Papers of Sir Edward Brandis Denham

Scope and Content

Diaries covering Mauritius (1921-1923), Kenya (1923-1928), Gambia (1928-1930), British Guiana (1930-1934) and Jamaica (1934-1938). 30 volumes. Also, papers relating to Ceylon (1911-1917), Gambia (1816-1929) and British Guiana (1806-1932), including some 19th century papers dated before Denham's time. 2 boxes.

Administrative / Biographical History

Sir Edward Brandis Denham was born in 1876 and educated at Malvern, and Merton College, Oxford. He entered the Ceylon Civil Service and held the posts of Principal Assistant Colonial Secretary, Government Agent in Eastern Province, Director of Education and Director of Food Production. He was also Superintendent of the 1911 Census.

In 1920 Denham was appointed Colonial Secretary of Mauritius; he was transferred to Kenya in 1923 where he stayed until 1928. Over the next ten years he was Governor in the Gambia (1928-1930), in British Guiana (1930-1934), and in Jamaica (1934-1938). He was created KBE in 1927 and KCMG in 1931.

Access Information

Bodleian reader's ticket required.

Note

Collection level description created by Marion Lowman, Bodleian Library of Commonwealth and African Studies at Rhodes House.

Other Finding Aids

The library holds a card index of all manuscript collections in its reading room and a handlist is also available for this collection.

Listed as nos. 157 and 873 in Manuscript Collections of Africana in Rhodes House Library, Oxford, compiled by Louis B. Frewer (Oxford, Bodleian Library, 1968) and as no. 9 in Manuscript Collections (excluding Africana) in Rhodes House Library, Oxford, compiled by Louis B. Frewer (Oxford, Bodleian Library, 1970).

Conditions Governing Use

No reproduction or publication of personal papers without permission. Contact the library in the first instance.

Custodial History

Deposited with the Oxford Colonial Records Project.