Papers collected by Thomas Jones Stevens
With the exception of fols. 185-186 and the three last items in the collection, the papers have no connection with Stevens's work and came into his possession by chance. They consist chiefly of official reports and correspondence, dated between 1905 and 1942, relating to the work of administrative officers in the Gombe Division, Bauchi Province, Northern Nigeria.
(fols. 1-28) copies of official correspondence about steps taken to capture Attairhu (Altahiru?), ex-Sarkin Musulmi, and 'other fanatical irreconcileables' among the deposed Muslim leaders of Northern Nigeria, 25 Apr-2 Aug 1903. These steps culminated in military action on 27 Jul 1903 at Burmi in Bauchi Province, the centre of the movement; Burmi was subdued after heavy fighting, and Attairhu was among those reported killed. After an earlier engagement at Burmi, the Mahdi was reported killed, with 300 of his men. Correspondents include the following administrative officers:
- William Wallace, Acting High Commissioner, Northern Nigeria
- Featherston Cargill, Resident, Kano
- C.L. Temple, Resident Bauchi
- W.M. Chartres, 3rd Resident, Bauchi
- G. Malcolm, Assistant Resident, Bauchi.
The following officers of the Northern Nigerian Regiment are also correspondents or are referred to in the reports:
- Colonel Morland, Commandant Northern Nigeria Royal West African Frontier Force (NN RWAF)
- Major C. Barlow, Burden, Crawley, March
- Captains W. Hamilton Browne, Plummer, Short, H.D. Sword
- Lieutenants Parker and J.E.C. Willcox.
Further:
- (fols. 29-31) three reports from Capt. P. Lonsdale, Resident, Gombe, to (1) the Resident, Central Province, (2) the Assistant Resident, Deba Habe, and (3) the Officer Commanding (OC) at Nafada, about a patrol requested by T.F. Carlyle, following an 'outburst of murders' in Tangalto, 10 Oct-25 Nov 1910
- (fols. 32-40) Lonsdale's Assessment Report for 1912 on the Birri District, Gombe Division, and papers relating to it. These include comments by the Acting Governor, signed by W.F. Gowers, Acting Chief Secretary, and correspondence with the Niger Company Ltd., signed by Walter Watts, about the purchase of sheanuts and other products and the problem of transporting goods to the coast, 9 Sep 1912-22 Nov
- (fols. 41-43) part of a report, paragraphs 24-47, concerning the Waja people, n.d.
- (fols. 44-47) copy of a report by F. Beckles Gall, Resident, Central Province, to the Chief Secretary to the Government, Zungeru, commenting on a report dated 10 Oct 1913 by Carlyle, Resident, Gombe Division, on the Waja section, 20 Oct 1913
- (fol. 48) letter from Carlyle to the District Officer (DO), Gombe Division, Nafada, about the Assessment Sheet for Waja Sub-District 1914, 1 Aug 1914
- (fols. 49-50) notes [on Jangali?] in an African language [Hausa?]. There are comments added by Mrs K.M. Stevens dated 25 Jan 1966, 23 Sep 1916
- (fols. 51-52) letter from Carlyle to Resident, Bauchi Province, and his reply, about Report No. 30 by F.G. Heathcote, Assistant District Officer (ADO), on Gombe Division for the half-year ended 31 Dec 1916, with comments on Heathcote's excellent work, 19 Jan-2 Feb 1917
- (fols. 53-65) report, unsigned and with the first page missing, but probably the one referred to above (fols. 51-52), n.d.
- (fol. 66) a page of notes for Half Yearly Report 1917, on Jangali, yellow fever, and taxation, n.d.
- (fol. 67) part of a report, paragraphs 20-23, dealing with population in the Hafada, Ako, and Duku Districts, n.d.
- (fols. 68-75) report [by E.A. Carr] on 'Roads: Main Trunk - all seasons motor', dealing particularly with the proposed road that would affect the Tangale-Waja District. There is a sketch map of the Tumu-Kumu road, n.d.
- (fols. 76-79) letter from the Niger Company Limited, Yola, to the District Officer (DO), Gombe, giving a report on trade at Nafada during the first quarter of 1923, listing ostrich feathers, groundnuts, gum arabic, gutte percha, and beeswax, 24 Apr-12 May 1923
- (fols. 80-105) report by E.S. Pembleton on Gombe Division for the Mar quarter. The first page is missing, 1923
- (fols. 106-112) correspondence about the above report, between J.H. Molyneux, District Officer (DO), Gombe Division, and J.M. Fremantle, Resident, Bauchi, 10 May-2 Jul 1923
- (fols. 113-114) report, unsigned, to the District Officer (DO), Gombe Division, concerning a certain case about tax payment heard at Tula Wange, 27 Jan 1927
- (fols. 115-132) East Tangale Report by E.A. Carr, Assistant District Officer (ADO), Apr 1927
- (fols. 133-136) notes on a visit to East Tangali District, by Capt. R.M. Downes, Assistant District Officer (ADO), Gombe, 28 Jul 1927
- (fols. 137-141) report by Downes on East Tangali District, 18 Oct 1927
- (fols. 142-145) letter from the District Officer (DO), Gombe, to A.C. Francis, Resident, Bauchi, about the Sarkin Kaltungo, with an extract from Pembleton's handing-over notes, and enclosing a copy of a petition from the Sarkin Kaltungo dated 17 Dec 1927 about a staff of office, and Francis's reply, 28 Dec 1927-7 Jan 1928
- (fols. 146-161) report on East Tangale by E.A. Carr, n.d.
- (fols. 162-171) report on East Tangale by (?) J.H. Shaw, n.d.
- (fols. 172-182) report of a tour, with the first page missing, n.d. (after 1928)
- (fol. 183) letter from A.J. Faust, Filiya, to D.M. Vezie, Gombe, about a person called Bungerum who was considered dangerous, 15 Oct 1931
- (fol. 184) letter from (J.H.G.?) Smyth, District Officer (DO), Gombe Division, to H.McA. Callow, Assistant District Officer (ADO), Biu Division, and his reply, concerning a marriage case heard before the Tangale Court and the question raised about the payment of dowry, 17-28 Nov 1931
- (fols. 185-186) memorandum by S.A.S. Leslie, Assistant District Officer (ADO), i/c Northern Division, on the immunisation of cattle against Rinderpest in the Hadejia Emirate. The Jangali figures for 1932 are quoted. It is noted that Stevens was responsible for the great success of the campaign, 22 May 1933
- (fol. 187) memorandum on East Tangale affairs by T.C. Newton, Resident, Bauchi Province, addressed to the District Officer (DO), i/c Gombe Division, with references to the Sarkin Kaltungo, 24 Aug 1933
- (fol. 188) note in an African language [Hausa?], mentioning the Sarkin Kaltungo, 9 Sep 1933
- (fol. 189) note in an African language [Hausa?], with a further note added in English referring to treatment of cattle, 7-8 Aug 1942
- (fols. 190-191) table showing the composition of various animal foodstuffs, n.d.
- (fols. 192-200) paper entitled 'A Short History of Rinderpest with special reference to Africa', by R.W.M Mettam, MSc, Member of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (MRCVS) [whose father founded the Veterinary Department of the University of Dublin], n.d.
- (fols. 201-205) letter from Mrs K.M. Stevens to the archivist, giving information about her husband's career, 15 Nov 1966.
Dates
- Creation: 1903-1942; 1966
Extent
1 box
Language of Materials
- English
- Undetermined
Preferred Citation
Oxford, Bodleian Libraries [followed by shelfmark and folio or page reference, e.g. MSS. Afr. s. 834, fols. 1-2].
Shelfmark:
MSS. Afr. s. 834
Collection ID (for staff)
CMD ID 4375
Abstract
Papers collected by Thomas Jones Stevens.
Biographical / Historical
Thomas Jones Stevens was an agriculturalist who served as Livestock Officer in Nigeria (1927-1942) and as Agricultural Officer in Gambia (1942-1944). From 1950 to 1952, he was in Cyrenaica, under the Foreign Office. Stevens returned to Nigeria in 1954, where he worked for the Western Regional Production Board until his death in 1956. He held a Diploma in Agriculture from the University of Wales, Aberystwyth. The collection he compiled is not connected with his work.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
The collection was deposited by Mrs K.M. Stevens, widow of T.J. Stevens, in 1966. It was transferred to the library from the Oxford Colonial Records Project.
Creator
Subject
- Title
- Papers collected by Thomas Jones Stevens
- Status
- Published
- Author
- Original catalogue by P.A. Empson; Collection Level Description by Marion Lowman.
- Date
- 1966; EAD version 2024
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
- Edition statement
- Second edition.
Repository Details
Part of the Bodleian Libraries Repository
Weston Library
Broad Street
Oxford OX1 3BG United Kingdom
specialcollections.enquiries@bodleian.ox.ac.uk