Dates
Biography
George Albert “Sam” Shepperson was born in Peterborough, Northamptonshire in 1922. He received his early education at King's School, Peterborough, before advancing to St. John's College, Cambridge. His studies were interrupted by World War II, during which he served in the Northamptonshire Regiment and was seconded to the King's African Rifles, seeing action in East Africa, India, and Burma from 1942 to 1946. His wartime experiences, particularly with a Nyasa battalion in Burma, left an indelible mark on him, fostering a lifelong connection with Africa and its peoples. He became fluent in Chinyanja and developed a profound respect for Malawi and its history.
Upon returning to civilian life, Shepperson completed his history degree and joined the University of Edinburgh as a Lecturer in Imperial and American History in 1948. He became a Senior Lecturer in 1960, a Reader in 1961, and finally, in 1963 he was appointed to the William Robertson Chair of Commonwealth and American History. His courses became renowned, inspiring many students who would go on to become prominent authorities in their fields. He retired in 1986.
Shepperson's scholarly contributions were vast and influential. His seminal work, Independent African: John Chilembwe and the Origins, Setting, and Significance of the Nyasaland Native Rising 1915, co-authored with Tom Price and first published in 1958, remains a cornerstone in the study of African nationalism. This work was pivotal in cementing John Chilembwe's status as a key figure in African history and is still regarded as one of the most comprehensive studies on Malawian nationalism. Throughout his career, Shepperson remained a committed advocate for African independence, particularly for Malawi. He also authored David Livingstone and the Rovuma in 1964, among many other significant publications.
His expertise and passion for African history led him to numerous prestigious visiting professorships, including stints at Roosevelt and Chicago Universities in 1959, Makerere College in Uganda in 1962, Dalhousie University from 1968 to 1969, and Rhode Island College in 1984. These roles further solidified his reputation as a leading scholar of African and American history.
Shepperson was instrumental in curating two University of Edinburgh Library's exhibitions, "A Miscellany of Americana" in 1963 and "A Miscellany of Africana" in 1966, which significantly enhanced the university's status in Americanist and Africanist studies. His efforts also included generous donations of books and papers, enriching the library's resources and inspiring others to contribute. He was a founding member of the Friends of the University Library in 1962, serving multiple terms on its committee.
George Albert Shepperson passed away on 2 April 2020, at the age of 98, in Peterborough, UK. His legacy is one of profound scholarly impact and passionate advocacy for African history and culture.
Sources:
- "Emeritus Professor George Albert Shepperson, C. B. E., B. A., M. A., Hon. D. Univ. Edinburgh, Dr. h. c. York, D. Litt. h. c. Malawi, F. E. I. S.: 7th January 1922 – 2nd April 2020." The Society of Malawi Journal, vol. 73, no. 1, 2020, pp. vi–vi. JSTOR, https://www.jstor.org/stable/26978866. [Accessed 29 July 2024]
- [N.d.]. "George Albert Shepperson", Ed.ac.uk, https://www.docs.is.ed.ac.uk/docs/lib-archive/bgallery/Gallery/records/nineteen2/shepperson.html [Accessed 29 July 2024]
Found in 9 Collections and/or Records:
Series — Box CLX-A-25: Series Coll-490/24; Series Coll-490/25
Identifier: Coll-490/24/DSM
Scope and Contents
Correspondence relating to Daniel S. Malekebu.1-10. The Malekebu Enquiry
In 1919, Simon Malekubu and his wife had written from America to Daniel's sister, Mrs Ruth Lawrence, in Nyasaland, expressing their intention of coming home. This was at a time that natives were holding meetings to advocate a policy of 'Africa for the Africans'. The Governor of Nyasaland, believing Malekebu to be deeply imbued with doctrines similar to Chilembwe, Cheek and Branch, asked for an enquiry...
Dates:
1918-1990
Series — Box CLX-A-16: Series Coll-490/6; Series Coll-490/7; Series Coll-490/8
Identifier: Coll-490/7
Scope and Contents
The file contains material relating to East Africa, specifically reports, pamphlets and papers on Tanganyika and Uganda.Tanganyika:
- Report of 'The United Nations Visiting Mission to Tanganyika 1954'. Speech by George Shepperson, Reader in Imperial and American History, University of Edinburgh, on the occasion of dinner to celebrate the Independence of Tanganyika, held by EU Jumbo Club.Uganda:
- Constitution of the Uganda Peoples' Congress.
- Policy...
Dates:
1954-1962
File — Box CLX-A-24: Series Coll-490/22; Series Coll-490/23
Identifier: Coll-490/23/RC(Hollis)
Scope and Contents
Correspondence between George Shepperson and Winifred Hollis concerning her late husband George H. Hollis, who was in charge of the Churches of Christ Mission at Namiwawa, Nyasaland, between 1908 and 1915. Includes a questionnaire and photographs of the mission.
Letter from George Shepperson to Mrs Hollis, Capetown. Introduces himself. Asks if she would be willing to answer questions on the days she and...
Dates:
1907, 1955
File — Box CLX-A-20: Series Coll-490/14; Series Coll-490/15
Identifier: Coll-490/14/5
Scope and Contents
- 1915 Rising BBC Programme. Correspondence between G. Shepperosn and Michael Kittermaster, 1979-1980.
- Article ? Entitled "John Chilembwe – the Yao Native Messenger to the US".
- Newspaper Cuttings, 1959-1972.
- Photographs: John Chilembwe and others, c 1896-1910. K.A.R. 1915.
Dates:
c 1896-1980
Series — Box CLX-A-26: Series Coll-490/26
Identifier: Coll-490/26/NL
Scope and Contents
Papers relating to a reprint:1. Copy of letter sent by Dr Norman Leys, Medical Officer, Nyasaland, to the Secretary of State for the Colonies, Downing Street, 7 February 1918. (Typescript).Research correspondence:2. George Shepperson to Dr Duncan Leys (half-brother of Norman Leys). He is interested in a chapter about the Nyasaland Rising of 1915 in Norman Leys' book Kenya and asks if Dr Leys knows the whereabouts of any...
Dates:
1918-1974
File — Box CLX-A-16: Series Coll-490/6; Series Coll-490/7; Series Coll-490/8
Identifier: Coll-490/8/4
Scope and Contents
Letters, speeches, articles and reports relating to the career of Julius Nyerere, the Independence of Tanganyika, and the United Republic of Tanzania.
Julius Nyerere: Biography [early years] by George Dunheved. June 1959.
Nyerere's period at the University of Edinburgh. Request for information. 1960.
Gazette: University of Edinburgh, October 1960.
Article by George Shepperson 'University of Edinburgh's First Prime...
Dates:
1959-1988
Series — Multiple Containers
Identifier: Coll-490/MS/IA
Scope and Contents
Manuscripts and typescripts of the book The Independent African: John Chilembwe and the Nyasaland Rising of 1915 by George Shepperson and Tom Price, first published in 1958.
Typescript (2 copies).
Galley proofs and page proofs.
Original typescript with handwritten annotations, and manuscript notes (some of the pages are out of...
Dates:
c 1958
Series — Box CLX-A-34: Series Coll-490/Phot.
Identifier: Coll-490/Phot.
Scope and Contents
This series contains photographs, mostly black and white. Most depict missions in Nyasaland/Malawi, and their people (both African and European).
Photographs of missions, of African people, and of European people. No captions.
Photographs sent and captioned by Josephine Cunningham Edwards, featuring missions in Malawi, with Malawian and European people. See "Coll-490/22/COR3".
...
Dates:
late 19th century-1982
File — Box CLX-A-24: Series Coll-490/22; Series Coll-490/23
Identifier: Coll-490/22/COR
Scope and Contents
Walter Cockerill, George Shepperson and others (including Dr Thomas Price):
1951 (numbered A1–7)
1952 (numbered B1–17)
1953 (numbered C1–12)
1954 (numbered D1–31. D3 is a Warrant for the arrest of W. B. Cockerill, Esq Signed by the District Resident, Blantyre. 16 April 1915)
1955 (numbered E1–4)
1956 (numbered F1–11. F10 is an envelope containing 6 cards (USA) and F11 is a group photograph)Many letters concern the Chilembwe Rising of 1915, and Joseph...
Dates:
1951-1983
