Lanagan (Thomas D.) Collection - Africa: the Hausa of Nigeria
Finding aid created by Phoebe A. Hearst Museum of Anthropology staff using RecordEXPRESS
UC Berkeley. Phoebe A. Hearst Museum of Anthropology
2023
103 Anthropology and Art Practice Building
Berkeley, California 94720-3712
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Title: Lanagan (Thomas D.) Collection - Africa: the Hausa of Nigeria
Dates: 1948 - 1967
Collection Number: Acc.2879; Acc.2332; Acc.2339; DOC1965.1
Creator/Collector:
Thomas Dean Lanagan
Extent: The Lanagan (Thomas D.) Research Archive (DOC1965.1) contains several Nigerian travel pamphlets, African maps, Hausa books,
pages of notes on Hausa language and culture, and some personal documents belonging to Lanagan. Notably, an extensive collection
of 35mm and 17mm color slide transparencies depicting Nigerian architecture, ceremony, landscapes, food items, and people
is also present within Acc.2879 (25-29617-25-30019).The Lanagan (Thomas D.) Collection (Acc.2332, 2339, 2879) includes an
Ibibio doll and Yoruban thorn sample (5-5951 and 5-5952), five (5) Nigerian drums (5-6261 to 5-6265), a Mexican chocolate
stirrer (9-11967), an Indian tray (3-26042), and hundreds of objects most likely affiliated with the Hausa of Northern Nigeria
and adjacent regions (5-11415 to 11614, 5-12963, and 5-12981).
Online items available
Repository:
UC Berkeley. Phoebe A. Hearst Museum of Anthropology
Berkeley, California 94720-3712
Abstract: From 1968 to 1972, three (3) accessions pertaining to Thomas “Tom” Dean Lanagan’s anthropological research were received by
PAHMA. Lanagan primarily studied Hausa culture and language while attending the University of California, Berkeley and teaching
at McGill University. The accessions contain an array of West African musical instruments, receptacles, household items, and
decorations, in addition to a collection of field notes, pamphlets, and color slide transparencies. Furthermore, a Mexican
chocolate stirrer, Indian tray, Ibibio doll, and Yoruban thorn sample were also part of the donated materials. The attached
finding aid provides further information regarding various items’ dates and relevance to Lanagan.
Language of Material: English
See https://hearstmuseum.berkeley.edu/request-a-research-visit/
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[Identification of item]. Lanagan (Thomas D.) Collection - Africa: the Hausa of Nigeria. Collection Number: Acc.2879; Acc.2332;
Acc.2339; DOC1965.1. UC Berkeley. Phoebe A. Hearst Museum of Anthropology
For more information on specific objects and accessions, please reference the associated finding aid (pdf attached). To look
at the objects, request a research visit at PAHMA: https://hearstmuseum.berkeley.edu/request-a-research-visit/
Biography/Administrative History
Thomas “Tom” Dean Lanagan was born on July 23, 1930 in Guthrie, Oklahoma. He graduated from Castlemont High School in Oakland,
California in June 1948 and continued his academic career at the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, Massachusetts from
September 1948 to June 1949 where he studied biology. In February 1950, Lanagan transferred to the University of California,
Berkeley but left in November 1950 for unknown reasons. Following these events, Lanagan worked a number of jobs outside of
academia including service in the US Army (December 1954–November 1957). He spent a semester at Allan Hancock College in Santa
Maria, California (June 1957–January 1958) before returning to the University of California, Berkeley to complete a Bachelor
of Arts in anthropology (February 1959–June 1961). In September 1961, Lanagan continued on to graduate school at UC Berkeley
where he primarily studied Hausa culture and language. In August 1963, Lanagan advanced to candidacy for a PhD in anthropology
from UC Berkeley and began writing his dissertation on Hausa symbolism, myth, and social stratification. He took on field
work in Northern Nigeria (October 1964–October 1965) and kept frequent correspondence with other researchers from both Nigeria
and North America throughout his candidacy. Moreover, in spring of 1966, Lanagan accepted an associate professorship at McGill
University in Montreal, Canada, which funded a portion of his research. However, between March and July of 1967, Lanagan decided
to halt all work on his dissertation and withhold publication for fear of potentially offending the Hausa people. Following
these events, little is publicly known about Lanagan.
Scope and Content of Collection
The Lanagan (Thomas D.) Collection largely contains Hausa receptacles, domestic wares, jewelry, clothing, musical instruments,
utensils, etc. Several non-Hausa objects are also present, including a number of Yoruban figurines and South Asian tools.
In addition, the collection provides four hundred three (403) 35mm and 17mm color slide transparencies of Western African
architecture, ceremony, and people. Many notes, brochures, pamphlets, maps, letters, newspaper clippings, and other miscellaneous
documents from both Africa and North America can be found in DOC1965.1 specifically.
Thomas Lanagan
Hausa
Yoruba
Nigeria
West Africa
vessels
color slide transparencies
musical instruments
architecture
maps
ceremony