HISTORY

The history collections started as part of the ethnography collections of the Museum. Most of the early historical records collected were associated with the cultural materials acquired by the Museum. A collection of David Livingstone relics were acquired from as early as 1934. In 1967 the history collections were boosted by the acquisition of the Police and Military Museum. With a holding of about 20,000 collections the section still actively researches in histories of the different ethnic groups and the current history of Zambia. Extensive work has been carried out among the Leya people of Chief Mukuni in Livingstone, the Mbunda of Mwene Kandala and Mwene Chiyenjele of Mongu District, among the Tonga of Macha, Choma District and the Totela of Western Province. The rich historical photograph collections of the Museum have been used as illustrations by many writers and publishers. The section has an archive with over 8,000 records, including primary records of the colonial government, explorers such as Dr David Livingstone and his companions, early cartographic maps, note books, and diaries.