William Slater Nichol was born in South Shields, County Durham, in 1883. He joined the British Forestry Commission as a Foreman of Works in 1910 and was posted to Nigeria. In 1913 he married Ethel M. Henderson.
Nichol remained in Nigeria until c.1929. In 1922 he was listed in ‘The Nigeria Handbook’ as a European Forester, 1st Grade.
He died in 1970. His papers were kept by his sister Mrs Joan Hill.
Published
GB193
Draft manuscript lecture on William Nichol’s experiences in Nigeria, given to the South Shields Rotary Club in 1947. Subjects include his work for the British Forestry Commission in Nigeria, impressions of country and population, changes in education, food, climate and changing role of women there.
Photographs of Old Lagos, 1910; members of the Forestry Commission and their wives, including the Forestry Commission Cricket Team, n.d; Nigerian forest and bushland, n.d; Nigerian people, including child with tribal markings, people in traditional dress, people at a town meeting, and women with children, n.d.
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Published
Photographs, comprising 2 photographs of 'Old Lagos' 1910; 1 photograph of the Forestry Commission Cricket team, nd; photograph of the Forestry Commission Cricket Team and their wives; photograph of the Forestry Commission employees and their wives at unspecified social gathering, [1925]; 9 photos of Nigerian Forest and Bushland including 4 photographs of the local Forestry Commission workers posing amidst the tree canopy; 4 photographs of the local population posing in traditional dress; 2 photographs of local people at a town meeting; photograph of women on washing day; photograph of children at play; photograph of child showing tribal markings to the face; photograph of the Fruit of the Oil Palm Tree; 2 photographs of women with their babies at work, one of which is a rare photograph of a local woman with twins.
Published
Lecture notes/ reminiscences : Arrival in Nigeria, first impressions of place and local population, changes in education, descriptions of the forest and forest 'clearing' policy, living and working conditions in the bush; including descriptions of food and climate. The changing role of women in Nigerian society. A summary of major changes between 1910 and 1947.