Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- Created 1898-1970s (Creation)
Level of description
Extent and medium
9 boxes
Context area
Name of creator
Biographical history
Archibald Norman Tucker was born in Cape Town on 10 March 1904. He was educated at South African College School. He obtained his MA from the University of Cape Town in 1926, his PhD from the University of London in 1929, and later also his DLit, in 1949.
He worked as Linguistic Expert of non-Arabic languages for the Sudan Government from 1929 to 1931. In 1932 he became Reader at the School of Oriental and African Studies. He was an active member of the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament, and a Conscientious Objector during World War II.
Much of his language work was concerned with orthographic research, which he undertook in both Uganda and Kenya (on Ganda and Kikuyu respectively). He organised and directed an orthography conference in Western Uganda in 1954, and, prior to that, in 1949-1951, he supervised a Bantu line expedition in the Belgian Congo for the International African Institute. Archibald Tucker was married. He died on 16 July 1980.
His publications include Suggestions for the Spelling of Transvaal Sesuto (1929); The Eastern Sudanic Languages, Vol. 1 (1940); Swahili Phonetics (1942); M. A. Bryan & A. N. Tucker, Distribution of the Nilotic ad Nilo-Hamitic Languages of Africa (1948); A Maasai Grammar with Vocabulary (1955); Linguistic Survey of the Northern Bantu Borderland, Vol. 4 (1957); A. N. Tucker & M. A. Bryan, Linguistic Analyses: The Non-Bantu Languages of North-Eastern Africa (1966); The Comparative Phonetics of the Suto-Chuana Group of Bantu Languages (1969); A Grammar of Kenya Luo (Dholuo) (1994); and Tribal Music and Dancing in the Southern Sudan (Africa), at Social and Ceremonial Gatherings.
Archival history
GB 0102 PP MS 43 Created 1898-1970s Collection (fonds) 9 boxes Tucker , Archibald Norman , 1904-1980 , linguist
Archibald Norman Tucker was born in Cape Town on 10 March 1904. He was educated at South African College School. He obtained his MA from the University of Cape Town in 1926, his PhD from the University of London in 1929, and later also his DLit, in 1949.
He worked as Linguistic Expert of non-Arabic languages for the Sudan Government from 1929 to 1931. In 1932 he became Reader at the School of Oriental and African Studies. He was an active member of the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament, and a Conscientious Objector during World War II.
Much of his language work was concerned with orthographic research, which he undertook in both Uganda and Kenya (on Ganda and Kikuyu respectively). He organised and directed an orthography conference in Western Uganda in 1954, and, prior to that, in 1949-1951, he supervised a Bantu line expedition in the Belgian Congo for the International African Institute. Archibald Tucker was married. He died on 16 July 1980.
His publications include Suggestions for the Spelling of Transvaal Sesuto (1929); The Eastern Sudanic Languages, Vol. 1 (1940); Swahili Phonetics (1942); M. A. Bryan & A. N. Tucker, Distribution of the Nilotic ad Nilo-Hamitic Languages of Africa (1948); A Maasai Grammar with Vocabulary (1955); Linguistic Survey of the Northern Bantu Borderland, Vol. 4 (1957); A. N. Tucker & M. A. Bryan, Linguistic Analyses: The Non-Bantu Languages of North-Eastern Africa (1966); The Comparative Phonetics of the Suto-Chuana Group of Bantu Languages (1969); A Grammar of Kenya Luo (Dholuo) (1994); and Tribal Music and Dancing in the Southern Sudan (Africa), at Social and Ceremonial Gatherings.
Internal transfer in 1992.
Papers, 1898-1970s, of Archibald Tucker, chiefly relating to his language work on both East African and Bantu languages. Miscellaneous material includes press cuttings (1898-1902) chronicling the Boer War and papers on the Ozuitem Ibo people of Owerri Province.
The collection of papers is arranged in two sections - the first is language material, listed alphabetically by language name, and the second, miscellaneous items of social and political concern. There is an index in the handlist, which gives cross-references for language names (largely referring to dialects).
Unrestricted.
No publication without written permission. Apply to archivist in the first instance.
Material on a large number of West African and Bantu languages and dialects.
Unpublished handlist.
The School of Oriental and African Studies holds other papers on African languages, including those of Malcolm Guthrie (Ref: PP MS 27), Peter Hackett (Ref: MS 380514) and Alice Werner (Ref: MS 380393).
16 May 2000 Africa African cultures African history African languages Bantu languages Central Africa Côte d'Ivoire East Africa Ethnic groups History Imo Kenya Linguistics National cultures National history Newspaper press Nigeria Owerri Press Press cuttings South Africa Southern Africa Spelling Sudan Swahili Tribes Tucker , Archibald Norman , 1904-1980 , linguist Uganda West Africa Zaire
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
Internal transfer in 1992.
Content and structure area
Scope and content
Papers, 1898-1970s, of Archibald Tucker, chiefly relating to his language work on both East African and Bantu languages. Miscellaneous material includes press cuttings (1898-1902) chronicling the Boer War and papers on the Ozuitem Ibo people of Owerri Province.
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling
Accruals
System of arrangement
The collection of papers is arranged in two sections - the first is language material, listed alphabetically by language name, and the second, miscellaneous items of social and political concern. There is an index in the handlist, which gives cross-references for language names (largely referring to dialects).
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
Material on a large number of West African and Bantu languages and dialects.
Physical characteristics and technical requirements
The School of Oriental and African Studies holds other papers on African languages, including those of Malcolm Guthrie (Ref: PP MS 27), Peter Hackett (Ref: MS 380514) and Alice Werner (Ref: MS 380393).
Finding aids
Unpublished handlist.
Allied materials area
Existence and location of originals
Existence and location of copies
Related units of description
Publication note
Notes area
Note
Alternative identifier(s)
Access points
Subject access points
- National cultures » African cultures
- National history » African history
- African languages
- African languages » Bantu languages
- Ethnic groups
- History
- Linguistics
- National cultures
- National history
- Press » Newspaper press
- Press
- Press » Newspaper press » Press cuttings
- Linguistics » Spelling
- African languages » Bantu languages » Swahili
- Ethnic groups » Tribes
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