Register of the Urbain Joseph Kinet papers
Finding aid prepared by Joemar Clemente
Hoover Institution Library and Archives
© 2008, 2022
434 Galvez Mall
Stanford University
Stanford, CA 94305-6003
hoover-library-archives@stanford.edu
Title: Urbain Joseph Kinet papers
Date (inclusive): 1927-1996
Collection Number: 97024
Contributing Institution: Hoover Institution Library and Archives
Language of Material: In French and English
Physical Description:
13 manuscript boxes, 4 oversize boxes, 2 card file boxes, 1 oversize folder, 5 sound tape reels
(9.6 Linear Feet)
Abstract: Belgian-American scientist (1909-1989); Station chief in Uvira, Belgian Congo, Institut pour la recherche scientifique en
Afrique centrale (I.R.S.A.C), 1951-1960. Includes writings, field notes, reports, correspondence, maps, sound recordings,
and photographs, relating to study of the ethnology, flora and fauna, mineralogy, geology, meteorology and geography of the
Lake Tanganyika and neighboring regions in Africa, and of Antarctica.
Creator:
Kinet, Urbain Joseph, 1909-1989
Physical Location: Hoover Institution Library & Archives
Access
Boxes 8 and 14 may not be used without permission of the Archivist. The remainder of the collection is open for research;
materials must be requested in advance via our reservation system. If there are audiovisual or digital media material in the
collection, they must be reformatted before providing access.
Use
For copyright status, please contact the Hoover Institution Library & Archives.
Acquisition Information
Acquired by the Hoover Institution Library & Archives in 1997.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], Urbain Joseph Kinet papers, [Box no., Folder no. or title], Hoover Institution Library & Archives.
Biographical Note
Belgian-American scientist (1909-1989); worked in mineral prospecting and geology for the Comité National Du Kivu (1938-1944);
Station chief in Uvira, Belgian Congo for the Institut pour la recherche scientifique en Afrique centrale (I.R.S.A.C), 1951-1961.
Urbain Joseph Kinet (1909-1989)
| 1909 September 16 |
Born |
| 1938-1944 |
Worked for the Comité National Du Kivu. |
| 1940-1949 |
Assignment to undertake research on strategic minerals, rare earths, and special crystals for the Allied U.S. Armed forces
working in London and in the field in Africa.
|
| 1949 |
Awarded the "Médaille de l'Effort de Guerre Colonial" distinction from the Kingdom of Belgium. |
| 1951-1961 |
Worked as Chief of the "Institut pour la recherche scientifique en Afrique centrale" (I.R.S.A.C.), Uvira, Lake Taganyika. |
| 1960 |
Awarded the "Ordre Royal du Lion" distinction for I.R.S.A.C. service from the Kingdom of Belgium. |
| 1961 |
Began working for Department of Entomology in the California Academy of Sciences, San Francisco. |
| 1965-1978 |
Worked for the Department of Epidemiology and International Health & the George William Hooper Foundation at the University
of California, San Francisco.
|
| 1966 |
Traveled to Antarctica on research expedition. |
| 1969 |
Earned Master's degree in Geography, San Francisco State College. |
| 1989 August 7 |
Died |
Scope and Content of Collection
The bulk of this collection consists of materials gathered during Kinet's time in Africa between 1938 and the mid 1960s. He
worked as part of the Comité National Du Kivu, an organization charged with economically developing the eastern Belgian Congo.
The
Comité National Du Kivu series contains administrative files of employees, construction plans, and reports of mineral extractions in the area. Included
in the reports are mineral extraction data during the World War II period from different mines in the eastern Belgian Congo.
Reports are arranged in reverse chronological order as originally received in bounded folders. Kinet also managed I.R.S.A.C.'s
Uvira station; the
I.R.S.A.C. series contains administrative documents pertinent to his time as local chief (Chief de Poste).
The
Field Journals series contains Kinet's original observations and journals from his Antarctica expedition, which received sponsorship from the Smithsonian
Institute and the Bishop Museum in Hawaii. Included also are journals for a research trip to the Arctic.
The
Photographic Materials series contains original photographs of areas in the Belgian Congo and central Africa. The bulk of photos in the photographic series
were taken in the Belgian Congo's eastern half or areas near the border areas with neighboring Tanzania and Burundi. Photo
albums also contain original photos of the Belgian Congo as well as photos of North Africa (mostly Algeria or nearby Saharan
desert region) and photo postcards of Egypt. The collection also contains sound recordings and 8mm motion picture film.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Antarctica
Congo (Democratic Republic) -- Research
Africa -- Research
Tanganyika, Lake
Maps
Institut pour la recherche scientifique en Afrique centrale
Biographical File
1949-1958
box 1, folder 1
Documents
1949-1989
Scope and Contents
Biographical sketch, certificates, resume, and list of publications and courses taught.
box 14
Medals
1948-1958
Conditions Governing Access
Box 14 may not be used without permission of the Archivist.
Scope and Contents
Contains three medals. The "Médaille de l'Effort de Guerre Colonial" from the Kingdom of Belgium awarded February 15, 1949
for distinguished civilian national service during World War II. Also contains, "Louis Van Den Berghe" medal awarded for work
at Lwiro/Bukavu between 1948 and 1958. The last medal reads "1940-1945 Pro Patria Victoria."
Correspondence
1944-1986
Scope and Contents
Personal correspondence, including business letters for the Comité National Du Kivu and I.R.S.A.C.
box 1, folder 2
General
1954-1973
Arrangement
Loose correspondence combined and arranged chronologically.
box 1, folder 3
Grant Application
undated
box 1, folder 4
Employment Attestation
1978, 1986
box 1, folder 5
"Yome Correspondence From Africa"
1944-1947
box 1, folder 7
"African Materials"
1949-1964
Scope and Contents
Contains resumes, Comité National Du Kivu and I.R.S.A.C. letters.
Comité National Du Kivu
1927-1951
Scope and Contents
Business, administrative files, and building blueprints.
box 1, folder 9
Unidentified Index
undated
Scope and Contents
"Repertoire Du Classement."
box 1, folder 10-11
Prospect Reports
1939-1945
Scope and Contents
Mineral Extraction Reports.
box 1, folder 12-14
Accounting Records
1949-1950
box 2, folder 1-2
Accounting Records
1950-1951
box 2, folder 3
Court Records
1947
Scope and Contents
"Comment libeller les préventions par D. Merckaert Substitut du Procureur géneral prés la Cour d'appeal d'Elisabethville."
box 2, folder 4
"Congrégation du Coeur Immaculé de Marie"
1927-1950
box 2, folder 5
"Permanent Wood Residential Project"
undated
Scope and Contents
"Project d'habitation en bois non démontable" building plan.
box 2, folder 7
"Construction Plans"
1949
Processing Information
Oversize items and blueprints have been removed from the folder and added to Box 8, folders 1-21. See item removal slips
filed within.
box 8, folder 1-22
"Construction Plans"
1949
Conditions Governing Access
Box 8 may not be used without permission of the Archivist.
Processing Information
Items were removed from Box 2 folder 7 and added to this box due to preservation concerns. See item removal slips filed within.
Scope and Contents
Includes two original maps by Kinet. The first map is labeled "Bassin Haute Kalungwe, Riviére Niakakera," dated August 1938.
The second map is labeled "Secteur Lowa, Bloc Kyassa Luka" dated April 1939.
Institut pour la recherche scientifique en Afrique Centrale (I.R.S.A.C.)
1952-1980
Scope and Contents
Business and administrative files.
box 2, folder 8
"Report of visit to I.R.S.A.C. Meterological Station"
1951 May 24
Scope and Contents
"Rapport de visite a la station meteorologique de l'I.R.S.A.C. A Uvira. 24 Mai 1951."
box 2, folder 9
Publications About
1954-1960
box 2, folder 10
"Salaries, etc."
1943-1944
Scope and Contents
Materials pertaining to I.R.S.A.C. staff compensation.
box 2, folder 12
Vehicle Maintenance
undated
box 2, folder 14
"Project Manager Registry"
1952-1957
Scope and Contents
"Registre M.O.E."
Field Journals
1954-1969
Scope and Contents
Diaries and data from field research or derivative works produced thereafter.
box 3, folder 3-4
"Antarctic Expedition"
1965-1966
box 3, folder 5
"Observations of Icebreaker 'Atka' of Antarctic Waters"
1966 February
box 3, folder 6
"Microreliefs of Antarctica"
1969
box 3, folder 7
Miscellaneous Antarctica Expedition
1966-1969
Scope and Contents
Includes documents for Kinet's "Antarctic Service Medal" and Antarctica high elevation record for arthropods.
box 3, folder 8
Expedition to the Arctic
1964 June-July
box 3, folder 9
Field Notebooks
1954-1955
Writings
1954-1967
Scope and Contents
Reports and proposals for courses or research projects.
box 3, folder 10
"Uvira Earthquake"
1954 July 3
box 4, folder 2
"Physical Geography Volcanology"
1967
box 4, folder 3
"Volcanoes: Tropical Biology; Ecology"
undated
Research Materials
undated
Scope and Contents
Published materials gathered in the course of research.
box 4, folder 9
"African Zoology"
undated
box 4, folder 10
"Miscellaneous Zoology"
undated
box 12
Bibliography Africa/Congo
undated
Scope and Contents
Index cards with bibliographic citations, including English-Swahili translations.
Miscellaneous
1959-1995, undated
box 4, folder 11
Student Work Received
1976-1977
Scope and Contents
San Francisco State College.
box 5, folder 1
Student Work Received
1976-1977
box 5, folder 2
"Guru Swami Krishnand"
1960-1961
Scope and Contents
Includes letters and related spiritual literature.
Printed Matter
1959-1995, undated
box 5, folder 3
"Pygmy Fund"
1996
Scope and Contents
Contains newsletters for the "Pygmy Fund: The only organization in the world dedicated to saving the Pygmies from extinction
and preserving their way of life with self-reliance and dignity."
box 5, folder 4
Clippings
1960, 1995
Scope and Contents
Includes a complete September 7, 1960 issue of "Kila Nguromo" newspaper.
box 5, folder 5
Miscellaneous
1959, undated
Scope and Contents
Includes a book on soldering "Soudeurs Jueni Kusuder;" potential Swahili booklet "Bila!"; and French pamphlet "XXV-Anniversaire
De L'Association Coloniale Liegeoise."
box 5, folder 6
"African Fauna Flora Cards"
undated
Scope and Contents
Contains "Côte d'Or" color illustration cards consisting mostly aquatic life.
box 5, folder 7
Travel Brochures
undated
Scope and Contents
Brochure of "Usumbura" moved to Oversized Folder 1.
box 5, folder 8
East Congo Travel
undated
box 5, folder 10
Miscellaneous Maps
undated
os_folder 1
"Comité National Du Kivu"
1948
Scope and Contents
Created by Dresée Par G. Rulot. "Photozincographié a l'Institut Géographique Militaire-Bruxelles 1948."
os_folder 1
"Comité National Du Kivu"
1949
Scope and Contents
Created by Dresée Par G.Rulot.
os_folder 1
"Map of Kenya & Uganda"
undated
Scope and Contents
Unknown author. Map described as " showing railways and road with through routes to adjoining territories."
os_folder 1
"Afrique: Carte Générale Politique-économique"
undated
Scope and Contents
Created by Kümmerly & Frey, BerneMap "Printed in Switzerland."
Photographic Materials
1937-1960s, undated
Arrangement
Photographic prints arranged by country and topic are based on description and groupings provided by donor.
Scope and Contents
Photographic prints, postcards, and albums.
Belgian Congo
Processing Information
Photographs were originally in an envelope labeled 'Belgian Congo', further arrangement by geographic region was made based
on verso description written on the back of each print.
box 6, envelope 9-10
General Belgian Congo
1947
box 6, envelope 14-17
Eastern Belgian Congo
circa 1955
box 6, envelope 29
Kirasimbi Volcano
undated
box 6, envelope 52-53
Lwiro I.R.S.A.C. Research Center
1953
box 6, envelope 57
Nyiragong Volcano
undated
box 7, folder 1
Ruwenzori Moutains
undated
box 6, envelope 77-80
Uvira I.R.S.A.C Research Center
1958
box 6, envelope 81-84
Uvira Fishing Camp
1953-1954
box 6, envelope 96
Mount Kilimanjaro
undated
By Topic
1937, 1960, undated
box 7, envelope 1-2
Gorilla
undated
Scope and Contents
Content Warning: This envelope contains photographs depicting animal killings that are graphic in nature.
box 7, envelope 5-7
Guru Swami Krishnand
1960
Scope and Contents
Includes Kodachrome transparencies of Krishnand.
box 7, envelope 8-18
Photoraphic Postcards
undated
Scope and Contents
Indigenous African peoples.
Photographic Albums
undated
Scope and Contents
Scrapbooks of photographs and photopostcards.
box 11
"Kilalo-ya, Muungu"
undated
box 10, folder 1
"World Tour: Africa"
undated
box 10, folder 2
Numbered Photographs
undated
Audiovisual Materials
1956-1960s, undated
Access
Original audiovisual materials are not available until they have been reformatted. If interested in accessing these materials,
please contact us for more information.
Sound Recordings
1956, undated
box MC30
Excerpts of nature sounds, California Academy of Sciences
undated
Physical Description: 1, 1/4-inch sound tape reel
Scope and Contents
"Track 1. Excerpt from the 'Sea Around Us by Rachel Carson in English; Track 2. Excerpt from the African Newspaper 'HODI'
in Swahili language; Track 3: This is a True Story In Swahili of one of our numerous hunting safari in the African jungle.
Kulumbata Nyama."
box MC11
undated
Physical Description: 2, 1/4-inch sound tape reels
Scope and Contents
"Reel 1. Side 1: Yedo Komoriuta (lullaby); Kojo No Tsuki; Aru Hareta Hi Ni (Madame Butterfly); Sakura-Sakura Festival Music;
Mat Suri; Yedo Matsuri Bayashi; Gion Bayashi; Suwa Daiko; Side 2: Hachijo Daiko; Yagi Bushi; Etchu Ohara Bushi; Soroban Odori;
Soma Bonuta; Tairyo Bushi. Reel 2. 7 1/2. Sakura Sakura. Oyedo Nihonbashi; Rokudan; Miya-san, Miya-san; Kazoe Uta; Sukiyaki
Song; Chidori No Kyoku; Kappore; Yakko-San."
box MC11
Debut conference I cotes. Alvira Belgian Congo von Tour du Monde
1956 March 1
Physical Description: 2, 1/4-inch sound tape reels
Scope and Contents
"Reel 1: Debut conference I cotes. Uvira Belgian Congo von Tour du Monde; Commence Pas. Reel 2: 10 derniéres minutes de la
conférence; Les feuilles mortes de J. Kosma par Lucienne Belgie; L'âme des poétes de Ch. Trenet par Yvette Girau; Vera Lynn.
Popular Medley. Tell me you're mine - I Believe; Half as much. The Isle of Innisfree. You belong to me. Frieré Beruienne.
I Chier & Denoncim. Luis Mariano. Les Lavandieres Du Portugal. Luchessi. Popp Luis."
box 13
circa 1960
Physical Description: 8 film reels (8 mm)
Scope and Contents
Three film Reels are labeled: "I. Fini," "II. Fini," and "III. Fini".
Incremental Materials
Processing Information
These incremental materials were processed to a baseline standard that employs an accession inventory for description. An
accession inventory is a basic description of an archival collection with no attempt at intellectual arrangement. The depth
of description varies depending on the format of the materials and the amount of pre-existing description received when the
materials were acquired.
box 17
1928-1986
Scope and Contents
This box contains manuscript drafts, journals, and printed matter. The following is a list of original enclosure titles contained
in the box: "Ecology"; "Earthquake at Uvira, Lake Tanganyika"; "Ecologie Coloniale"; "Forms used for counting animals in a
special sector"; "Entomology Africa"; "Urbain Kinet's work in Africa/Belgian Congo."
box 18
1938-1968
Scope and Contents
This box contains printed matter, research material, and a journal. The following is a list of original enclosure titles contained
in the box: "About Kilimanjaro, also some Bibliography"; "Lexiolue Botanique"; "Seismo Uvira"; "Notes and Letters, Africa";
"Tanganyika Lake"; "Malacologie Conchyleiologie."
box 19
1940-1975
Scope and Contents
This box contains printed matter and journals. The following is a list of original enclosure titles contained in the box:
"Zooleo"; "Example of Islamism in Africa, also in Swahili."
box 15
1948-1954
Scope and Contents
This box contains photo prints. The following list contains original enclosure titles present in the box: "Lake Tumba Area";
"Mammals"; "Kibuye"; "Parc National Albert Congo Belge"; "Gorilla."
box 16
1947-1957
Scope and Contents
This box contains photo prints and slides. The following list contains original enclosure titles present in the box: "Various
Photos from Uvira, Bukava"; "Native woman"; "Virunga Mountains"; "Parc National Albert Congo Belge Faune"; "Uganada"; "Ruwerzori."
