George Axinn papers

Collection

Identifier: UA-17.225

Staff Only

Scope and Content

The George Axinn papers contain correspondence from his time with the University of Nigeria (Nsukka) project and an end of tour report. There are also “running notes” detailing his day to day activities, observations, and duties while on the project. Other materials include subject files about the Nigerian Civil War (1968-1970), and the Nsukka Igbo people. Materials about the University of Nigeria, Nsukka and MSU’s involvement in its development include reports, curriculum information, information about living in Nigeria, and memos. There are also photographs of the Nsukka Igbo people, Godell study trip to Biafra, as well as scrapbooks on the Nigerian Civil War. The University Ryukyus scrapbook contains newspaper articles and press releases.

Dates

Creation: 1960 - 1973

Creator

Axinn, George Harold, 1926- (Donor, Person)

Conditions Governing Access

Collection is open for research.

Conditions Governing Use

Permission to publish material from this collection must be obtained from University Archives & Historical Collections, Michigan State University.

Biographical Note

Born February 1, 1926 in Queens, New York, George Harold Axinn earned his B.S. in Agriculture from Cornell University and his M.S. and PhD from the University of Wisconsin. Axinn taught resource development at MSU for over 50 years starting in the 1960’s. Dr. Axinn spent several years in Nigeria in the 1960’s, where he worked for MSU’s University of Nigeria (Nsukka) program. During his time in Nigeria, Axinn and his wife Nancy traveled throughout the country collecting textiles, sculptures, and other cultural items that they would eventually donate to the MSU Museum. Axinn moved to Tucson, Arizona after his retirement, but continued to teach an online graduate seminar at MSU named International Rural Development. During his career Axinn published more than 100 book chapters and articles, four books, and created dozens of programs designed to reduce poverty, promote agriculture, and improved education in Asia, Africa, and South America. Dr. George Harold Axinn passed away in Tucson, Arizona on March 8, 2010.