Cynthia Brantley Papers, 1966-2002

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Summary

Creators:
Brantley, Cynthia
Abstract:
Research materials for UC Davis Professor of History Cynthia Brantley's books and materials from the year Brantley spent in Nigeria (1966-1967).
Extent:
19 linear feet
Language:
English
Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], Cynthia Brantley Papers, D-514, Archives and Special Collections, UC Davis Library Library, University of California, Davis.

Background

Scope and content:

Collection contains research materials for Brantley's books, "The Giriama and Colonial Resistance in Kenya, 1800-1920" and "Feeding Families: African Realities and British Ideas of Nutrition and Development in Early Colonial Africa," as well as materials from the year Brantley spent in Nigeria (1966-1967).

Biographical / historical:

Dr. Cynthia Brantley was a historian, professor, and published author. She was born in Port Arthur, Texas on March 13th, 1943 to Tom and Rachel Allen Brantley. She received a Bachelor of Arts in diplomatic history from the University of Texas, Austin in 1965. Partly influenced by her fiancé’s interest in Africa at the time, she accepted a fellowship by the Rotary International to study in Ibadan, Nigeria for nine months in 1966, where she took part in undergraduate courses for Nigerian history. The following year, she further received a master’s in history followed by a doctorate in history in 1972, both from the University of California, Los Angeles. That same year, Dr. Brantley became the first female professor in the history department for the University of California, Davis where she worked as an assistant professor from 1972 to 1980. In 1980, she became an associate professor for the university.

In addition to being the first female professor of the department, Dr. Brantley became the first professor in African studies in the history department, launching the program and teaching classes on East Africa, West Africa, and Southern Africa. In 1998, she started a graduate program for African studies with her colleague Benjamin Lawrence.

Dr. Brantley’s research focused mainly on African nutritional history, African women’s history, and American women’s history. Her most notable works in African history are The Giriama and Colonial Resistance in Kenya, 1800-1920 and Feeding Families: African Realities and British Ideas of Nutrition and Development in Early Colonial Africa.

She was also tasked with creating the first course in American Women’s History for the university. Dr. Brantley was involved in a number of committees on campus, including the Status of Women at Davis committee, of which she served as chair. She was also a member of the committee on committees for the university. Her work in these committees eventually led both to the creation of the Women’s Studies program and the university’s Women’s Resource Center. Dr. Brantley also served as the chair for the Oversight Committee for the Women’s Resource Center.

Dr. Brantley was involved in a number of organizations, including the American History Association and the African History Association.

During her career, her work earned her many awards, including the Chancellor’s Award for Mentoring Undergraduate Research. She was known for both her emotional and financial support of her students.

In 2009, Dr. Brantley retired from her position as associate professor at the University of California, Davis, suffering from fronto-temporal lobar degeneration. Dr. Brantley passed away in her Davis home on September 20th, 2018. She is survived by her partner, Nancy Peden, her sister Betty Sue Norton, and her nephews David and Mark Norton.

Processing information:

Liz Phillips encoded this finding aid with help from student assistant Aditi Sinha. The biography was written by Sacramento State Public History graduate student Alison Blecman.

Physical location:
Researchers should contact Archives and Special Collections to request collections, as many are stored offsite.
Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Access and use

Restrictions:

Collection is open for research.

Terms of access:

All applicable copyrights for the collection are protected under chapter 17 of the U.S Copyright Code. Requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Head of Special Collections. Permission for publication is given on behalf of the Regents of the University of California as the owner of the physical items. It is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained by the researcher.

Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], Cynthia Brantley Papers, D-514, Archives and Special Collections, UC Davis Library Library, University of California, Davis.

Location of this collection:
University of California, Davis, Special Collections, UC Davis Library
100 NW Quad
Davis, CA 95616-5292, US
Contact:
(530) 752-1621
speccoll@ucdavis.edu
Website