Letters to her parents from war-time Britain, and later from Colonial Nigeria, with printed papers from post-colonial Nigeria.
Dates
- 1938-2000
Extent
0.45 linear metres (1 physical shelfmark)
Language of Materials
- English
Preferred Citation
Oxford, Bodleian Libraries [followed by shelfmark and folio or page reference, e.g. MSS. Afr. s. 2499/1, fols. 1-2].
Please see our help page for further guidance on citing archives and manuscripts.
Full range of shelfmarks:
MSS. Afr. s. 2499/1-3
Collection ID (for staff)
CMD ID 5138, 5139, 5140
Abstract
Letters and printed papers of Barbara Akinyemi.
Biographical / Historical
Barbara Akinyemi was born 26 May 1914, the daughter of Harold George Powter and his wife, Ethel, née Barnard. She was brought up in Maidstone, Kent. She trained as a nurse at Lewisham Hospital, London, specializing in midwifery and health visiting. During the Second World War, she worked as a nurse in Norwich and Aberdeen. After the war she applied to join the Colonial Nursing Service, and was posted to Nigeria as a health visitor in March 1947. She worked initially in Lagos and was taught Yoruba, the local language, by Olu Akinyemi. During her contract she also worked in Kano and Makurdi. At the end of her contract she returned to England where she met her language teacher again, who was working in London for the Crown Agents. They married in Maidstone, 24 Oct. 1953. They returned to Lagos in 1958 and lived in the hospital compound, where her husband was head of the hospital administration. Barbara continued her medical work in private clinics and also did voluntary work at the Cheshire Home. She was a founder member of the West African Book Club, which was established in 1982, and an early member of Nigerwives, an organisation for foreign wives of Nigerian men.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Letters to her parents were donated by Barbara Akinyemi, 16 Mar. 2001. Newsletters and other memorabilia were donated by Barbara Akinyemi, 17 Feb. 2001.
- Title
- Catalogue of the archive of Barbara Akinyemi, 1938-2000
- Status
- Published
- Author
- Finding aid prepared by C. Parker
- Date
- 2011
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Repository Details
Part of the Bodleian Libraries Repository
Contact:
Weston Library
Broad Street
Oxford OX1 3BG United Kingdom
specialcollections.enquiries@bodleian.ox.ac.uk
Weston Library
Broad Street
Oxford OX1 3BG United Kingdom
specialcollections.enquiries@bodleian.ox.ac.uk