This project focused on preserving rare archival sources in the Sierra Leone Public Archives through digital photography and builds on the digitisation programme undertaken through the earlier projects EAP443 and EAP782. The focus of digitisation was on sources from the nineteenth century relating to the interaction of colonial officials and residents with neighbouring African leaders, especially Muslim leaders. This includes a series of Arabic Letters books, as well as Native Letter Books and Government Interpreter Letter Books, which are part of the Department of Native Affairs and the Aborigine Department. A long series of Secretary of State’s despatches was digitised. They include evidence administration, management, and official policies of the West African Settlements in the second half of the nineteenth century. Letters sent from London to the officer administering the colony deal with appointments, salaries, and accounts, but also documents forwarded by the War Office or the Foreign Office. Arabic letters books, Government Interpreter Letter Books, and Native Letter Books offer insights on interactions with leaders in sovereign areas not yet colonised by the British. The records are all in English, except for the Arabic letter books, which contains original documents written in Arabic and their translation. Some despatches include documents forwarded by the colonial office in French or in Italian but those are rare.
Extent: 15 series; 83 volumes.
Custodial history: British Colonial Office; Aborigines Department; Department of Native Affairs.
Arrangement: Letters written in a chronological order.
