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Donald R. Wright papers on Mandinka origins, history, and culture in The Gambia, Senegal, and Guinea-Bissau, 1967-1980

 Collection
Identifier: MSS 302 large

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

Contact:
MSU Libraries
366 W. Circle Drive
East Lansing MI 48823 USA