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Horace Waller Papers

 Collection
Call Number: RG 72

Scope and Contents

The papers of Horace Waller are a prime source of information regarding the Zambezi expedition of David Livingstone and the early history of the Universities' Mission to Central Africa. Livingstone and Waller corresponded frequently and had much confidence in each other. Waller wrote to his mother in 1863 regarding Livingstone: "I daresay you will see something of him if he goes home. He and I are and always have been so intimate I feel sure he would feel a great pleasure in telling you all about this poor tortured land.''(Letter of 1863 July 16, Box 1 Folder 8) This manuscript group includes five letters from Waller to Livingstone and one letter and one note written by Livingstone to Waller. Letters written by Waller to his family during the period 1861 to 1864 describe in detail his experiences in Africa and the controversies surrounding the location and policies of the Universities' Mission. Waller's deep interest in Africa and the problem of slavery continued throughout his life and is reflected in the diaries for 1875 and 1876 which are contained in this manuscript group.

The correspondence of Series I includes twenty-one letters or fragments of letters written by Waller to his family and ten letters to or from others. The letter and note from David Livingstone are of particular interest because they are not among those listed in David Livingstone: a Catalogue of Documents, compiled by G.W. Clendennen and I.C. Cunningham. Summaries of the contents of the letters in this manuscript group are contained in a description of the collection provided by the dealer from whom they were purchased. (See Box 2, following folder 25.)

Series II contains a variety of manuscript and printed writings: a list written by Waller during his school days, a pencilled journal possibly written by Waller's brother which describes travels through South Africa, Waller's diaries for the years 1875 and 1876, a small book published by Waller in 1891, and an article written about Waller following his death in 1896.

Series III contains four photographs. Dates and identification have been noted as available. The identification of the individual standing by a coffin in one of these photographs has been supplied on the basis of a similar photograph found in Donald Simpson's work Dark Companions.

Dates

  • 1858-1896

Creator

Conditions Governing Access

The materials are open for research.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

These items were purchased by the Library in 1983; they had been in the possession of Mrs. A.L. Baldwin, adopted daughter of Horace Waller's son. They supplement and provide supporting detail for the major collection of Waller papers located at Rhodes House Library in Oxford, England.

Arrangement

  1. I. Correspondence, 1861-1873
  2. II. Diaries, writings, 1858 -1896
  3. III. Photographs, 1864, 1874, undated

Related Materials

The papers supplement and provide supporting detail for the major collection of Waller papers located at Rhodes House Library in Oxford, England.

Extent

1 Linear Feet (2 boxes)

Language of Materials

English

Catalog Record

A record for this collection is available in Orbis, the Yale University Library catalog

Persistent URL

https://hdl.handle.net/10079/fa/divinity.072

Abstract

The papers supplement and provide supporting detail for the major collection of Waller papers located at Rhodes House Library in Oxford, England. These papers document the Zambezi expedition of David Livingstone (1813-1873) and the early history of the Universities' Mission to Central Africa. Waller's friendship with Livingstone is apparent in their correspondence. Waller's deep interest in Africa and the problem of slavery continued throughout his life and is reflected in the diaries dated 1875-1876 during his rectorate at Twywell. Horace Waller was born in London in 1833. He went to Africa in 1861 as Lay Superintendent of the Universities' Mission to Central Africa. He resigned from the Mission in 1863 following a disagreement related to liberated slaves under the care of the Mission. In 1864, Waller returned to England. He became a member of the committee of the Anti-Slavery Society. He edited David Livingstone's journals for publication. He served as rector of Twywell, Thrapston, Northamptonshire from 1874 to 1895. Horace Waller died at East Liss, Hampshire in 1896.

Biographical / Historical

1833
Born in London. Following his education, joined his father in business on the Stock Exchange
1861
Went to Africa as Lay Superintendent of Universities' Mission to Central Africa under leadership of Bishop Charles F. Mackenzie
1863
Resigned position with the Universities' Mission following disagreement with Bishop T.G. Tozer, Mackenzie's successor, regarding liberated slaves who had been under care of the Mission
1864
Returned to England
1867
Licensed to curacy of St. John's Chatham
1870
Became member of the committee of the Anti-Slavery Society
Appointed vicar of Leytonstone, Essex
1874
Edited journals of David Livingstone for publication
1874-1895
Rector of Twywell, Thrapston, Northamptonshire
1896
Died at East Liss, Hampshire

Publications

  1. 1888 On Some African Entanglements of Great Britain
  2. 1890 Nyassaland: Great Britain's Case Against Portugal
  3. 1891 Ivory, Apes, and Peacocks: an African Contemplation
  4. 1893 Health Hints for Central Africa
  5. 1894 Slaving and Slavery in our British Protectorates, Nyssaland and Zanzibar
  6. 1896 The Case of Our Zanzibar Slaves: Why Not Liberate Them?
Title
Guide to the Horace Waller Papers
Author
Compiled by Martha Lund Smalley
Date
1984
Description rules
Finding Aid Prepared According To Local Divinity Library Descriptive Practices
Language of description note
Finding aid written in English.

Part of the Yale Divinity Library Repository

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