In the Tanzania National Archives, there are documents relating to leprosy dating from 1927 to 1955. The majority of these are in J: Medical and Sanitary Files, and are listed below:

10367 Vol I - Tanganyika Settlement (1927-1935)

Lepers – Segregation of and treatment centres for
File includes documents relating to the following: types of leper camps; recommendations for improvements of conditions of camps; differentiation of treatment versus segregation; expenditures for centres; minutes of BELRA meeting with Colonial Medical Officers; memoranda regarding transfer of leper settlement from Lundu Island to mainland; tour of secretary of BELRA including itinerary; requests for funds for specific settlements; report on mountain settlements; classification of lepers in Morogoro; compulsory segregation versus compulsory treatment; experiments in cultivation of certain trees for oils used in treatment (Hydnocarpus Anthelmintica); report on camps in Ufipa District; new site for settlement in the Usambara Mountains; copy of BELRA Annual Report for 1926; comprehensive list (chart) of leprosy settlements in the Territory with remarks, numbers of patients etc.

10367 Vol II – Lepers – segregation and treatment (1935-37)
Booklet – ‘Leprosy Control – a Manual for Teachers, Children and Parents’ by E Muir (BELRA); memoranda regarding maintenance of leprosy patients scheme; responses to questions from the Tanganyika legislative council; copies of medical department pamphlet on leprosy; newspaper cutting from East Africa and Rhodesia; statistics from Morogoro leper settlement.

25241 – Mr A F Sehof, Leper Patient, Travel through Tanganyika (1937- )
Regarding the transfer of a leprosy case from Kenya to Pretoria, South Africa – via road through Tanganyika.

25390 Vol I – British Empire Leprosy Relief Association (1937- )
Correspondence regarding: grants to BELRA from colonial governments; copy of pamphlet - Leprosy, A Problem of Colonial Development (BELRA 1936); Copy of Leprosy Review (Oct 1936).

25320 Vol I – International Leprosy Conference (1937)
Memoranda relating to invitations to conference.

25185 Vol I – Establishment of a leprosy settlement at Bumbuli in the Usambara mountains (1937-1939)
Some correspondence regarding finance and site selection for leper settlement.

25158 Vol I – Visit of Dr E Muir to East Africa (1938- )
Correspondence re. Dr Muir’s visit and itinerary; report on leprosy in Tanganyika Territory (27 pages); memorandum on leprosy policy; medical pamphlet on leprosy; copy of Leprosy Review - Jan 1939.

26733 Vol I – Peramiho Leprosy Settlement
Extract from report on leprosy in Tanganyika Territory (1938).

26732 – Makutupora Leprosy Settlement (1938)
Correspondence regarding funding for leprosy settlement; report documenting history of the settlement; extract from report on leprosy in Tanganyika Territory.

26989 – Ilonga Leper Settlement, Kilosa District (1939)
Notes regarding procurement of mission land for leper settlement.

25158 Vol II - Visit of Dr E Muir to East Africa to study the local conditions of leprosy (1939-40)
Memoranda: entire file concerned with appointment of a leprosy expert for East Africa (Title is misleading).

26733 Vol II – Peramiho Leprosy Settlement (1939-48)
Notes regarding entry of German nuns to work in the settlement; brief biographies of sisters.

25185 – Vol II – Establishment of a leprosy settlement (1940- )
Thin file on expenditure for Bumbuli.

12633 – Leper Prison, Dodoma (1940-41)
Correspondence on conversion of leprosy prison for mental patients and construction of accommodation for leprous prisoners.

25390 Vol II – BELRA (1940-1952)
File includes: proposed itinerary for medical secretary’s tour in East Africa; news clipping, ‘New Drive to Combat Leprosy’, 1952 Tanganyika Standard; memoranda regarding expenses; draft of speech by Secretary of State, BELRA – statement of future policy; memoranda re. annual grant from British Government.

10367 – Vol III – Leprosy (1943- )
Memoranda regarding: future plans for leprosy work in Tanganyika; proposed leprosarium at Newala; extract from report by the E A Bureau of Research in Medicine and Hygiene; newspaper clipping – ‘New Drug Hope for Lepers’; Report of the Inter-Territorial Leprologist (1949); report on the leprosy position in Tanganyika; news clippings on leprosy camps; excerpts from welfare reports on leper settlements; memoranda on establishment of a Territorial Leprosy Council; memoranda on proposed new leprosy hospital; notes on leprosy settlements; memoranda on medical policy for leprosy; notes from interview with Dr Wallace from Church Missionary Society.

25320 Vol II – International Leprosy Conference (1947-48)
Notes regarding funds for East Africa leprosy specialist to attend International Conference; report on attendance at Fifth International Leprosy Congress, Havana; request for leprosy specialist to visit Northern Rhodesia.

29699 Vol I – Chazi Leprosy Settlement (1941-1944)
Typed and handwritten brief notes regarding establishment of Chazi Settlement on Kilosa-Morogoro border; typed summary of history of Chazi Leprosy Settlement; financial estimates; letters regarding deplorable conditions; memoranda regarding visit of leprologist, Dr Ross Innes; Ross Innes’ report on visit to Chazi (1947); memorandum regarding Provincial Commissioner visit; memoranda regarding appointment of C A Wallace, medical practitioner; press cutting from West African Review, London, on Chazi as self-supporting; instructions regarding administration, admission and discharge of patients; press cutting from Tanganyika Standard (30 May, 1944), ‘Tanganyika Leprosy Investigation’; memoranda regarding closure of Chazi Settlement; press cutting from Tanganyika Standard (22 Jan 1944), ‘Unique Record of Tanganyika Leper Settlement’.

37470 Vol I – Inter-Territorial Leprologist – Financial and other arrangements (1944- )
Correspondence regarding history of the post of Inter-Territorial leprosy specialist; correspondence regarding cost-sharing among three territories; memoranda regarding transfer of oversight to the East Africa High Commission; memoranda regarding expenses for leprologist; correspondence regarding a general population leprosy survey; memoranda regarding BELRA contribution to leprologist salary; memoranda regarding purchase of a vehicle; memoranda regarding leprologist visits to Nigeria and Northern Rhodesia; extract from proceedings of Conference of Directors of Medical Services, Nairobi, 1947; terms of reference for leprologist position; extract from proceedings of Conference of Directors of Medical Services, Kampala, 1946; extract of proceedings of Conference of Directors of Medical Services, Entebbe, 1943.

36009 – Isolation of Children of Leprous Parents (1947)
Very thin file – memorandum entitled: ‘The Danger to Health of Children in Contact with Lepers’ by G A Ryrie.

35094 – Leprosy Settlements: Housing for Staff (1947)
Correspondence regarding estimates for staff quarters; proposed construction of house for Superintendent of Makete Leprosy Settlement.

37615 – Mkalama Leper Settlement (1948-57)
Correspondence regarding history of leper settlement at Mkalama; some correspondence regarding finances; report by Medical and District Officers; some correspondence regarding finances for Makutapora Leprosy Settlement; memorandum regarding take-over of Mkalama Settlement by Augustana Lutheran Mission.

29699 Vol II – Chazi Leprosy Settlement (1949- )
Memoranda regarding renewed discussion of Chazi Settlement and its reopening; building estimates and specifications; report on Chazi Settlement by Senior Medical Officer, 1950; expenditures.

41607 – Leprosarium in Tanga Province (1949-50)
Correspondence regarding various leprosy settlements in Tanga, and suitability of proposed sites; need to replace settlement at Chazi.

30486 – Crediting to Revenue of Long Standing Deposits
Accounts and funding for leper settlements – memorandum for standing Finance Committee; Long Outstanding Deposit Accounts.

37470 Vol II – Inter-Territorial Leprologist – Financial and other arrangements (1949- )
Correspondence relating to transfer of finance for position of Inter-Territorial Leprologist to the East Africa High Commission; circular to all members of the Standing Committee on Finance regarding a Leprosy Specialist to the East African Governments.

41601 – Leprosarium at Kongwa (1951)
Correspondence regarding a joint British Red Cross / government anti-leprosy scheme; correspondence re. conversion of buildings at Kongwa for use as a leprosarium; correspondence re. unsuitability of site at Kongwa; minutes from meeting between Inter-Territorial Leprologist and British Red Cross Society, Tanganyika Branch.

39024 – Report of Leprosy Survey in Lake Province - Dr Ross Innes (1949)
This file is concerned with the actual report rather than any actions or policies arising from it. A copy of the report is included: Leprosy Survey of the Lake Province 1949 (Tanganyika Medical Department); memorandum on a ‘joint tour of possible sites for a large leprosarium in Handeni District’.

39024/1 – Leprosy, proposed establishment of leprosarium in the Lake Province
Handwritten notes on the leprosy problem and policy in the territory; correspondence regarding African Inland Mission’s proposed take-over of leprosy settlement; correspondence re. replacement leprosarium after ‘public scandal’ of Chazi leprosy settlement; re. Red Cross contribution of funds; hand drawn map of region; memoranda on use of land for a leprosarium; memoranda regarding undesirability of leprosaria being run by religious organisations; extracts from report on a leprosy survey in the Lake Province by Dr Ross Innes.

39024/2 – Report of Leprosy Survey in Southern Highland Province by Dr Ross Innes (1949)
Handwritten notes about the report itself; memoranda regarding accommodation for medical officers; memoranda regarding building priorities and sites with less priority; report on the Leprosy Survey in Southern Highlands (20 pages) by J Ross Innes.

39024/3 – Leprosy Survey in Southern Province (1949-51)
Correspondence re. potential leprosy survey and campaign in Southern Province; re. coordination with BELRA; memoranda regarding capital expenditures; ‘Notes on Discussions Regarding Projected Leprosarium for the Southern Province at NEWALA’; memorandum regarding budget estimates for settlement at Newala; memo on the history of the proposed leprosarium; report on the Leprosy Survey in the Southern Province.

39024/4 – General Reports on Leprosy in Tanganyika by Dr Ross Innes (1949- )
Comments on Leprosy Report; memorandum regarding leprosy control measures; extract from conference report regarding need for information on the economic effect of leprosy; memoranda regarding BELRA support; memoranda regarding mission involvement in leprosy work.

41626 – Annual Report, 1950. East African Inter-Territorial Leprosy Specialist (1951)
Some handwritten and typed notes regarding the annual report; copies of the Annual Reports for 1950, 1951, 1952.

41656 – Primary (Territorial) Leprosy Settlements (1951)
Correspondence re. provisions for the construction of leprosaria at Nkolondoto, Chazi and Mwakete; memoranda re. procurement of land; document entitled, ‘Notes on the Establishment of Permanent Leprosaria’; correspondence regarding potential funding from the British Red Cross Society.

41656/2 – Primary (Territorial) Leprosy Settlements – Chazi Settlement, Morogoro District (1951)
Correspondence re. the development of Chazi Settlement; confirmation of allocated land; summary of stages of development for three primary leprosaria; memoranda regarding choice of site for settlement.

41656/3 – Primary (Territorial) Leprosy Settlements – Mwakete Settlement, Rungwe District (1951-53)
Correspondence re. choice of three sites for development as leprosaria; memoranda re. financing for Makete including a gift from the Mission to Lepers; memorandum regarding eviction of Africans from land to be used as settlement; memoranda regarding construction of a Red Cross hospital on Mwakete grounds; summary of stage of development for three leprosaria.

41656/4 – Territorial Leprosy Settlements – Nkolondoto Settlement, Shinyanga District (1951-53)
Correspondence re. provision of land for settlement; water supply at Nkolondoto; negotiations with Africa Inland Mission; draft agreement between Africa Inland Mission and the colonial government; negotiations with the Native Authority regarding land use; memoranda re. general principles of administration; memoranda re. quality of land; outline for General Rules at the Government Leprosarium at Nkolondoto; policies and regulations governing the Africa Inland Mission Leprosarium at Kola Ndoto, Shinyanga, T.T.; memoranda re. religious observance at leprosarium.

ACC:157/M1/14 – (Mbeya) Med and Sanitations – Maintenance of leprosy patients (1947-1955)
On distribution of leprosy survey; reports on visits to settlements; notes on accommodation of patients; on repatriation; correspondence re. a new hospital to replace Makete settlement; correspondence re. children and infants of leprous parents; report – ‘The Danger to Health of Children in Contact with Lepers’ by Dr G A Ryrie; notes re. funding for Chazi Settlement; general notes on leprosy settlements; general correspondence on costs of running leper settlements.

ACC:327/M1/13 – Medical – Leprosy in Makete Leprosarium
Reprint of article – ‘Surgery in Leprosy’ by W A Ashford Hodges (EAMJ); and ‘The Treatment of Deformities of the Foot in Leprosy’ by W A Ashford Hodges – minor administrative notes (travel, record-keeping) notes on admissions: memorandum on suggested leprosy treatment centre in Mbeya District; memorandum re. solicitation of active cases in the region; list of lepers from the Wawanda tribe; and Nyamwanga tribe; memoranda re. difficulty in gaining adequate admission numbers at Makete; memoranda re. theft of anti-leprosy drug; patient lists.

Please note that research permits must go through:

Tanzania Commission for Science and Technology (COSTECH)
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PO Box 4302
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Entry made on 3 March 2003