Sir Alan Burns Collection of Gold Coast [i.e. Ghana] photographs, 1940s

Scope and Content

A collection of loose prints measuring approximately 195 x 160 mm, with brief captions supplied by Sir Alan Burns. The collection relates to Sir Alan's period as Governor of the Gold Coast.
Sir Alan Cuthbert Burns (1887-1980) was the son of James Burns, Treasurer of St Christopher-Nevis and himself served in the Leeward Islands Colonial Civil Service from 1905-12 and in the Nigeria Civil Service 1912-24; from 1924-29 he was Colonial Secretary of the Bahamas and administered the Government on several occasions. He returned to Nigeria as Deputy Chief Secretary to Government from 1929-34 and was Governor of British Honduras from 1934-40; after a period as Assistant Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies he served as Governor of the Gold Coast from 1941-47. From 1947-56 he was Permanent U.K. Representative on the Trustee Council of the United Nations.

Access Information

Unless restrictions apply, the collection is open for consultation by researchers using the Manuscripts Reading Room at Cambridge University Library. For further details on conditions governing access please contact mss@lib.cam.ac.uk. Information about opening hours and obtaining a Cambridge University Library reader's ticket is available from the Library's website (www.lib.cam.ac.uk).

Acquisition Information

Presented by Sir Alan Burns in 1980.

Note

Includes index.

Other Finding Aids

A catalogue of the collection can be found on ArchiveSearch.

Alternative Form Available

This collection is available on microfiche: Africa, fiche number 64.

Physical Characteristics and/or Technical Requirements

good condition.

Bibliography

In the course of his career as a colonial administrator Burns wrote two standard works on British overseas territories, and his memoirs: Burns, Alan Cuthbert (1929), 'History of Nigeria', London: G. Allen and Unwin, Ltd.; Burns, Alan Cuthbert (1954), 'History of the British West Indies', London: Allen and Unwin; Burns, Alan Cuthbert (1949), 'Colonial civil servant', London: Allen and Unwin.

Additional Information

This item level description was created by MJC using information from the original typescript catalogue.

Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Ministry of Information. West African Photographic Service