Dennett mss., ca. 1885-1910
This collection is open for research.
Richard Edward Dennett (1857-1921) was born in Valparaiso, Chile, but was educated
in England at the Marlborough School from 1869-1874. After completing his education,
Dennett began working for Thomas Wilson, Sons & Co., a shipping company based in
Kingston-upon-Hull. In 1879, Dennett left England and began working in West Africa
for the Hatton & Cookson trading company. During this time he started writing a
newspaper called the
Congo Mirror, in which he
addressed human rights issues faced by the Congolese people. Dennett wrote and
published three books and numerous articles between 1886 and 1906. His writings
focus on African culture, language and religion, though he wrote other articles
discussing trade. In 1918, Dennett returned to England; he died in 1921.
Organized into the following series: I. Biographical Information; II. Research
Materials; III. Writings.
Biographical information details Dennett's education, career in Africa and published
works. Research materials include notes and charts from Dennett's studies relating
to West African languages, cultures, customs and religions. Notes also contain
information on Dennett's commercial activities in West Africa.
The Writings series includes notes and outlines during various stages of Dennett's
work. Drafts include handwritten and typed copies with revisions. While his writings
focus on West African ethnography, these articles lead from factual information to
Dennett's own hypothetical speculations on religion and government.
Series:
Research Materials
Box 1
Notes, Dennett's commercial activities in West Africa, undated
Notes, West African alphabet, undated
Chart, West African alphabet and language, undated
Notes, West African language, undated
Notes, Congo language, undated
Charts, six spiritual and linguistic, undated
Notes, West African culture, undated
Charts, Nigeria and its seasons, undated
Notes, African seasons, undated
Notes, Yoruba astrology, undated
Box 3 (Oversize)
Charts, African language, undated
Series:
Writings
Arranged alphabetically by title.
Box 1
African Male Offspring and
Intelligence,
undated
The Alphabet of Life, Light and
Love,
undated
The Alphabet and Universal Order,
undated
Authority, Progress, and
Government,
undated
Authority, Conservation, Progress, and
Government
including notes, undated
Bibila or Notes on the Sacred Groves and
Kingly Office in the Congo,
rough draft, undated
Bibila or Notes on the Sacred Groves and
Kingly Office in the Congo,
undated
Black and White,
undated
The Breaking Up of Nationalism and the
Coming of Imperialism and Internationalism,
undated
Change in West Africa,
undated
The Chief Agency,
undated
A Coronation Ceremony,
undated
The Creative Alphabet, early
draft, undated
The Creative Alphabet: Review in Seven
Seasons,
undated
The Creative Alphabet or The Spirit in the
New Age,
with revisions, undated
A Day in a Yoruba Town,
undated
Diviners and Their Formula,
undated
Diviners and Their Formula,
duplicate pages, undated
The Elements of Primitive
Religion,
undated
The English of the Powers at the Back of
the Bavili Seasons,
undated
(2 folders)
The Family of Seven Elemental Factors in
Government.
Includes notes and revisions, undated
(2 folders)
A Few Notes on the Ogboni and Yoruba Forms
of Government,
with revisions, undated
A Few Notes on the Right of Way by Road or
River in West Africa,
undated
KIA: Dawn that is Light Before the Sun
Rises,
undated
Kings by God Inspired,
undated
KuVANGA,
undated
The Language of the Bavili,
including revisions, undated
The List of Queries of the German
Scientific Expedition for Central Africa,
undated
Macnah in Africa,
undated
The Mystic Seven, including notes
and revisions, undated
The Mystic Seven or Religion in West
Africa,
with revisions, undated
(2 folders)
The No. 7,
undated
Natural or Self-Evolved Religion,
undated
Nigeria and Its Seasons,
undated
Notes on the Evidence of Messrs Belfield,
Thompson, and Alexander on Land Tenure,
undated
Notes on the Folklore of the Bini,
including revisions, undated
Notes on the Language of the
Bavili
including the pamphlet
Bavili
Alphabet Restored,
1905,
undated
O Africa!, including
revisions, undated
(2 folders)
The Order in Genesis
Psychological,
undated
The Plaint of a Scab,
undated
The Powers in Nature and a Few Astonishing
Signs in West Africa,
undated
The Professor,
undated
Reconciliation, rough draft
includes alternate titles, undated
(2 folders)
Box 2
A Reminiscence of Miss Kingsley,
1893
The Seasons,
undated
Self and Personality,
undated
The Seven Elemental Factors in
Government,
early draft, undated
Some Opposites,
undated
The Soul in the Sand, including
revisions, undated
A Story with a Moral: Philanthropy in West
Africa,
including revisions, undated
A Study in Yoruba Cosmological
Philosophy,
undated
Thoughts on the "Philosophy" of the
Carpenter's Workshop,
undated
Various poems, undated
West African Genesis including
notes, undated
West African Oil Seeds and the Oil and
Margarine Trade,
undated
West African Religions, including
notes and revisions, undated
West African Religion,
undated
Yoruba and Bantu Prefixes and Sir Harry
Johnston's Latest Great Book,
undated
The Yoruba Kingdom,
undated
Yoruba Language Guide, including
linguistics, vocabulary and grammar, undated
Yoruba numbers 1-200, including
notes and revisions, undated
(2 folders)
The Yoruba Seasons,
undated
Untitled manuscript, a discussion on Bantu and Bavili religion
against the Book of
Genesis, undated
Untitled manuscript, African religion, undated
Untitled manuscript, western religion, undated
Untitled manuscript, including various West African religious
verses, undated
Untitled manuscript, government and religion, undated
Untitled manuscript, notes on the Sacred Grove of the
Bavili, undated
Untitled manuscript, on Yoruba culture, undated
Untitled manuscript, undated
Unidentified correspondence, undated
