LKE Africa

DATE: 1960-1990

LEVEL: Series

Records of Dartington Africa Trust primarily accumulated by Dartington trustees Leonard Elmhirst and Peter Sutcliffe, and later by Barry Reeves. Papers refer to visits made to the area by trustees of the Dartington Africa Trust, and others, and to disbursement of grant funds. Papers also relate to the Ruvuma Development Association. Records include action statements, financial reports, and correspondence with individuals concerned with the trust's work in Africa. There are also draft manuscripts of two books by sociologist Peter Marris which have subsequently been published.

Later records cover the appointment of Barry Reeves as trustee of The Dartington Africa Trust, its re-focus and the management of the fund.

Slides of various trips to Tanzania belonging to Leonard Elmhirst have been catalogued as part of his Photograph and Slide Collection (LKE/PH/1/F).

The Dartington Hall Africa Trust was established to explore rural reconstruction and development planning in Africa, particularly Tanzania. Dartington trustees Leonard Elmhirst and Peter Sutcliffe first visited Tanzania in 1960, on behalf of the Dartington Hall Trust, intending to implement their experience in rural development by assisting the Ministry of Community Development and National Culture. Subsequently, the Trust funded the construction of a district training centre at Missungwi, south of Mwanza. A second objective of the trustees was to find whether, in co-operation with the government of Tanzania, some interest bearing investment of trust funds might be made in developing industry.

Several visits were made to Africa by Leonard Elmhirst and Peter Sutcliffe during the 1960s and early 1970s, accompanied at times by Ruth Ash and Michael Young.

In October 1963 the Dartington Hall trustees established the Dartington Africa Trust to enable grant making for individuals, institutions and enterprises in Africa.

The Dartington Africa Trust continued from 1986 with the appointment of Barry Reeves as trustee following the death of Peter Sutcliffe.

Information for Researchers

All papers belonging to The Dartington Hall Trust Archive (with the exclusion of Dartington Hall School pupils individual records) are held at the Devon Record Office. All enquiries relating to research should be made to Devon Records Office, Great Moor House, Bittern Road, Sowton, Exeter, Devon EX2 7NL
+44 (0)1392 384253
+44 (0)1392 384256
devrec@devon.gov.uk
www.devon.gov.uk/record_office

The following requests should be made direct to the Archives & Records at The Dartington Hall Trust as shown below:
Copies of images as seen on The Dartington Hall Trust online catalogue with appropriate reference number (Ref No.)
Permission to publish or quote from any document held in the Dartington Hall Trust Archive
Former pupils of Dartington Hall School wishing to view their records
Archives & Records
The Dartington Hall Trust
Dartington Hall
Totnes TQ9 6EL
01803 847200
yvonne.widger@dartington.org

This information is copyright The Dartington Hall Trust