- Collection Overview
- Collection Description & Creator Information
- Access & Use
- Collection History
- Find Related Materials
Collection Overview
- Title:
- Mpala Research Centre records
- Repository:
- Princeton University Archives
- Permanent URL:
- http://arks.princeton.edu/ark:/88435/dcpz50h984j
- Dates:
- 1939-2019 (mostly 1960-2009)
- Size:
- 14 boxes
- Storage Note:
- Mudd Manuscript Library (scamudd)
- Boxes 1; S-000973; S-000974; S-000975; S-000976; S-000979; S-000977; S-000978; S-000980; S-000981; S-000982; S-000983; S-000984; S-000985
- Language:
- English
Abstract
The Mpala Research Centre on the Laikipia Plateau of central Kenya, is a "living laboratory" for research and training in the environmental sciences, biodiversity conservation, and natural resources management, and is jointly operated by Princeton University, the Smithsonian Institution, the Kenya Wildlife Service, the National Museums of Kenya and the Wildlife Research and Training Institute. Princeton University serves as the managing partner for Mpala. The Mpala Research Centre records consist of correspondence and other documents relating to the nonprofit Mpala Wildlife Foundation, as well as records relating to Mpala Research Centre founder George Small and his brother Samuel Small, who bequeathed land at Mpala to George Small.
Collection Description & Creator Information
- Scope and Contents
The Mpala Research Centre records contain the contents of legal binders of correspondence and other documents relating to the Mpala Wildlife Foundation (founded 1989) and its founder George Small that were maintained by the law firm Venable, LLP. Records also relate to George Small's brother, Samuel Small, his land ownership (1952-1969) and estate. The records have been arranged into two series: Mpala Wildlife Foundation correspondence and George Small and Samuel Small estate records. There is some thematic overlap between the two series.
Correspondence and documents were created by the former owners Samuel and George Small, as well as staff, board members, and other people involved with Mpala. These records were used by those operating the Mpala Wildlife Foundation. Baltimore attorney Jeffrey Gonya, from whose law firm these records were transferred, was involved with the Mpala Wildlife Foundation from its inception until well after George Small's death.
- Arrangement
During processing, some folders were moved from one box to another in order to collocate correspondence with similar date ranges.
- Collection Creator Biography:
Mpala Research Centre and Wildlife Foundation
The Mpala Research Centre, on the Laikipia Plateau of central Kenya, is a "living laboratory" for research and training in the environmental sciences, biodiversity conservation, and natural resources management, and is jointly operated by Princeton University, the Smithsonian Institution, the Kenya Wildlife Service, the National Museums of Kenya and the Wildlife Research and Training Institute. Princeton University serves as the managing partner for Mpala. Mpala has hosted scientific research starting in 1994, and hosted Princeton undergraduate researchers since 2005.
George Latimer Small (1921-2002), who grew up in York, Pennsylvania and Baltimore, Maryland, and graduated from Princeton University with the Class of 1943, founded the Mpala Wildlife Foundation and the Mpala Research Trust in 1989. Mpala Ranch was bequeathed to Small in 1969 by his brother Samuel Small, Class of 1940, who had purchased the land in 1952, before Kenyan independence from Britain. George Small's career in the United States was in his family's grocery distribution business, P.A. & S. Small, between 1945 and 1977. George Small added acreage to the Mpala tract during his lifetime, and bequeathed the land in Kenya to the Mpala Wildlife Foundation at his death in 2002.
Collection History
- Acquisition:
Transferred to the University Archives by the Office of the Provost, International Affairs and Operations, in 2025 (AR.2025.009).
- Custodial History
The records were sent to Princeton University's Office of the Provost, International Affairs and Operations, by Venable, LLP. Venable attorney Jeffrey Gonya served as an attorney for George Small and the estate of George Small.
- Appraisal
No materials were removed from the collection during 2026 processing beyond routine appraisal practices.
- Processing Information
This collection was processed by Phoebe Nobles in 2026 with assistance from Camila Villavizar Gomez '2028. Finding aid written by Phoebe Nobles in 2026.
Access & Use
- Conditions Governing Access
University records are closed for 30 years from the date of their creation under the Access Policy For University Archives Collections. The collection has been reviewed, and no further restrictions longer than 30 years apply.
- Conditions Governing Use
Single copies may be made for research purposes. To cite or publish quotations that fall within Fair Use, as defined under U. S. Copyright Law, no permission is required. The Trustees of Princeton University hold copyright to all materials generated by Princeton University employees in the course of their work. For instances beyond Fair Use, if copyright is held by Princeton University, researchers do not need to obtain permission, complete any forms, or receive a letter to move forward with use of materials from the Princeton University Archives.
For instances beyond Fair Use where the copyright is not held by the University, while permission from the Library is not required, it is the responsibility of the researcher to determine whether any permissions related to copyright, privacy, publicity, or any other rights are necessary for their intended use of the Library's materials, and to obtain all required permissions from any existing rights holders, if they have not already done so. Princeton University Library's Special Collections does not charge any permission or use fees for the publication of images of materials from our collections, nor does it require researchers to obtain its permission for said use. The department does request that its collections be properly cited and images credited. More detailed information can be found on the Copyright, Credit and Citations Guidelines page on our website. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us through the Ask Us! form.
- Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements
For preservation reasons, original analog and digital media may not be read or played back in the reading room. Users may visually inspect physical media but may not remove it from its enclosure. All analog audiovisual media must be digitized to preservation-quality standards prior to use.
Audiovisual digitization requests are processed by an approved third-party vendor. Please note, the transfer time required can be as little as several weeks to as long as several months and there may be financial costs associated with the process. Requests should be directed through the Ask Us Form."
- Credit this material:
Mpala Research Centre records; Princeton University Archives, Department of Special Collections, Princeton University Library
- Permanent URL:
- http://arks.princeton.edu/ark:/88435/dcpz50h984j
- Location:
-
Seeley G. Mudd Manuscript LibrarySeeley G. Mudd Manuscript Library65 Olden StreetPrinceton, NJ 08540, USA
- Storage Note:
- Mudd Manuscript Library (scamudd)
- Boxes 1; S-000973; S-000974; S-000975; S-000976; S-000979; S-000977; S-000978; S-000980; S-000981; S-000982; S-000983; S-000984; S-000985