Lina Brock papers

Object Details

Summary: Lina Brock was an anthropologist whose research focused on the Tuareg people of Niger. This collection consists of field notes, journals, genealogies, marriage statistics, censuses, maps, writings, audio recordings, photographs, and other material relating to her work.

Biographical Note: Lina Lee Brock (1945-1991) was an anthropologist whose research focused on the Tuareg people of Niger. She earned her BA in Philosophy from Reed College (1967) and her MA (1974) and PhD (1983) in Anthropology from Columbia University. She was a professor of Anthropology at Sarah Lawrence College from 1981 until her death. From 1973-1976 she conducted field research in Niger on the effects of economic change and the drought of 1968-1974 on patron-client relationships in Tuareg society. Her field work included historical research in local and national archives, as well as study of oral tradition, social structure, deomographics, and economic activities. In the late 1980's she returned to Niger to conduct additional research on Tuareg literature, oral history, and the Tamajeq language. Brock died of pancreatic cancer in 1991.

Citation: Lina Brock papers, National Anthropological Archives, Smithsonian Institution

Arrangement: The collection is arranged into six series: (1) Research, 1959-1989; (2) Writing, 1975-1990; (3) Sound recordings, 1986-1988; (4) Photographs, 1974-1976; (5) Maps, undated; and (6) Personal, undated.

Processing Information: Original folder titles and spellings were retained; titles assigned by the archivist and English translations of French titles were placed within square brackets. Processed and encoded by Gabrielle Sanchez, June 2022.

Scope and Contents: The Lina Brock papers consist of materials relating to Lina Brock's work with the Taureg in northwest Africa. The collection includes field notebooks, journals, genealogies and kinship notes, censuses, marriage statistics, writings, maps, cassette tapes, 35mm slides, and other material. Please note that the contents of the collection and the language and terminology used reflect the context and culture of the time of its creation. As an historical document, its contents may be at odds with contemporary views and terminology and considered offensive today. The information within this collection does not reflect the views of the Smithsonian Institution or National Anthropological Archives, but is available in its original form to facilitate research.

Restrictions: The Lina Brock papers are open for research. Access to archival audiovisual recordings with no duplicate access copy requires advance notice. Access to the Lina Brock papers requires an appointment.