Lewis, Lesley
Introduction
Lesley Lewis
Arrangement

Catalogue
1. Personal Correspondence
2. Diaries
3. Articles and Speeches
4. Photographic Material
Reference code: GB-0033-SAD
Title: Lewis, Lesley
Dates of creation: 1944-[1990s]
Extent: 2 boxes
Held by: Durham University Library, Archives and Special Collections
Created by: Lewis, Lesley
Language: English

Lesley Lewis

(1909 - 2010)

1944-1946Confidential Clerk/Librarian, Agricultural Research Institute, Wad Medani
1944-1955Resident in the Sudan as the wife of D.J. Lewis, Medical Entomologist


Arrangement

1. Personal Papers
2. Diaries
3. Articles and Speeches
4. Photographs

Accession details

Presented by Mrs L. Lewis 1993 - 2003. These gifts also contained the papers of Lesley's husband, David, which are now catalogued separately. An earlier donation sent by Mrs Lewis in 1969 (memoir of Stigand Bey) is catalogued in Miscellaneous Small Donations.

Catalogue
1. Personal Correspondence
SAD.338/1/1-24
1944 Sep 23-Dec 30
Letters from L. Lewis to family members, chiefly her mother, describing her daily routine and social life in Wad Medani, including arrangements for her departure to the Sudan (SAD.338/1/1-4); her daily routine and sleeping arrangements (SAD.338/1/5-6); and the veil of secrecy surrounding V2 rocket attacks on London (SAD.338/1/7).
Also includes typescript explanatory notes relating to each letter (written at a later date). These commentaries provide additional information on aspects of British life in the Sudan, including Lewis's early impressions of the Sudan, furnishing the British official's home, as well as biographical and anecdotal information on Lewis's colleagues and friends.
SAD.338/2/1-88
1945 Jan 7-Dec 30
Letters from L. Lewis to her mother, describing her daily routine and social life in Wad Medani, including her annoyance at the Public Works Department's decision to paint her house without notice (SAD.338/2/1); a dinner party at the Governor-General's Palace (SAD.338/2/3); the possibility of moving to Khartoum (SAD.338/2/4); a meeting with Bishop Gwynne (SAD.338/2/9); possible difficulties faced by the wives of British officials in returning to the Sudan following their leave (SAD.338/2/11); description of Suakin, and the plight of the Mecca pilgrims (SAD.338/2/37); and a description of a garden party at the Governor-General's Palace (SAD.338/2/38)
Also includes typescript commentaries on each letter (written at a later date). These commentaries provide additional information on various aspects of British life in the Sudan as well as biographical and anecdotal information on Lewis's colleagues and friends.
SAD.338/3/1-74
1946 Jan 6-Dec 18
Letters from L. Lewis to her mother, describing her daily routine and social life in Wad Medani, including from Omdurman regarding preparations for a trek to Dueim (SAD.338/3/4); description of her trek to Dueim, the purpose of which was for her husband David to advise on the relocation fo certain villages due to mosquitoes from the Jabal Auliya dam, and her meeting with local women there (SAD.338/3/6); trek to Equatoria Province including the attitude of Lewis's servants towards the southern Sudanese (SAD.338/3/7), her stay in Juba (SAD.338/3/8), description of the landscape around Li Rangu, and eating lunch in front of the local Azande people (SAD.338/3/9), trek life on the road from Li Rangu to Wau, and description of the sleeping sickness settlement at Sources Yubu (SAD.338/3/10); trek from Wau to Raga, description of the rest houses, government policy towards the Dinka and their customs (SAD.338/3/11); landscape of Nagichot and the Didinga Mountains (SAD.338/3/13); her difficulty in arranging a passage home on leave (SAD.338/3/17-18); floods in Wad Medani (SAD.338/3/24); and rioting in Omdurman (SAD.338/3/32)
Also includes typescript commentaries on each letter (written at a later date). These commentaries provide additional information on aspects of life in the Sudan as well as biographical and anecdotal information on Lewis's colleagues and friends. It is likely that these notes formed the basis of L. Lewis's memoirs, entitled “Together though parted: letters between David and Lesley Lewis” described in more detail in the 'Memoirs' section.
SAD.338/4/1-63
1947 Jan 2-Dec 30
Letters from L. Lewis to her mother, describing her daily routine and social life in Wad Medani, including a trek through Merowe, Dongola and Wadi Halfa with descriptions of the landscape (SAD.338/4/4-6); the effect of the railway strike (SAD.338/4/10-11); Anglo-Egyptian negotiations over the future of the Sudan (SAD.338/4/13-15); and her experience of having a Sudanese meal at the residence of Da'ud al-Khalifa`Abd Allah, Sudanese District Commissioner for Kassala (SAD.338/4/20).
Also includes typescript commentaries on each letter (written at a later date). These commentaries provide additional information on aspects of life in the Sudan as well as biographical and anecdotal information on Lewis's colleagues and friends.
SAD.338/5/1-52
1948 Jan 18-Dec 14
Letters from L. Lewis to her mother, describing her daily routine and social life in Wad Medani, including attendance by her husband at a conference in Brazzaville, Congo (SAD.338/5/2-7); the effect of the railway strike (SAD.338/5/11); camping on the road during a trek in Equatoria (SAD.338/5/17); description of the landscape around Mvolo (SAD.338/5/18).
Also includes typescript commentaries on each letter (written at a later date). These commentaries provide additional information on aspects of life in the Sudan as well as biographical and anecdotal information on Lewis's colleagues and friends.
SAD.338/6/1-55
1949 Jan 6-Dec 22
Letters from L. Lewis to her mother, describing her daily routine and social life in Wad Medani, including a reference to the poor state of the road on trek and a description of the landscape near Bandara (SAD.338/6/20); and a description of the difficulties encountered on a further trek from Yei to Juba (SAD.338/6/25-27).
Also includes typescript commentaries on each letter (written at a later date). These commentaries provide additional information on aspects of life in the Sudan as well as biographical and anecdotal information on Lewis's colleagues and friends.
SAD.338/7/1-39
1950 Jan 3-Dec 23
Letters from L. Lewis to her mother, describing her daily routine and social life in Wad Medani, including a description of her participation in a tennis tournament (SAD.338/7/2-5).
Also includes typescript commentaries on each letter (written at a later date). These commentaries provide additional information on aspects of life in the Sudan as well as biographical and anecdotal information on Lewis's colleagues and friends.
SAD.338/8/1-13
1951 Jan 1-Mar 3
Letters from L. Lewis to her mother, describing her daily routine and social life in Wad Medani, including her resignation from the Wad Medani Church Council (SAD.338/8/5).
Also includes typescript commentaries on each letter (written at a later date). These commentaries provide additional information on aspects of life in the Sudan as well as biographical and anecdotal information on Lewis's colleagues and friends.
SAD.338/9/1-26
1952 Aug 3-Nov 25
Letters from L. Lewis to her mother, describing her daily routine and social life in Wad Medani, including the effects of a railway strike on food supplies (SAD.338/9/1).
Also includes typescript commentaries on each letter (written at a later date). These commentaries provide additional information on aspects of life in the Sudan as well as biographical and anecdotal information on Lewis's colleagues and friends.
SAD.338/10/1-16
1953 Sep 26-Dec 17
Letters from L. Lewis to her mother, describing her daily routine and social life in Wad Medani, including the success of her husband's trip to Roseires (SAD.338/10/8).
Also includes typescript commentaries on each letter (written at a later date). These commentaries provide additional information on aspects of life in the Sudan as well as biographical and anecdotal information on Lewis's colleagues and friends.
SAD.338/11/1-21
1954 Jan 6-Dec 9
Letters from L. Lewis to her mother, describing her daily routine and social life in Wad Medani, including a description of a trek to El Fasher (SAD.338/11/1-2); government policy of Sudanisation (SAD.338/11/6); the effect of Sudanisation and the departure of the British on community life in Wad Medani (SAD.338/11/7,9); and her departure plans (SAD.338/11/8).
Also includes typescript commentaries on each letter (written at a later date). These commentaries provide additional information on aspects of life in the Sudan as well as biographical and anecdotal information on Lewis's colleagues and friends.
SAD.338/12/1-15
1955 Jan 4-Apr 25
Letters from L. Lewis to her mother, describing her daily routine and social life in Wad Medani, including the attitude of the Sudanese to the impending departure of the British (SAD.338/12/1); the continuation of the Women's Association by the Sudanese (SAD.338/12/4); and arrangements for departure (SAD.338/12/5-10).
Also includes typescript commentaries on each letter (written at a later date). These commentaries provide additional information on aspects of life in the Sudan as well as biographical and anecdotal information on Lewis's colleagues and friends.
SAD.338/13/1-179
2002
Word processed edition of correspondence between David and Lesley Lewis between 1935-1956. This volume has been compiled retrospectively by Lesley, with commentaries and introductions which provide additional information on aspects of life in the Sudan as well as biographical and anecdotal information on Lewis's colleagues and friends. The letters are mostly of a personal nature but also include David to Lesley describing Wad Medani and the surrounding area, particularly the Blue Nile, Gezira and Sennar (SAD.338/13/9); reference to his attendance at the proclamation of King Farouk (SAD.338/13/10v-11); mosquito hunting in the White Nile (Jabal Auliya, Kosti and Jebelein area), as well as his latest research into yellow fever (SAD.338/13/13); his views on the Nuer people (SAD.338/13/15v); the increase in yellow fever in Kassala following the evacuation of Italian troops from the region (SAD.338/13/16); his opinion on the southern Sudanese (SAD.338/13/26v-27); visit to the flooded areas near Atbara and the efforts being made to prevent the spread of malaria there (SAD.338/13/35); attendance at a conference in Brazzaville, Congo (SAD.338/13/37-42); description of the solar eclipse over Wad Medani (SAD.338/13/110); research on the nimitti fly (SAD.338/13/114); comment by Lesley on the attitude of the British towards allowing Sudanese people into the British Club in Wad Medani (SAD.338/13/144). The rest of the volume concerns correspondence between David and Lesley during the former's government role in Sierra Leone.
SAD.338/14/1-129
2002
Word processed edition of correspondence between David and Lesley Lewis between 1956-1972. This volume has been compiled retrospectively by Lesley, with commentaries and introductions and concerns their post-Sudan life and career.
SAD.338/16/1
[1990s]
Curriculum vitae of L. Lewis
2. Diaries
SAD.339/1/1-26
1945-1953
Notebook containing handwritten notes providing additional commentaries on the events in the diaries below
Index terms
Diaries
SAD.339/2/1-11
1945 Jan 1-Mar 10
Diary of Lewis describing her daily routine in the Sudan, mostly concerning events of a personal nature, particularly her social life in Wad Medani, but also including detailed descriptions while on trek with her husband, David. Entries of note include describing the upheaval caused by renovations carried out on her home by the Public Works Department (SAD.339/2/1-2); brief reference to her attendance at a Sudanese tea party (SAD.339/2/6); and a pitch invasion / near-riot at a football match between two Medani clubs (SAD.339/2/6)
Index terms
Diaries
SAD.339/3/1-149
1945 Mar 11-1945 Dec 31
Diary of Lewis describing her daily routine in the Sudan, mostly concerning events of a personal nature, particularly her social life in Wad Medani, but also including detailed descriptions while on trek with her husband, David. Entries of note include a trek to Halfa with her husband in charge of the Rockefeller Foundation scheme to eradicate anopheles gambiae from Egypt (SAD.339/3/4); trek to Uganda and Kenya, including the journey down the River Nile and through the sudd from Kosti to Malek and descriptions of the surrounding landscape, wildlife and Dinka people (SAD.339/3/19-24,60v-64v); description of a mosquito catch (SAD.339/3/31v)); a holiday in celebration of the Japanese surrender (SAD.339/3/80); a trek around Blue Nile Province, including a tea party with the Sudanese D.C. at Singa (SAD.339/3/83v); the Roseires landscape (SAD.339/3/85), watching a tribal dance in Kharkoj (SAD.339/3/86); the lack of anti-malaria measures in place at Singa (SAD.339/3/87v); a disagreement with the Sudanese Medical Officer in Kosti (SAD.339/3/108); description of Geteina (SAD.339/3/109v); and a visit to the Gordon College Library (SAD.339/3/117v); detailed description of Suakin (SAD.339/3/118v-119)
Index terms
Diaries
SAD.339/4/1-53
1946
Diary of Lewis describing her daily routine in the Sudan, mostly concerning events of a personal nature, particularly her social life in Wad Medani but also including detailed descriptions of the landscape when on trek with her husband, David. Entries of note include a visit to the historical sites of Omdurman (SAD.339/4/4v); travelling on the River Nile near Omdurman and commenting on the surrounding villages and landscape (SAD.339/4/5); trek to Equatoria Province (SAD.339/3/6-16v), including the landscape of Shambe (SAD.339/4/7v), her opinion of Mongalla (SAD.339/4/8), description of the fauna and flora surrounding Li Rangu (SAD.339/4/8v), trekking up the Sue River (23 Feb); her opinion of her Azande camp helpers (SAD.339/4/9v), visit to a Verona Fathers' mission station at Deim Zubeir, description of Raga (SAD.339/4/11); crowds of Dinka at Niamlel (SAD.339/4/11); medical examination of the Sudanese at Pongo (SAD.339/4/11v); description of a meat factory on the road to Tonj (SAD.339/4/12); the state of the road to Torit (SAD.339/4/13v); the mountainous landscape near Gelo (SAD.339/4/13v); and flooding in Wad Medani (SAD.339/4/36)
Index terms
Diaries
SAD.339/5/1-191
1947 Jan 1-1948 Jan 21
Diary of Lewis describing her daily routine in the Sudan, mostly concerning events of a personal nature, particularly her social life in Wad Medani, but also including detailed descriptions while on trek with her husband, David. Entries of note include a visit to Dongola Province to view antiquities (SAD.339/5/23v-31); description of the scene crossing the Gash in Kassala Province (SAD.339/5/131v); a cricket match involving British officials and Sudanese travellers and a meal with Da'ud al-Khalifa`Abd Allah, Sudanese District Commissioner for Kassala (SAD.339/5/132)
Index terms
Diaries
SAD.339/6/1-179
1948 Jan 22-Dec 31
Diary of Lewis describing her daily routine in the Sudan, mostly concerning events of a personal nature, particularly her social life in Wad Medani, but also including detailed descriptions while on trek with her husband, David. Entries of note include Bishop Gelsthorpe's speech on religious policy in the Sudan (SAD.339/6/7v); and a description of a trek to Equatoria, mostly meetings with other officials and descriptions of the wildlife and landscape (SAD.339/6/51-105)
Index terms
Diaries
SAD.339/7/1-183
1949
Diary of Lewis describing her daily routine in the Sudan, mostly concerning events of a personal nature, particularly her social life in Wad Medani, but also including detailed descriptions while on trek with her husband, David. Entries of note include an encounter with Sudanese people at Tembura (SAD.339/7/130); a dispute between the Sudanese trek staff and the local people (SAD.339/7/134); description of the dress of the local people at Tarangoli (SAD.339/7/145v); and assisting her husband in his investigation of the simulian fly (SAD.339/7/160)
Index terms
Diaries
SAD.339/8/1-106
1950 Jan 1-Jul 31
Diary of Lewis describing her daily routine in the Sudan, mostly concerning events of a personal nature, particularly her social life in Wad Medani
Index terms
Diaries
SAD.339/9/1-48
1953 Aug 5-Nov 6
Diary of Lewis describing her daily routine in the Sudan, mostly concerning events of a pesonal nature, particularly her social life in Wad Medani
Index terms
Diaries
3. Articles and Speeches
SAD.338/15/31-43
1945 Sep 8-1946 Oct 22
Typescript draft of an article by L. Lewis (intended for publication although never subsequently published) entitled “Homeward by the Nile”, with related correspondence from Lewis to the Cambridge Literary Agency, the Information Officer at the Civil Secretary's Office and N. Corbyn of the Sudan Government Office, as well as letters to Lewis from E.D.W. Chaplin of the Over-seas League and G. Bredin, all concerning the possible publication of the article
SAD.338/15/1-30
[1950]
Handwitten text of a talk by L. Lewis, probably delivered to a Women's Institute in England, entitled “Main problems of the Sudan technical rather than political”
SAD.338/15/44-58
1953 Nov 14
Typescript copy of the text of a speech by L. Lewis delivered to the English Speaking Women's Association, entitled “Practical flower gardening in Wad Medani”
SAD.338/15/59-62
1954
Typescript draft article by L. Lewis, entitled “A Sudan trek: the distaff side”
SAD.338/15/63-65
1955
Annual report of the Church Council of St Paul's Church, Wad Medani, probably by L. Lewis
Index terms
Annual reports
SAD.338/15/66-76
1957 Feb 18
Typescript draft article by L. Lewis, entitled “The road to the West”, with letters by Lewis to the editors of Country Life and Blackwood's Magazine
SAD.338/15/77-79
1980
Typescript copy of the text of a speech by L. Lewis delivered to the Christ Church Women's Fellowship, Chelsea, entitled “Some experiences in a happier Sudan, 1944-1955”
4. Photographic Material
SAD.336/1/1-5
1945
Photographs of the Lewis's house and garden, Wad Medani
SAD.336/1/6-8
[1940s]
Photographs of the Pilgrim Hall gardens, East Sussex