Donald R. Wright papers on Mandinka origins, history, and culture in The Gambia, Senegal, and Guinea-Bissau, 1967-1980
Scope and Contents
In addition to translated transcriptions of Donald Wright's 1974-75 interviews relating to Senegambian history, with most of the interviews done in The Gambia and almost all in Mandinka language, also included are interviews recorded by S.M. Cissoko in 1967, a few other interviews in Wolof, plus some eighteenth century documents from British archives, and a dozen or so other papers, including some from the Conference on the Oral Traditions of Kaabu in Dakar in 1980. The collection is complemented by two other collections held elsewhere: one in the Oral History and Antiquities Division, The Gambia, the other in the Archives of Traditional Music, Indiana University, Bloomington (deposited by Dr. Wright in 1975, and "Recorded by Wright from Sept. 7, 1974-March 20, 1975 at various villages in Senegal and Gambia," with Mandinka village elders and griots and with B. K. Sidibe as interpreter), where it is known as "[Senegal and Gambia, Mandinka, Serer and Fula, 1974-1975] collected by Donald R. Wright"]). Also included are some publications of oral history by the Oral History and Antiquities Division, Old National Library, Banjul. The MSU copy, made on the suggestion and with the permission of Professor Wright, lacks the sound recordings, but includes some papers apparently not held in other collections, including papers from the Kaabu Conference.
Dates
- Creation: 1967-1980
Language of Materials
Chiefly in English, some in Mandinka, Wolof and French.
Conditions Governing Access
The collection is open for research.
Conditions Governing Use
Copyright is retained by the authors of the items in this collection, or their descendants, as stipulated by United States copyright law. For photocopy and duplication requests, please contact the Stephen O. Murray and Keelung Hong Special Collections, Michigan State University Libraries.
Extent
1 Linear Feet (1 box (100 folders)) : maps ; 27 x 40 x 13 cm.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Accession information unknown.
Existence and Location of Originals
MSU collection is a photocopy from original material loaned by Professor Wright (History Department, SUNY-Cortland), who retains the originals.
General
Chiefly transcripts of recordings by Donald Wright from Sept. 7, 1974-March 20, 1975 at various villages, chiefly in The Gambia, some in Senegal.
General
Inventory available.
Varying Form of Title
Donald Wright papers.
Varying Form of Title
Donald R. Wright papers.
Varying Form of Title
Mandinka origins, history, and culture in The Gambia, Senegal, and Guinea-Bissau, 1967-1980.
Processing Information
Inventoried by Peter Limb.
- Title
- Finding Aid for the [Donald R. Wright papers on Mandinka origins, history, and culture in The Gambia, Senegal, and Guinea-Bissau, 1967-1980 /collected by Donald R. Wright
- Status
- 4 Published And Cataloged
- Author
- Finding aid prepared by Peter Limb.
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- Undetermined
- Script of description
- Code for undetermined script
Repository Details
Part of the Stephen O. Murray and Keelung Hong Special Collections Repository