50 Years of Africana: Honoring the First 50 Years of the Melville J. Herskovits Library of African Studies and the 50th Anniversary of the First National Meeting of Africana Librarians on the Northwestern Campus

Inventory

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MELVILLE J. AND FRANCES HERSKOVITS

Melville J. Herskovits (1895-1963) came to Northwestern University in 1927. He established the Anthropology Department in 1938 and served as its Chairperson until he established the Program of African Studies in 1948. With his wife and research partner, Frances Shapiro Herskovits (1897-1972), he carried out research projects both in Africa and the Americas. This case displays just a portion of the published results of their research.

Late 1920s Photograph of Melville J. and Frances Herskovits

The 1939 Trinidad Field Recordings of Melville and Frances Herskovits. Vol. 1, Peter was a Fisherman. (Cambridge, MA: Rounder Records, 1998).

Bascom, William R. and Melville J. Herskovits eds. Continuity and Change in African Cultures. (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1959).

Gershenhorn, Jerry. Melville J. Herskovits and the Racial Politics of Knowledge. (Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press, 2004).

Herskovits, Melville J. Acculturation: The Study of Culture Contact. (New York: J.J. Augustin, 1938).

-- The American Negro: A Study in Racial Crossing. (New York: A.A. Knopf, 1928).

-- The Anthropometry of the American Negro. (New York: Columbia University Press, 1930).

-- The Backgrounds of African Art. Three lectures given on the Cooke-Daniels lecture foundation, in conjunction with an exhibition of African art assembled by the Denver Art Museum, January and February, 1945. (Denver: Denver Art Museum, 1945).

-- The Cattle Complex in East Africa. PhD. Thesis, Columbia University, 1926.

-- Cultural Anthropology: An Abridged Revision of Man and His Works. (New York: Knopf, 1955).

-- Cultural Dynamics. Pref. Joseph H. Greenberg. (New York: Knopf, 1964).

-- Dahomey, An Ancient West African Kingdom. (New York: J.J. Augustin, 1938).

-- Economic Anthropology; A Study in Comparative Economics. (New York: Knopf, 1952).

-- The Economic Life of Primitive Peoples. (New York, London: A.A. Knopf, 1940).

-- Franz Boas: The Science of Man in the Making. (New York: Scribner, 1953).

-- The Human Factor in Changing Africa. (New York: Knopf, 1962).

-- Life in a Haitian Valley. Introd. Edward Brathwaite. (New York, London: A.A. Knopf, 1937).

-- Man and His Works. The Science of Cultural Anthropology. (New York: A.A. Knopf, 1948).

-- The Myth of the Negro Past. (New York, London: Harper & Brothers, 1941).

-- The New World Negro. Selected Papers in Afroamerican Studies. Ed. Frances S. Herskovits. (Bloomington, IN: Indiana University Press, 1966).

Herskovits, Melville J. and Frances S. Dahomean Narrative: A Cross-Cultural Analysis. (Evanston, IL: Northwestern University Press, 1958).

-- Rebel Destiny. (New York, London: Whittlesey House, McGraw-Hill Book Co., 1934).

-- Trinidad Village. (New York: A.A. Knopf, 1947).

Herskovits, Melville J. and Mitchell Harwitz eds. Economic Transition in Africa. (London: Routledge and K. Paul, 1964).

Northwestern University Library, Melville J. Herskovits Library of African Studies, Formal Opening October 20, 1970. (Evanston, IL: Northwestern University Library, 1973).

Redfield, Robert; Melville J. Herskovits and Gordon F. Ekholm. Aspects of Primitive Art. (New York: Museum of Primitive Art, 1959).

Segall, Marshall H.; Donald T. Campbell and Melville J. Herskovits. The Influence of Culture on Visual Perception. (Indianapolis: Bobbs-Merrill Co., [1966]).

Simpson, George Eaton. Melville J. Herskovits. (New York: Columbia University Press, 1973).

Wissler, Clark; Fay-Cooper Cole, William M. McGovern, Melville J. Herskovits and Ferdinand Schevill. Making Mankind. (New York: D. Van Nostrand Company, Inc., [1929]).

 

MAJOR WORKS THAT HAVE INFLUENCED THOUGHT ABOUT AFRICA

This case contains just a few of the works that have had significant influence in African studies written by African and African American authors.

Africanus, Leo. Ioannis Leonis Africani, De totivs Africae descriptione, libri IX. Quibus non solum Africae regionum, insularum, & oppidorum situs, locoruq interualla accuratè complexus est, sed regum familias, bellorum causas & euentus, resq in ea memorabiles, tam à seipso diligenti obseruatione indagatas, ¨q in veris Maurorum Annalib. memoriae traditas, copiose descripsit, recens in latinam linguam conuersi Ioan. Floriano interprete. (Antwerp: apud I. Latium, 1556).

Azikiwe, Nnamdi. Renascent Africa. (Accra: The Author, [1937]).

Crummell, Alexander. Africa and America. Addresses and Discourses by Alex Crummell. (Springfield, MA: Willey & Co., 1891).

Davis, John A. Ed. Africa Seen by American Negroes. (Paris: Présence africaine, [1958]).

Diop, Cheikh Anta. Etude comparée des systèmes politiques et sociaux de l'Europe et de l'Afrique, de l'antiquité à la formation des Etats modernes. (Paris: Imp. Richard, [1959]).

Du Bois, W.E.B. The World and Africa: An inquiry into the part which Africa has played in world history. (New York: The Viking Press, 1947).

Equiano, Olaudah. The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano, or Gustavus Vassa, the African. Written by himself. (London: Printed for and sold by the author & G.G.J. & J. Robinson and C. Stalker, 1793).

Fanon, Frantz. The Wretched of the Earth. Pref. Jean-Paul Sartre. Trans. Constance Farrington. (New York: Grove Press, 1965).

Kenyatta, Jomo. Facing Mount Kenya: The Tribal Life of the Gikuyu. Introd. B. Malinowski. (London: Secker and Warberg, [1938]).

Mandela, Nelson. I Am Prepared to Die. [London: A.G. Bishop, 1965].

Pan-Africa. Journal of African Life and Thought. (Manchester, England)

 

NELSON MANDELA

Nelson Mandela is a hero admired world-wide. His personal sacrifice in the struggle for South African independence and his eventual triumph and election as independent South Africa’s first president is a one of the 20th century’s most compelling narratives. His image is everywhere in South Africa. This case includes examples of the use of Mandela’s image in a variety of formats.

Case, Dianne. What A Gentleman. Pictures by Jo Harvey. (Cape Town: Kwagga, 1997).

Mayibuye ¡Afrika. Written and directed by Kevin Harris. (Marshalltown, Johannesburg: Produced for the ANC Dept. of Information and Publicity by Kevin Harris Productions, 1994).

Pinchuck, Tony. Mandela For Beginners. (Cambridge: Icon Books, 1994).

Nelson Mandela Beverage Coaster

Nelson Mandela Buttons

 

ARTIST'S BOOKS / LETTER PRESS BOOKS

Bonelleo, Candy. The Dream Tree. (East London, South Africa: Rainbird Books, 2002).

Gordimer, Nadine. The Ultimate Safari. With original hand-printed lithographs by Aletah Masuku, Alsetah Manthosi and Dorah Ngomane. (Johannesburg: The Artist’s Press, 2001).

Illustrations 1 2 3 4 5 6

Jammie. Dreaming: A Story from the !Kung. Recorded in Cape Town by Lucy Lloyd in 1880. Water colours, embossings by Pippa Skotnes. (Cape Town: 199?).

King, Ronald and Roy Fisher. Anansi Company: A Collection of Thirteen Hand-Made Wire and Card Rod-Puppets Animated in Colour and Verse. (London: Circle Press, 1992).

Soyinka, Wole. Outsiders: Poems. With an introduction by Rudolph P. Byrd and frontispiece by Barry Moser. (Decatur, GA: Wisteria Press, 1999).

Stoneham, Charles Thurley. Munwa’s Mungu. (Montreal: 1938).

 

BOOKS IN AFRICAN LANGUAGES

Bade, David W. Books in African Languages in the Melville J. Herskovits Library of African Studies, Northwestern University: A Catalog. (Evanston, IL: Program of African Studies, Northwestern University, 2000).

Ethiopian hymnal in Geez.

Issal’-anjilo kila Matti ye men safe. Mandinga kangoto. Trans. R.M. Macbrair. (London: British and Foreign Bible Society, 1837).

 

MISCELLANEOUS HOLDINGS

Ashanti. ([Vienna]: Wiener Thiergarten, 1897).

Images 1 2 3

Constitution and Laws of the Commonwealth of Liberia: Including and Abstract of Legal Principles and Rules, with an Appendix of Forms. (Monrovia: The Legislative Council, 1843).

Free Jomo Kenyatta Broadsides. (Chicago: s.n., [1960]).

Hands Off Africa, Come Salute to South Africa: Sunday, November 30, 1952, Rockland Place, 155th & 8th Ave., NYC: Hear Paul Robeson, Dr. W.E.B. Du Bois…. [1952]

Mather, Cecile. The Truth About AIDS. (Gallo Manor: Awareness Publishing, 2002).

Smith, Kathryn ed. Penny Siopis. (Johannesburg: Goldman Gallery Editions, 2005).

HIV/AIDS Awareness Beaded Cloths 1 2

Trading Cards 1 2

 

Last reviewed: August 31, 2007

Melville J. Herskovits
Library of African Studies
Northwestern University
1970 Campus Drive
Evanston, IL 60208-2300

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E-mail: africana@northwestern.edu