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.
File — Box CLX-A-24: Series Coll-490/22; Series Coll-490/23
Identifier:Coll-490/23/RG(B)
Scope and Contents
Concerns Rolf Gardiner's account of his work in Malawi, his conservation experiments, schemes that were lost, and his writings.10. Rolf Gardiner has had his records of work, and impressions of Central Africa in particular from 1947, put together and excerpts of the more interesting, descriptive and historical passages typed. Describes his frustration over constructive plans for land use and landscape treatment of the region between Chileka and Blantyre. 13 January...
File — Box CLX-A-19: Series Coll-490/12; Series Coll-490/13
Identifier:Coll-490/12/9
Scope and Contents
Correspondents: Professor George Shepperson; Dr H. Kamuzu Banda; The Hon M. W. K. Chiume; Richard H. Pear; Dr W. D. Lamont; Professor D. B. Horn; Professor Denys Hay; Christopher Fyfe; Betty Whitelaw; Sir Charles Morris; Charles H. Stewart; Sir Christopher Cox; Vaughn DeLong; Tom Creighton; Marjorie S. Belcher; F. P. Dunhill; I. C. M. Maxwell; Roy Prideaux; Frank Untermyer; Andrew Ross; The Principal of Edinburgh University.Topics: Proposed university at Livingstonia; Commission...
File — Box CLX-A-16: Series Coll-490/6; Series Coll-490/7; Series Coll-490/8
Identifier:Coll-490/8/1
Scope and Contents
Correspondence between Julius K. Nyerere (JKN), George Shepperson (GS) and others. 1946-1990.
1946
JKN to the Editors, Makerere. Gift of education must be shared.
1955
JKN to GS. Recommendation of a date for Independence.
1960
GS to JKN. Asks JKN about the benefits he received from his time at Edinburgh University; JKN TO GS. Reply to the above; GS to JKN. Covering letter for article; Jean W. Wilson (Mrs)...
File — Box CLX-A-19: Series Coll-490/12; Series Coll-490/13
Identifier:Coll-490/12/8F
Scope and Contents
Correspondence – most of it relating to Dr Banda's generous gifts to the University of Edinburgh and the Infirmary, and his meeting with Professor and Mrs Shepperson at Gleneagles Hotel. [24 items + enclosures]1. Letter from Dr H Kamazu Banda, President of Malawi, to the Rev Hamish Smith, University Chaplaincy Centre, Edinburgh. The number of needy students in Malawi makes it difficult to respond to calls from outside the country.
He, however, enclosed a cheque for £100 and asks...
Scope and Contents
A. Correspondence on proposed reprints (27 October 1965 - 16 May 1967):1-22. Correspondence: Professor George Shepperson, Oxford University Press, Africa; Charles H. Lewis, Manager; Stirling Tract Enterprise, Reverend Andrew McCosh, General Manager; The Synod Bookshop, Blantyre; Clement Harry Matacheta; Mr and Mrs H. W. Langworthy.Relating to publication of reprints of: This Africa was mine by Emily Booth Langworthy, and ...
Series — Box CLX-A-25: Series Coll-490/24; Series Coll-490/25
Identifier:Coll-490/25/CR
Scope and Contents
Correspondence relating to collections of the letters of Cecil Rhodes.1. Rhodes-Rosebery correspondence recently discovered at Barnbougle. Alan Bell has taken the precaution of making Xerox copies and Ian Cunningham has them safely in a parcel for Professor Shepperson. The National Library would like to have the letters, but a decision will have to wait until the whole question of the books and archives remaining at Dalmeny is resolved. He hopes Professor Shepperson would find...
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...
File — Box CLX-A-19: Series Coll-490/12; Series Coll-490/13
Identifier:Coll-490/12/8A
Scope and Contents
Dr Banda's Letters: 1938-1988.1. Letter: Hastings K. Banda to the Secretary, Anti-Slavery and Aborigines Protection Society, London. Rumour has reached Banda that the Royal Commission taking evidence on proposed closer union between the Rhodesias and Nyasaland is on its way back to Britain. As a native of Nyasaland with an education of University rank, he asks for a hearing. Edinburgh, 11 September 1938.2. Extracts: Hastings Banda to Miss Marjorie Nicholson. He...
File — Box CLX-A-24: Series Coll-490/22; Series Coll-490/23
Identifier:Coll-490/23/RC(Hadfield)
Scope and Contents
Correspondence between R. L. Hadfield and George Shepperson.
Returns the questionnaire concerning G. H. Hollis (the original questionnaire sent by Shepperson can be found in the previous bundle relating to G. H. Hollis). Includes a sketch of Joseph Booth. Promises some photographs. August 1955.
George Shepperson acknowledges the above. Looks forward to the photographs. 21 September...
Series — Box CLX-A-16: Series Coll-490/6; Series Coll-490/7; Series Coll-490/8
Identifier:Coll-490/6
Scope and Contents
This file contains material relating to trade, in particular tea and tobacco.Pamphlet: "The Nyasaland Tea Industry in the era of International Tea Restrictions" by Robin Palmer.Correspondence:
Professor Shepperson to: Allan R. Stark, Blantyre and East Africa Ltd, Mrs Irene Stark, Mrs Shiels, Mr C. P. Finlayson (Keeper of Manuscripts, Edinburgh University Library), Dr G. O. B. Thomson (Department of Education) and Tom Price (Lecturer in African Studies, Glasgow...
