MINUTES

 

of the

 

CONFERENCE OF AFRICAN AREA STUDY CENTERS

 

Africa Program Room

Deering Library

 

Northwestern University

March 11 and 12, 1955

 

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­Friday, March 11

 

            The Conference was called to order by the Chairman, Professor Melville J. Herskovits, of Northwestern University, at 10:00 A.M. Those present were as follows:

 

                        Boston University:                     Professor W.O. Brown

                                                                        Miss Mary Herrick

 

                        Howard University:                   Professor Mark Hanna Watkins

                                                                        Miss Dorothy Porter

 

                        Library of Congress:                 Dr. Harry J. Krould

                                                                        Mr. Lewis Coffin

 

                        Northwestern University:           Mr. Jens Nyholm

                                                                        Dr. David Jolly

 

                        Roosevelt University:                Mr. Frank Untermeyer

 

                        Stanford University:                  Professor William Jones

                                                                        Professor S. Daniel Neumark

 

                        Yale University:                        Professor Harry Rudin

 

            In order that all present might know something of the work of the institutions represented in the African area field, a representative of each was asked to describe its activities. In the course of this discussion, the specialized concerns of the Food Research Institute and of the Library of Congress were made apparent; both those, as well as the Universities where integrated Programs are operative as well as those in which this is not the case, reported a steady increase in interest in the study of Africa.

 

            The question of the portions of Africa to be considered by a given institution, especially the inclusion of North Africa as well as the Sub-Saharan portion of the continent, was raised. It was the consensus of opinion that since the limitations set were essentially matters of choice determined by special factors in each particular case, it was pointless to attempt to reach agreement on the matter. For the purposes of this Conference, therefore, the word “Africa” was to be understood to apply to such geographical limits or that aspect of the total situation, with which any given institution was concerned.

 

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            I. The remainder of the morning session was taken up with a discussion of bibliographic problems faced by those interested in Africa. These problems included (1) the question of a Union Catalog of American holdings, with particular reference to the proposed catalog to be published by the International African Institute of London and listings of other non-American holdings; (2) the difficulty of ascertaining sources of current materials, and the desirability of cooperative effort in the acquisition of items and the disposition of duplicates; (3) the handling of newspapers, and (4) the practicability of exchanging information on acquisitions as to facilitate research as well as library operations.

 

            After the luncheon intermission, the general discussion of these points continued. It was agreed that a Committee of those primarily concerned with library matters meet after the Conference dinner and draw up recommendations to be presented to the group as a whole. Dr. Krould was appointed Chairman of this Committee, and Mr. Jolly, rapporteur, with the following as members: Miss Herrick, Miss Porter, Mr. Coffin, Mr. Nyholm, Professor Jones.

 

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            II. The Conference then turned to a consideration of the problems of publication. It was agreed that the publication of results of research, as an important aspect of research, merited thought so as to facilitate this end, and that it could probably be best achieved by cooperative effort rather than by any one Center. On the other hand, it was felt that though initiative could logically come from the Centers, support must be on a broader base of participation. Possibilities were advanced of a series which would bring out full-length reports of research in Africa and analyses of African questions, and of a publication which would be in the nature of a clearing house of information on research, with listing of projects, preliminary reports of research, and activities of personnel. It was pointed out that established journals in the various disciplines provide ample outlet for shorter articles, the difficulty being to finance book-length works. On the other hand, it was apparent that the lack of any central organ for articles on Africa meant a scattering of materials that entailed serious expenditure of time in bibliographic search. The point was also made that in any publication program, the importance of having adequate assistance cannot be overlooked.

 

            It was agreed that Messrs. Brown, Herskovits and Watkins draw up recommendations concerning a publication program to be submitted to the Conference for further discussion.

 

            The meeting adjourned at 4:30 P.M.

 

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Saturday, March 12

 

            The Conference assembled at 9:45 A.M., and first heard the following report from Mr. Jolly, rapporteur of the Committee on Bibliographic and Library matters:

 

                        “The Library Group discussed a Five-Point Agenda:

                                   

                                    1. Exchange of information on materials currently acquired.

 

                                    2. Survey of holdings.

 

3. Means of establishing a central depository of current acquisitions—establishing thereby a current Union Catalog.

 

                                    4. Building up a retrospective Union Catalog.

 

5. Utilization of the International African Institute bibliography to permit a basic list to be supplemented where possible by addition of French and Belgian catalogs.

 

                        “The following conclusions were reached by the Committee as to these points:

 

1. It was apparent that the libraries cannot exchange cards representing current acquisitions. The value of typed or mimeographed lists of current acquisitions was both questioned and defended. After much discussion it was agreed that:

 

            a. All libraries should send cards to the National Union Catalog for all acquisitions for which Library of Congress cards are not available and for significant items even if Library of Congress cards are available.

 

            b. After a description of how the Food Research Institute of Stanford obtained information on Hoover Library acquisitions, which stressed the role that order-slips can play in compiling acquisition lists, Northwestern University offered to prepare a monthly list on an experimental basis for one year, provided support for the expenses involved would be forthcoming. Acquisitions for the Food Research Institute, Hoover, and possibly Stanford would be incorporated into the list.

 

2. It was agreed that surveys of holdings would be valuable. Hoover is preparing a survey of its collections which will include a delineation of the African materials. Miss Herrick has prepared a list of 1,000 topics with Library of Congress classification. It was suggested that a quantitative report by each library, based on this topical list, would be helpful. Howard is preparing a list of its holding, which will be available this summer. Mr. Nyholm reported on procedure initiated in the Midwest Inter-Library Center group, which could result in a description of Northwestern’s holdings and a guide for others to follow.

 

                                    3. and 4. Because of the present state of library economy—inadequate staff, budget, etc., it was agreed that nothing constructive could be done now. However, each library will carry through on item 1a.

 

                                    5. It was agreed that the form of the International African Institute catalog would be more useful if it were arranged alphabetically by author, with a subject index. The cost of doing this, however, is prohibitive, and libraries would therefore prefer to receive it in the proposed form. If a group approach to a Foundation is desirable, the Library of Congress estimates that an alphabetical list could be prepared by cutting, pasting, and rearranging at a cost of $500. Searching the National Union Catalog to annotate for location, microfilming and blowing up sets of cards would, of course, cost much more. The Library of Congress has or can present figures on what this would cost. Mr. Krould and Mr. Coffin would like the entire group’s recommendation on this point.

 

            In the discussion of the report as a whole, the question was raised of the advisability of investigating new electronic and microphotographic approaches to the problem. Though it was agreed that it would be desirable to explore these possibilities further, it was felt that, for the present, an alphabetical author list presents the most feasible approach to bibliographic data.

 

            Considering the report point by point, it was agreed by the Conference that (1) the representatives present the recommendation to their several institutions and determine whether the necessary financial contribution might be forthcoming, communicating with Mr. Jolly as to possible contributions to the experimental listing and circulation of Northwestern acquisitions. As regards (2), it was felt that the importance of financial considerations precluded anything more at this time than the exploration of possibilities. Concerning (3) and (4), it was apparent that without outside support, little could be accomplished. On (5), it was agreed that Dr. Krould and Mr. Coffin would draw up a budget for clipping, pasting and alphabetizing the entries in the proposed International African Institute’s Bibliography, for checking them against national holdings, and providing copies for libraries having African collections; that the Chairman of this Conference would then draw up a proposal covering these items, to be submitted to the three established Centers for revision and approval; and that this would then be jointly submitted, with the Library of Congress, for possible Foundation support.

 

            Moving to the matter of publications, the Conference then heard the following report:

 

                        “It is the sense of the Conference that proposals be initiated by the three Programs of African Studies looking toward the establishment of a revolving fund to provide for the publication of the results of significant research in the field of African Studies which are of proportions too large to permit their acceptance as articles.

 

                        “It is understood that in this the three Programs will not only as initiating and executive agents in forming a Board of Editors more broadly based, and that any fund established will be available for the publication of any work of high quality concerned with Africa, without regard for the affiliation of the author; and that to this end, these opportunities for publication will be made known as widely as possible.”

 

            The report was accepted. It was agreed that the Directors of the three established Programs would consult as to details of financing, editorial arrangements, and the like, prior to initiating the specific proposals envisaged in the resolution.

 

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            III.       a. The suggestion made by the British Colonial Attache, Mr. A. Campbell, that it would be desirable to hold periodic high level conferences on Africa, under the sponsorship of, but not necessarily at, those Universities having an established interest in African studies, was discussed. The Conference agreed in principle with this suggestion, and with the further statement that, if and when such a conference were proposed, the participating institutions would cooperate in planning it.

 

                        b. The desirability of organizing some mechanism of informing institutions interested in Africa of visitors to the United States from overseas, competent to discuss African affairs, was recognized by all. It was agreed that the Chairman of this Conference should send a list of interested institutions to the British, French, Belgian, and South African Information Services, the Institute of International Education, the Carnegie Corporation, and the International Exchange of Persons section of the Department of State, asking that they notify these institutions of such visitors, giving dates and itinerary, so that arrangements for them to speak, if desirable, might be made in advance. It was also held desirable that the several institutions exchange information of this kind among themselves.

 

                        c. The question of the desirability of further meetings of this Conference led to the consideration of a point raised in a previous session, as to the need for an organization in the United States of those interested in African affairs. After further discussion, it was agreed (1) that the time had been reached when the formation of an “American Society of African Studies” was desirable; (2) that a list of possible members to be asked to attend an organizing meeting of such a Society should be assembled by the Chairman of this Conference, and that, to this end, the members would send him as soon as possible the names, addresses, and affiliations of those who in their opinion should receive such a call; (3) that the draft of this call should then be submitted to the members of this Conference for revision and approval; after which (4) the call would be signed by all those present, and circulated to persons on the list. It was the consensus of opinion that this procedure, which would broaden the base of organized African specialists in this country, would be more desirable than meetings of Program Directors, which in any event could be arranged in connection with the meetings of the proposed Society.

 

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IV. There being no further business, the Conference adjourned at 12:45 P.M.