes, including genealogies of royal families, correspondence, drafts of an unpublished book on David Livingstone; various printed documents on the subject of Botswana; and books from Schapera's library on the subject of David Livingstone.

Appraisal, destruction and scheduling

Accruals

System of arrangement

This collection is arranged in 3 sections: 1. Field Note Books, 1929-1938; 2. Papers, 1940-1964; 3. Printed Material, 1848-1982.

Conditions of access and use area

Conditions governing access

OPEN

Conditions governing reproduction

COPYRIGHT IS HELD BY THE DONOR

Language of material

  • English

Script of material

  • Latin

Language and script notes

English

Physical characteristics and technical requirements

Finding aids

Printed handlist and online catalogue available.

Allied materials area

Existence and location of originals

Existence and location of copies

Related units of description

Related descriptions

Publication note

Notes area

Note

Alternative identifier(s)

Access points

Place access points

Name access points

Genre access points

Description control area

Description identifier

Institution identifier

British Library of Political and Economic Science

Rules and/or conventions used

Status

Level of detail

Dates of creation revision deletion

Language(s)

  • English

Script(s)

    Sources

    Accession area