Guide to the David Brokensha papers UArch FacP 65
Finding Aid prepared by Rebecca Vasquez, 2023.
UC Santa Barbara Library, Department of Special Research Collections
University of California, Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara 93106-9010
Business Number: Phone: (805) 893-3062
Fax Number: Fax: (805) 893-5749
special@library.ucsb.edu
Title: David Brokensha papers
Identifier/Call Number: UArch FacP 65
Language of Material: The collection is in English.
Contributing Institution:
UC Santa Barbara Library, Department of Special Research Collections
Physical Description:
1.46 Linear Feet
(1 carton, 1 legal half-doc box)
Date (inclusive): 1957-2014
Abstract: Notes, writings, correspondence, and other related materials regarding David W. Brokensha's anthropolgical research. The papers
collected here mostly focus on...
Physical Location: UC Santa Barbara Library, Department of Special Research Collections
Access Restrictions
The collection is open for research.
Acquisition Information
Donated by the Executor of Dr. Brokensha's estate, Christine Moir, who shipped the materials to UC Santa Barbara from South
Africa in 2017.
Arrangement
This collection has been left as it was gifted.
Historical Note
David Warwick Brokensha (23 May 1923 – 15 June 2017) was a South African anthropologist and professor of anthropology at the
University of California, Santa Barbara, known for his work on Indigenous development and cultures in Africa and specializing
in cultural ecology and modernization.
Through the 1950s and into the mid'60s, David Brokensha and his life parter, Bernard Riley, lived in Africa, working in various
governmental and academic positions.
Dr. Brokensha's scholarly interests focused mainly on social and ecological changes in rural areas, especially in tropical
Africa, as well as development anthropology. In addition to his central research focus, Professor Brokensha also studied a
variety of classic anthropological topics, such as settlement patterns and resettlement practices in the context of economic
development; kinship and marriage practices; history of ethnology; subsistence practices; deforestation and environmental
change; and gender and labor. He also wrote and advised widely on topics pertaining to the training of social and development
workers, critically evaluating the inception and practice of development research in Africa. During his tenure at UC Santa
Barbara, Professor Brokensha published more than a dozen books and monographs, authored over 50 articles and book chapters,
and reviewed more than 40 books.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_W._Brokensha
https://es.ucsb.edu/people/david-brokensha
https://chancellor.ucsb.edu/memos/2017-07-10-sad-news-professor-emeritus-david-brokensha
Preferred Citation
[Identification of Item], David Brokensha papers, UArch FacP 65. Department of Special Research Collections, UC Santa Barbara
Library, University of California, Santa Barbara.
Historical Note
This collection contains files generated by David Brokensa throughout his his professional career as a anthropologist and
professor, with the bulk of the materials dating from 1960-1999. Materials include personal and professional writings, correspondence,
and prints and slides. Of note are Dr. Brokensha's notes, correspondence, and writings from his time working and researching
in Africa, mostly in Kenya and Ghana.
Use Restrictions
Copyright has not been assigned to the Department of Special Research Collections, UCSB. All requests for permission to publish
or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Head of Special Research Collections. Permission for publication
is given on behalf of the Department of Special Research Collections as the owner of the physical items and is not intended
to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which also must be obtained.
Separated Materials
Archived links to David Brokensha's personal writings are available in the Manuscripts Collection and Faculty Sites collection
on the UCSB Internet Archive.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Anthropology
Professors
box 1
Writings and correspondence
1957-2014
Language of Material: English, French, Dutch; Flemish, German, Swahili.
Scope and Contents
A majority of these materials are writings and correspondence, but also include miscellaneous professional correpsondence,
professional materials, and prints.
Writings include reprints, clippings, and drafts of various academic papers, articles, and books written by David Brokensha
throughout his academic career. While a majority of the correspondence, notes, and slides cover David Brokensha's work and
travels throughout Africa.
box 1, folder 1
Reprints
1970-1994
Language of Material: English.
Scope and Contents
Reprints of articles, papers, and chapters written by, contributed by, or edited by David Brokensha.
box 1, folder 2
Reprints
1960-1969
Language of Material: English.
Scope and Contents
Reprints of articles, papers, and chapters written by, contributed by, or edited by David Brokensha.
box 1, folder 3
Correspondence - Kenya
1971-1977
Language of Material: English.
Scope and Contents
Correspondence to or from David Brokensha while working in Kenya. Topics include both professional research and teaching,
as well as personal subject matter.
box 1, folder 4
Field journal - Kenya
1970-1971
Language of Material: English.
Scope and Contents
Daily notes and summaries from travels and meetings in Kenya.
Most likely a continuation of Kenya diary, Folder 14, but these pages were separate within the box.
box 1, folder 5
Correspondence - professional
1973-1988
Language of Material: English.
Scope and Contents
Miscellaneous professional correspondence, including Brokensha's academic work at UC Santa Barbara and manuscript publishing.
box 1, folder 6
Book reviews
1978-2001
Language of Material: English.
Scope and Contents
Book reviews written by David Brokensha.
box 1, folder 7
Misc. prints & slides
1960-2004
Language of Material: English.
Scope and Contents
Black and white, and color prints and slides. Includes images in California and in Africa.
box 1, folder 8
Brokensha retirement
1989
Language of Material: English.
Scope and Contents
Flyers, announcement article, and color photographs of David Broeknsha's retirement from UC Santa Barbara.
box 1, folder 9
Commencement addresses
1980
1989
Language of Material: English.
Scope and Contents
Copies of commencement addresses given by David Brokensha at UC Santa Barbara.
box 1, folder 10
Letters to writers & press
1957-1995
Language of Material: English.
Scope and Contents
Correspondence to colleagues, editors, and publishers.
box 1, folder 11
Letters to ed
1961-2011
Language of Material: English.
Scope and Contents
Correspondence and newspaper clippings of Letters to the Editor pieces written by David Brokensha.
box 1, folder 12
Reviews (+ Akwapium Hdbook & other books)
1966-1990
Scope and Contents
Book reviews written about David Brokensha's publications.
box 1, folder 13
Larteh reviews
1966-1969
Language of Material: English, Dutch; Flemish, German.
Scope and Contents
Book reviews written about "Social Change at Larteh, Ghana" by David Brokensha.
box 1, folder 14
Kenya diary
1970
Language of Material: English.
Scope and Contents
Daily notes and summaries from travels and meetings in Kenya.
Most likely the beginning of notes in Field journal - Kenya, Folder 4, but those pages were separate within the box.
box 1, folder 15
Schapera tributes
2003
Language of Material: English.
Scope and Contents
Tributes written about Isaac Schapera, an English anthropologist, by David Brokensha.
box 1, folder 16
Development proofread
2002
Language of Material: English.
Scope and Contents
Proofreader notes for "Development: Social-Anthropological Aspects" by David Brokensha.
box 1, folder 17
Travel - Fieldwork
1987-1988
Language of Material: English.
Scope and Contents
Letters, sent to UC Santa Barbara'a Environmental Studies department, summarizing David Brokensha's trips in Ghana and India.
box 1, folder 18
Richard Evans Schulte Award
1998
Language of Material: English.
Scope and Contents
Letters written in support of David Brokensha and Bernard Riley's join nomination as recipients of the Richard Evans Schulte
Award. An award established in Schulte's honor by The Healing Forest Conservancy, a foundation of Shaman Pharmaceuticals,
Inc., to honor a scientist, practitioner, or organization that has made an outstanding contribution to ethnobotany or to indigenous
peoples issues related to ethnobotany.
box 1, folder 19
CV & publication lists
1994-2008
Language of Material: English.
Scope and Contents
Copies of publication and book review lists, curriculum vitae, and correspondence regarding additions.
box 1, folder 20
Monica Wilson
1978-2008
Language of Material: English.
Scope and Contents
Correspondence between David Brokensha and Monica Wilson; and various articles in tribute to Monica Wilson, written by David
Brokensha.
box 1, folder 21
Publications - Ghana
1960-1987
Language of Material: English.
Scope and Contents
Articles and papers written by David Brokensha about Ghana.
box 1, folder 22
Writing
Language of Material: English.
Scope and Contents
Drafts of published works and unpublished manuscripts and articles written by David Brokensha.
box 1, folder 23
UCSB
1969-2015
Language of Material: English.
Scope and Contents
Course materials, correspondence, and newsletters related to David Brokensha's time as a professor at UC Santa Barbara.
box 1, folder 24
UCT Honorary Professor
1999
2005
Language of Material: English.
Scope and Contents
Correspondence and administrative forms regarding the University of Cape Town inviting David Brokensha to be an Honorary Professor.
box 1, folder 25
Bernard Riley: a memoir drafts
2014
Language of Material: English.
Scope and Contents
Pages printed from a website with handwritten formatting notes.
Website address on the pages is no longer active, but a memoir written by David Brokensha is hosted at http://www.brokiesway.co.za/bernard/
as of March 9, 2023.
box 1, folder 26
D. Taylor thesis
1999
Language of Material: English.
Scope and Contents
David Brokensha's external examiner's report for Dan Taylor's doctoral thesis, "Field of futility or hidden hope?: Agricultural
knowledge and practice of low resource farmers in the Kwazulu-Natal Province of South Africa."
box 1, folder 27
IDA Bulletin
1982
Language of Material: English.
Scope and Contents
An issue of Development Anthropology Network, a Bulletin of the Institute for Development Anthropology, which includes an
article written by David Brokensha.
box 1, folder 28
AAA Conference paper
1993
Language of Material: English.
Scope and Contents
David Brokensha's paper prepared for the American Anthropological Association Conference, "Developement Anthropology in Europe
During the Last Twenty Years."
box 1, folder 29
Tanganyika District Commissioner
1954
Language of Material: English, Swahili.
Scope and Contents
Copies of correspondence during David Brokensha's time as a District Commisioner of Tanganyika.
box 1, folder 30
Miscellaneous
1987-2012
Language of Material: English, French.
Scope and Contents
Publication sell sheets, a photocopy of the cover of "Climate Change and Threatened Communities: Vulnerability, Capacity,
and Action," an annotated bibliographies compiled, and a photocopy from an unknown book mentioning David Brokensha.
box 1
Social Change & Applied Anthropology
1990
1992
Language of Material: English.
Scope and Contents
"Social Change And Applied Anthropology: Essays In Honor Of David W. Brokensha," edited by Miriam Chaiken and Anne K. Fleuret.
Also includes a copy of a book review published in the Journal of Developing Areas.
box 1
Challenging Nature
2006
Language of Material: English.
Scope and Contents
"Challenging Nature: Local Knowledge, Agroscience, and Food Security in Tanga Region, Tanzania" by Philip Wayland Porter,
with a handwritten dedication from Philip to David Brokensha.
box 1
African Arts: Memorial to John Povey
1994
Language of Material: English.
Scope and Contents
African Arts, Vol. 27, No. 1 (January 1994), a Memorial to John Povey.
box 2
Africa research and travel materials
1962-1990
Language of Material: English.
Scope and Contents
A majority of these materials are related to David Brokensha's work and research in Africa, mostly focused in Kenya and Ghana.
Materials include correspondence, notes, drafts and data, and final publications. Also included are notes and summaries of
David Brokensha and Bernard Riley's other travels in North and South America.
box 2, folder 1
Kenya
1973-1990
Language of Material: English.
Scope and Contents
Correspondence, books reviews of "The Mbeere in Kneya, Vol. 2," photocopy from a newspaper, and photocopies of David Brokensha's
section from "Beliefs and Practices Cultural Source Materials for Population Planning in East Africa, Volume 3," edited by
by Angela Molnos. Of note is a series of correspondence, notes, drafts, and data from David Brokensha's Mbeere research.
box 2, folder 2
Travel notes
1961
Language of Material: English.
Scope and Contents
A letter summarizing David Brokensha's travel throughout North American, addressed to the Legon Hall at the University College
of Ghana.
box 2, folder 3
Universitas
1962
Language of Material: English.
Scope and Contents
Universitas, Volume 5, Number 1 of The University of Ghana's academic journal, which includes an article written by David
Brokensha.
box 2, folder 4
South America: Diary of a Journey
1970
Language of Material: English.
Scope and Contents
A full copy and an excerpt from David Brokensha and Bernard Riley's "South America: Diary of a Journey."
box 2, folder 5
Volta Resettlement
1962
Language of Material: English.
Scope and Contents
"Volta Resettlement - Ethnographic Notes on some of the southern areas," edited, with an introduction, by David Brokensha.