Mr. Jacques Baulin

June 10, 1971

Massachusetts at the beginning of the next academic year. Professor Brown has been invited to spend the second semester the 1971 - 72 academic year at
2Ahmadu Bello University in Zaria Nigeria During this time the hopes to visit Niger, and would welcome the opportunyty of meeting with President Boubou to investigate the state of oral data gathering in Niger. I might add that Professor Brown has had much experience in photographing Africain historical documents for microfilm.


I would strongly suggest that you contact Professor Brown at the University of Wisconsin and relay to him the specific needs of Niger in gathering and recording oral tradition, and the preservation of manuscripts on microfilm.
He has assured me that this is a field in wich he has maintained continuing proffesional interest, and I am sure that he stands ready to assist Niger in any way that he can.


If we can be of further assistance, please do not hesitate to contact us at the African - American Institute either directly, or through our representative in Niamey, Mrs, Gabriella Ranzoni. Also, please convey my personal best wishes to President and Mrs. Diori


yours sincerely


Gilbert K. Sherman
Program Officer
Evaluation and Developement


GKS : hb
cc : Ambassador Georges Condat
Professor William Brown
Mrs. Gabriella Ranzoni