Gwendolen M. Carter
Encyclopedia
Gwendolen Margaret Carter was born in Hamilton, Ontario
(Canada
) in 1906. She contracted polio
at home as a child, losing the use of her legs for life despite therapy and the care of her physician father. She completed her B.A. degree in history at the University of Toronto
in 1929 and received a second B.A. from the University of Oxford
in 1931. At Oxford she served as ceremonial "Mayoress" for a day (her uncle was the Mayor
at the time) and had a photograph taken as a memento
(See image at right). She returned to her hometown to teach at McMaster University
until 1935. Carter came to the United States
to undertake graduate study at Radcliffe College
, where she completed both an M.A. (1936) and her Ph.D. (1938) in political science
. Naturalized
as a US citizen in 1948, she taught political science at Smith College
from 1943 to 1964, holding the Sophia Smith
chair there from 1961. She was at Northwestern University
from 1964-1974 as Melville J. Herskovits
Professor of African Affairs. Professor Carter later taught at Indiana University
from 1974–1984 and at the University of Florida
from 1984 until her retirement in 1987. Through many years of her professional life, she maintained personal correspondence with leading figures such as Julius Nyerere
, Seretse Khama
, Gatsha Buthelezi
, Steve Biko
and Helen Joseph
.
, but her scholarship shifted to Africa
after her first trip to South Africa
in 1948, which coincided with the election that brought the Nationalist government
to power and introduced Apartheid
. From that point on, she focused on the politics and economies of southern Africa during a career that spanned over forty years. Carter's frequent research trips to South Africa resulted in many publications, several of which have become classics in both political science and African studies
. These works, detailing the dynamics of political change in Africa, include:
Professor Carter was one of the founders of African Studies
in the US, was past president of the US African Studies Association
and was among the most widely known scholars of African affairs in the twentieth century. She was 84 years old when she died at her home in Orange City, Florida
on February 20, 1991.
Award in 1984. The University of Florida Center for African Studies
named its annual conference series in her honor in 1985. Northwestern University offers a scholarship in her name (along with that of Kofi Annan
, former Secretary General of the United Nations
). Smith College has an endowed position named in her honor (currently held by David Newbury
).
Hamilton, Ontario
Hamilton is a port city in the Canadian province of Ontario. Conceived by George Hamilton when he purchased the Durand farm shortly after the War of 1812, Hamilton has become the centre of a densely populated and industrialized region at the west end of Lake Ontario known as the Golden Horseshoe...
(Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
) in 1906. She contracted polio
Poliomyelitis
Poliomyelitis, often called polio or infantile paralysis, is an acute viral infectious disease spread from person to person, primarily via the fecal-oral route...
at home as a child, losing the use of her legs for life despite therapy and the care of her physician father. She completed her B.A. degree in history at the University of Toronto
University of Toronto
The University of Toronto is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, situated on the grounds that surround Queen's Park. It was founded by royal charter in 1827 as King's College, the first institution of higher learning in Upper Canada...
in 1929 and received a second B.A. from the University of Oxford
University of Oxford
The University of Oxford is a university located in Oxford, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest surviving university in the world and the oldest in the English-speaking world. Although its exact date of foundation is unclear, there is evidence of teaching as far back as 1096...
in 1931. At Oxford she served as ceremonial "Mayoress" for a day (her uncle was the Mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
at the time) and had a photograph taken as a memento
Memento
A memento is a keepsake or souvenir of remembrance.Memento may also refer to:* Memento , a 2000 feature-length film directed by Christopher Nolan and starring Guy Pearce* Memento , a Czech book written by Radek John...
(See image at right). She returned to her hometown to teach at McMaster University
McMaster University
McMaster University is a public research university whose main campus is located in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. The main campus is located on of land in the residential neighbourhood of Westdale, adjacent to Hamilton's Royal Botanical Gardens...
until 1935. Carter came to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
to undertake graduate study at Radcliffe College
Radcliffe College
Radcliffe College was a women's liberal arts college in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and was the coordinate college for Harvard University. It was also one of the Seven Sisters colleges. Radcliffe College conferred joint Harvard-Radcliffe diplomas beginning in 1963 and a formal merger agreement with...
, where she completed both an M.A. (1936) and her Ph.D. (1938) in political science
Political science
Political Science is a social science discipline concerned with the study of the state, government and politics. Aristotle defined it as the study of the state. It deals extensively with the theory and practice of politics, and the analysis of political systems and political behavior...
. Naturalized
Naturalization
Naturalization is the acquisition of citizenship and nationality by somebody who was not a citizen of that country at the time of birth....
as a US citizen in 1948, she taught political science at Smith College
Smith College
Smith College is a private, independent women's liberal arts college located in Northampton, Massachusetts. It is the largest member of the Seven Sisters...
from 1943 to 1964, holding the Sophia Smith
Sophia Smith
Sophia Smith founded Smith College in 1870 with the substantial estate she inherited from her father and siblings....
chair there from 1961. She was at Northwestern University
Northwestern University
Northwestern University is a private research university in Evanston and Chicago, Illinois, USA. Northwestern has eleven undergraduate, graduate, and professional schools offering 124 undergraduate degrees and 145 graduate and professional degrees....
from 1964-1974 as Melville J. Herskovits
Melville J. Herskovits
Melville Jean Herskovits was an American anthropologist who firmly established African and African American studies in American academia. The son of Jewish immigrants, he obtained a Bachelor of Philosophy at the University of Chicago in 1923 and obtained his Master's and Ph.D...
Professor of African Affairs. Professor Carter later taught at Indiana University
Indiana University
Indiana University is a multi-campus public university system in the state of Indiana, United States. Indiana University has a combined student body of more than 100,000 students, including approximately 42,000 students enrolled at the Indiana University Bloomington campus and approximately 37,000...
from 1974–1984 and at the University of Florida
University of Florida
The University of Florida is an American public land-grant, sea-grant, and space-grant research university located on a campus in Gainesville, Florida. The university traces its historical origins to 1853, and has operated continuously on its present Gainesville campus since September 1906...
from 1984 until her retirement in 1987. Through many years of her professional life, she maintained personal correspondence with leading figures such as Julius Nyerere
Julius Nyerere
Julius Kambarage Nyerere was a Tanzanian politician who served as the first President of Tanzania and previously Tanganyika, from the country's founding in 1961 until his retirement in 1985....
, Seretse Khama
Seretse Khama
Sir Seretse Khama, KBE was a statesman from Botswana. Born into one of the more powerful of the royal families of what was then the British Protectorate of Bechuanaland, and educated abroad in neighbouring South Africa and in the United Kingdom, he returned home—with a popular but controversial...
, Gatsha Buthelezi
Mangosuthu Buthelezi
Inkosi Mangosuthu Buthelezi is a South African Zulu politician who founded the Inkatha Freedom Party in 1975 and continues to lead the party today.His praise name is Shenge.-Early life:...
, Steve Biko
Steve Biko
Stephen Biko was a noted anti-apartheid activist in South Africa in the 1960s and 1970s. A student leader, he later founded the Black Consciousness Movement which would empower and mobilize much of the urban black population. Since his death in police custody, he has been called a martyr of the...
and Helen Joseph
Helen Joseph
Helen Joseph , a South African anti-apartheid activist, was born in Easebourne near Midhurst West Sussex, England and graduated from King's College London, in 1927. After working as a teacher in India for three years, Helen came to South Africa in 1931, where she met and married Billie Joseph...
.
Scholarship
Carter's early work focused on European state governanceGovernance
Governance is the act of governing. It relates to decisions that define expectations, grant power, or verify performance. It consists of either a separate process or part of management or leadership processes...
, but her scholarship shifted to Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
after her first trip to South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
in 1948, which coincided with the election that brought the Nationalist government
National Party (South Africa)
The National Party is a former political party in South Africa. Founded in 1914, it was the governing party of the country from 4 June 1948 until 9 May 1994. Members of the National Party were sometimes known as Nationalists or Nats. Its policies included apartheid, the establishment of a...
to power and introduced Apartheid
Apartheid legislation in South Africa
The Apartheid Legislation in South Africa was a series of different laws and acts which were to help the apartheid-government to enforce the segregation of different races and cement the power and the dominance by the Whites, of substantially European descent, over the other race groups.Starting in...
. From that point on, she focused on the politics and economies of southern Africa during a career that spanned over forty years. Carter's frequent research trips to South Africa resulted in many publications, several of which have become classics in both political science and African studies
African studies
African studies is the study of Africa, especially the cultures and societies of Africa .The field includes the study of:Culture of Africa, History of Africa , Anthropology of Africa , Politics of Africa, Economy of Africa African studies is the study of Africa, especially the cultures and...
. These works, detailing the dynamics of political change in Africa, include:
- The Politics of Inequality: South Africa Since 1948. New York: Praeger. 1958. ISBN 9780374913007;
- Independence for Africa. New York: Praeger. 1960;
- South Africa's Transkei: The Politics of Domestic Colonialism. Evanston: Northwestern University Press. 1967;
- From Protest to Challenge: A Documentary History of African Politics in South Africa 1882-1964. Karis, Thomas and Gwendolen M. Carter. 4 vols. Stanford, Calif.: Hoover Institution Press. 1972-1977.
- Southern Africa in crisis. Gwendolen M. Carter and Patrick O'Meara (eds.). Bloomington: Indiana University Press. 1977. ISBN 0253353998.
- Which Way is South Africa Going? Bloomington: Indiana University Press. 1980. ISBN 0253108748;
- International politics in Southern Africa. Gwendolen Margaret Carter and Patrick O'Meara. 1982. Bloomington: Indiana University Press. ISBN 0253342856.
- African independence: the first twenty-five years. Gwendolen M. Carter and Patrick O'Meara (eds.). 1985. Bloomington: Indiana University Press. ISBN 0253302552.
Professor Carter was one of the founders of African Studies
African studies
African studies is the study of Africa, especially the cultures and societies of Africa .The field includes the study of:Culture of Africa, History of Africa , Anthropology of Africa , Politics of Africa, Economy of Africa African studies is the study of Africa, especially the cultures and...
in the US, was past president of the US African Studies Association
African Studies Association
The African Studies Association is an association of scholars and professionals in the United States and Canada with an interest in the continent of Africa. Started in 1957, the ASA is the leading organization of African Studies in North America. The associations headquarters are Rutgers...
and was among the most widely known scholars of African affairs in the twentieth century. She was 84 years old when she died at her home in Orange City, Florida
Orange City, Florida
Orange City is a city located in Volusia County, Florida. In the 2000 census the city had a total population of 6,604. In 2004 the population recorded by the U.S. Census Bureau was 7,172.-Geography:Orange City is located at ....
on February 20, 1991.
Honors
"In 1975, after she left Northwestern, the faculty of the African Studies Program at the university honored her by publishing a book of essays." Professor Carter was awarded the African Studies Association's Distinguished AfricanistAfricanist
Africanist may refer to:*A specialist in African studies*A strand of African nationalism during the activism against apartheid in South Africa particularly associated with the Pan Africanist Congress...
Award in 1984. The University of Florida Center for African Studies
University of Florida Center for African Studies
University of Florida Center for African Studies is a center within of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences at the University of Florida...
named its annual conference series in her honor in 1985. Northwestern University offers a scholarship in her name (along with that of Kofi Annan
Kofi Annan
Kofi Atta Annan is a Ghanaian diplomat who served as the seventh Secretary-General of the UN from 1 January 1997 to 31 December 2006...
, former Secretary General of the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
). Smith College has an endowed position named in her honor (currently held by David Newbury
David Newbury
David Newbury is the Gwendolen Carter professor of African studies at Smith College, Massachusetts. He received his PhD from the University of Wisconsin–Madison in 1979. His academic work has three major foci within East and Central Africa. The first was pre-colonial societal transformation in...
).
External links
- Autobiography of Gwendolen M. Carter (typescript available online).
- Guide to the Gwendolen M. Carter Collection, University of Florida Smathers Libraries, Special and Area Studies Collections
- Gwendolen M. Carter Papers, 1915-1991 (Series 35/10, Africana Manuscripts 10). Northwestern University Archives. Evanston, Illinois. Finding aid.
- Overview of the Gwendolen Margaret Carter interview summaries. Processed by Hoover Institution Archives Staff. Hoover Institution Archives, Stanford University. Finding aid in pdf format.
- South African political materials: A catalogue of the Carter-Karis collection. Available snippet search format via Hathi Trust. Note that Center for Research Libraries members have full pdf format access available (835 scans split over 8 files). See catalog.