Wikipedia

James Harvey Chaplin

James "Jim" Harvey Chaplin (16 September 1924 – 31 March 1967) was a British meteorologist, archaeologist, and anthropologist who primarily studied weather, culture, and rock art in East and Central Africa.

James Harvey Chaplin
Born(1924-09-16)16 September 1924
England
Died31 March 1967(1967-03-31) (aged 42)
Kampala, Uganda
EducationUniversity of London (PgD), University of East Africa (MA)
Occupationsarchaeologist and anthropologist
Years activec. 1943 – 1967
Parents
  • Harvey Hopper Chaplin
  • Evelyn Bessie Chaplin
HonoursFellow of the Royal Meteorological Society and the Royal Geographical Society

Career

edit

Chaplin's major scientific contributions include:

Job positions

edit

Activities and affiliations

edit

Education

edit

Publications

edit

Chaplin's publications include academic articles and letters, poetry, and more:

Life

edit

Chaplin was born on 16 September 1924[6][40][41] (in Harrow, London[5]), to Harvey Hopper Chaplin (an exporter[5]) and Evelyn Bessie Chaplin (née Orchard[5][42][43]), and baptized 2 November 1924 in the Parish of Greenhill in the County of Middlesex.[44] He grew up in London.[1]

Jim Chaplin has a son also named James Harvey Chaplin.[45][disputed – discuss]

Chaplin first visited Africa in 1943.[46] He was Christian and regularly donated a tithe to charity.[1] His interests included mountaineering.[1] He was homosexual, and some people may have discriminated against him as a result.[8][47] He was friendly with Africans, and supported African nationalism through UNIP, which could be another reason why others may have disregarded him.[8][47]

Chaplin was killed in a hit and run car crash[5][8] (while either standing on the curb[48] or crossing the street[49]) on 30 March in Kampala,[1][6][49] and died 31 March 1967 at New Mulago Hospital.[50] He was buried at Kampala European Cemetery.[51] In his will, he gave a bequest to the Royal Anthropological Institute of £600, or £634 with interest,[52] "for the improvement or extension of the Institutes library facilities",[53][54] which they spent mostly on books about primitive art,[55][56] since that aligned with his interests.[57] He also gave a bequest of £100[54]/£105.82 to the Scott Polar Research Institute, which used it to buy a book about Greenland and a set of books about "the study of the seas"[58].

References

edit
  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 Clark, J. Desmond (January 1974). "James Harvey Chaplin". Azania: Archaeological Research in Africa. 9 (1): vii–viii. doi:10.1080/00672707409511713. eISSN 1945-5534. ISSN 0067-270X.
  2. ↑ "Editorial". Azania: Archaeological Research in Africa. 3 (1): vii–ix. January 1968. doi:10.1080/00672706809511482. eISSN 1945-5534. ISSN 0067-270X.
  3. ↑ Kayuni, Nchimunya Martha (2017). Towards an understanding of the late pleistocene and holocene assemblages through the Shiwa Ng'andu rock art in Zambia (MA thesis). Lusaka: The University of Zambia. p. 26 (see also pp. 29, 41, 42, 47, 48, 63, 82, 97, 99, 132–133, 142). UNZA DSpace handle 5259.
  4. 1 2 Laws, Richard M. (c. 2012). "Part I: Seals teeth and whales ears" (PDF). In Blix, Arnoldus Schytte (ed.). Large animals and wide horizons: adventures of a biologist - The autobiography of Richard M. Laws. Scott Polar Research Institute, Department of Geography, University of Cambridge. pp. 229–232, 240, 301–303.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Stewart, John (2011). Antarctica: An Encyclopedia (2nd ed.). Jefferson, N.C: McFarland & Co. pp. 128, 304, 528 (in vol. 1), 1238 (in vol. 2). ISBN 978-0-7864-3590-6. LCCN 2011014292.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Collection: Jim Chaplin slide collection: India and Turkey". ArchiveSearch. University of Cambridge. "Biographical / Historical" heading. Reference Code: GBR/0115/RCS/Y3022WWWW.
  7. ↑ Phillipson, D. W. (1976). The prehistory of eastern Zambia. Internet Archive. Nairobi: British Institute in Eastern Africa. p. 20. ISBN 978-0-500-97003-4. Internet Archive prehistoryofeast0000phil.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Posnansky, Merrick (2009). Africa and Archaeology: Empowering an Expatriate Life (PDF). The Radcliffe Press / Palgrave Macmillan. pp. viii, 133, 136, 142, 253, 258, 263. ISBN 978-1-84511-994-2. Google Books QTKGDwAAQBAJ.
  9. ↑ Chaplin, J. H. (March 1962). "Further Unpublished Examples of Rock-Art from Northern Rhodesia". The South African Archaeological Bulletin. 17 (65): 5–13 (see p. 5). doi:10.2307/3886929. ISSN 0038-1969. JSTOR 3886929.
  10. ↑ Mehari, Asmeret Ghebreigziabiher (2015). Practicing and Teaching Archaeology in East Africa: Tanzania and Uganda (PDF) (PhD thesis). University of Florida. pp. 122–123, 148–149, 168–169, 173, 365. ISBN 978-0-438-16668-4. DAI-A 79/12(E), Dissertation Abstracts International, 10906674. ProQuest 2095011381. Retrieved 2025-10-04.
  11. ↑ Schnitzer, E. W. (1967). "On the Trail of Emin Pasha" (PDF). The Uganda Journal. 31 (1): 101–110 (see "Acknowledgements" on p. 109).
  12. 1 2 3 Langlands, B. W.; McCrae, A. W. R.; Rigby, P., eds. (1967). "Notes on Contributors : Jim Chaplin" (PDF). The Uganda Journal. 31 (2): 206. ISSN 0041-574X. LCCN 52026895. OCLC 1644239.
  13. ↑ Headland, R. K. (1989). "1949–50, Falkland Islands Dependencies Survey". Chronological List of Antarctic Expeditions and Related Historical Events. Cambridge University Press. pp. 330–331 (index no. 1992). ISBN 978-0-521-30903-5.
  14. ↑ Roberts, Brian (September 1958). "Chronological list of Antarctic expeditions [continued]". Polar Record. 9 (60): 191–239 (see p. 220). Bibcode:1958PoRec...9..191R. doi:10.1017/S0032247400065748. ISSN 1475-3057.
  15. ↑ Fuchs, V. E. (January 1951). "The Falkland Islands Dependencies Survey, 1947–50". Polar Record. 6 (41): 7–27 (see pp. 18, 25–27). Bibcode:1951PoRec...6....7F. doi:10.1017/S0032247400040894. ISSN 1475-3057.
  16. ↑ Chaplin, J. H. (1956) [MS. received 3 January 1954]. "A Note on Snow Crystal Types in the Falkland Islands Dependencies". Journal of Glaciology. 2 (20): 733–734. doi:10.3189/S0022143000024990. ISSN 0022-1430.
  17. ↑ Chaplin, J. H. (13 August 1950). "Rime and the reason" (Photograph). Royal Meteorological Society. Published in: "Weather Photographic Competition Results". Weather. 8 (1): 27, plate 3. January 1953. Bibcode:1953Wthr....8...27.. doi:10.1002/j.1477-8696.1953.tb02582.x. ISSN 0043-1656. (Note: The actual photograph is included in 10.1002/j.1477-8696.1953.tb02580.x.)
  18. ↑ "Falkland Islands Survey". (Harrow) Observer (and Gazette). No. 4912. November 18, 1948. p. 5. Newspapers.com 793000055.
  19. ↑ Stewart, John (1990). "Port Lockroy Station". Antarctica: An Encyclopedia. Vol. II: M–⁠Z, Chronology, Expeditions, Bibliography. Jefferson, North Carolina, and London: McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers. pp. 785–786. ISBN 0-89950-470-1. LCCN 89-43631. (both volumes), 0-89950-598-8 (this vol.). Internet Archive antarcticaencycl0000stew.
  20. ↑ "Proceedings at meetings of the Society". Quarterly Journal of the Royal Meteorological Society. 76 (329): 352–355 (see p. 354). July 1950 [Ordinary Meeting, 17 May 1950]. Bibcode:1950QJRMS..76..352.. doi:10.1002/qj.49707632916. eISSN 1477-870X. ISSN 0035-9009.
  21. ↑ "Meetings: Session 1951–52 : Eighth Meeting, 17 December 1951 : Elections to Fellowship". The Geographical Journal. 118 (1): 115–116. March 1952. ISSN 0016-7398. JSTOR 1791275. Google Books s9xOAAAAIAAJ. Internet Archive sim_geographical-journal_1952-03_118_1.
  22. ↑ "New Members - Bygevoegde Lede". South African Archaeological Bulletin / Die Suid-Afrikaanse Argeologiese Bulletin. 12 (48): 118. December 1957. ISSN 0038-1969. JSTOR 3886616. Note: the name is listed here as "Chaplin, H. C., Esq.", but the address given, "P. O. Box 124, Livingstone, N. Rhodesia", matches: "List of Associates", Current Anthropology, 1 (2): 151–190 (metadata on pp. 151–152, 190; entry for "Chaplin, James Harvey" on p. 157), March 1960 [1958–1959: "Some Associates filled out the cards as long ago as January, 1958." In main list, not "Supplementary list through Dec. 31, 1959".], Internet Archive sim_current-anthropology_1960-03_1_2; Chaplin, James H. (December 1956), "African Weather-Lore", The South African Archaeological Bulletin, 11 (44): 111–112, doi:10.2307/3886589, ISSN 0038-1969, JSTOR 3886589; and Chaplin, J. H. (1959), "A preliminary note on the rainbow in Africa South of the Sahara", Ethnos, 24 (3–4): 151–171, doi:10.1080/00141844.1959.9980870, ISSN 0014-1844.
  23. ↑ "List of Members". The South African Archaeological Bulletin. 15 (60): 127–148 (see p. 136). December 1960. ISSN 0038-1969. JSTOR 3886543. Chaplin, James H., P.O. Box 124, Livingstone, Northern Rhodesia
  24. ↑ "List of members". The South African Archaeological Bulletin. 19 (76): 123–136 (see p. 124). December 1964. ISSN 0038-1969. JSTOR 3888557. Google Books NhrTAAAAMAAJ. Chaplin, James H., 36, Courtfield Avenue. Harrow, Middlesex, England.
  25. ↑ "The Geophysical Year: Mount Kenya Glacier Expedition" (PDF). East Africa and Rhodesia. Vol. 33, no. 1713. August 8, 1957. Google Books FEedPiQ-KMwC. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2024-06-12.
  26. ↑ "List of Associates". Current Anthropology. 1 (2): 151–190 (see p. 157). March 1960. doi:10.1086/ca.1.2.2739740. ISSN 0011-3204. JSTOR 2739740.
  27. ↑ Christie, Anthony. "Emslie Horniman Anthropological Scholarship Fund". Annual Report and Accounts of the Royal Anthropological Institute of Great Britain and Ireland for the Year Ending 31 December 1963. Royal Anthropological Institute. p. 8. A 114/6/3. Wiley Digital Archives, The Royal Anthropological Institute of Great Britain and Ireland, RAIAFA144-C0001-MA000281, RAIMFA900-C0000-MA000040.
  28. ↑ Christie, Anthony. "Emslie Horniman Anthropological Scholarship Fund". Annual Report and Accounts of the Royal Anthropological Institute of Great Britain and Ireland for the Year Ending 31 December 1964. Royal Anthropological Institute. p. 9. Wiley Digital Archives, The Royal Anthropological Institute of Great Britain and Ireland, RAIMFA900-C0000-MA000039.
  29. 1 2 Posnansky, Merrick; Reid, Andrew; Ashley, Ceri (2005) [initially written by Posnansky in 1967; published largely as it was originally written with brief additions by Reid and Ashley who have been able to re-examine some of the material]. "Archaeology on Lolui Island, Uganda 1964–5". Azania: Archaeological Research in Africa. 40 (1): 73–100 (see pp. 73–77, 83, 89, 96, 98, 100). doi:10.1080/00672700509480414. ISSN 0067-270X.
  30. ↑ Chaplin, James H. (9 October 1965). "Dear Mr. Christie, Thank you for your letter of 7th October, 1965. I enclose my cheque for [...]" (Letter). . 94/3/52. Wiley Digital Archives, The Royal Anthropological Institute of Great Britain and Ireland, RAIAFA139-C0001-MA001080.
  31. ↑ "[cover page] : Editorial Committee". The Uganda Journal. 31 (1). 1967. ISSN 0041-574X. LCCN 52026895. OCLC 1644239.
  32. ↑ "CHAPLIN, James Harvey; B.16.9.24". [Student Record Cards]. University College London. REG./IMM/4. 6188. Ancestry.com collection 62530 "London, England, University College London Student Records, 1828-1954", record 127458, citing "University College London; London, England, UK; Collection: Student Record Cards. Carr-Chi; Reference: CARR-CHI".
  33. ↑ "Twenty-first Annual Report / Report of the Director for the Session 1963/64". Bulletin of the Institute of Archaeology. No. 5. University of London, Institute of Archaeology. 1965 [Report for 1 August 1963 – 31 July 1964]. pp. 119–137 (see p. 127). JSTOR community.35555378.
  34. ↑ Harlow, M. A. B. (January 1974). "The Prehistoric Rock Art of the Lake Victoria Region : Introduction". Azania: Archaeological Research in Africa. 9 (1): 1. doi:10.1080/00672707409511714. eISSN 1945-5534. ISSN 0067-270X.
  35. ↑ "[List of Contributors]". [Front Matter]. Transition. Vol. 4, no. 17. 1964. p. 2. JSTOR 2934133.
  36. ↑ "Fieldwork Planned and Begun". Current Anthropology. 7 (5): 589–590 (see p. 589). December 1966. doi:10.1086/200779. JSTOR 2740138.
  37. ↑ Walz, Jonathan R. (October 2010) [Published online: 29 September 2010]. "An Interview with Merrick Posnansky". African Archaeological Review. 27 (3): 177–210. doi:10.1007/s10437-010-9082-0. ISSN 0263-0338. Academia.edu 28658205.
  38. ↑ "Twenty-Fifth Annual Report of the Committee of Management of the Scott polar Research Institute". Polar Record. 6 (44): 584–589 (see p. 589). July 1952. Bibcode:1952PoRec...6..584.. doi:10.1017/S003224740004763X. ISSN 1475-3057.
  39. ↑ Holland, Clive, ed. (1982). Manuscripts in the Scott Polar Research Institute, Cambridge, England: A Catalogue. Garland reference library of social science, vol. 123. New York & London: Garland Publishing, Inc. p. 134. ISBN 0-8240-9394-1. LCCN 81-48507.
  40. ↑ Merchant Shipping Acts, 1894–1952: Returns of Passengers brought to the United Kingdom who Embarked at Ports out of Europe. Names and descriptions of British Commonwealth and Irish Republican passengers landed at the port of ____ (In-coming Passengers; P.M.2B. Second Schedule). 27 May 1955. Row 258. 9513/01; Name of Ship: s.s. "UGANDA"; Owner or Agent: British India Steam Navigation Co.Ltd.; Whence Arrived: Beira. Ancestry.com collection 1518 "UK and Ireland, Incoming Passenger Lists, 1878-1960", record 1023686, citing "The National Archives in Washington, DC; London, England, UK; Board of Trade: Commercial and Statistical Department and Successors: Inwards Passenger Lists; Class: Bt26; Piece: 1333; Item: 119" and "Board of Trade: Commercial and Statistical Department and successors: Inwards Passenger Lists. Kew, Surrey, England: The National Archives of the UK (TNA). Series BT26, 1,472 pieces.".
  41. ↑ Unesco Secretariat (1963). "342: Chaplin, James Harvey". Social Scientists Specializing in African Studies: Directory / Monde d'outre-mer, passé et présent: Bibliographies. Quatrième série. vol. 5. École pratique des hautes études, section des sciences économiques et sociales. p. 75. Google Books uEABAAAAMAAJ, FXJdAAAAIAAJ.
  42. ↑ "Evelyn B Orchard" and "Harvey H Chaplin". General index: Marriages registered in (England and Wales in the months of) April, May and June, 1923, pp. 155, 159. Ancestry.com collection "England & Wales, Civil Registration Marriage Index, 1916-2005", records 60748109 and 60669336, citing "General Register Office; United Kingdom; Volume: 1a; Page: 1361". Registration District: Hampstead.
  43. ↑ "Evelyn Bessie Orchard". Ancestry. Retrieved 2026-03-30.
  44. ↑ Smith, J. (2 November 1924). "James Harvey, B. 16/9 24". Register of Baptisms: in the Parish of Greenhill in the County of Middlesex. London: Shaw & Sons, Fetter Lane, E.C. p. 147, no. 1173. S6117A. 1– 10-01. Ancestry.com collection 1558 "London, England, Church of England Births and Baptisms, 1813-1924", record 922865937, citing "London Metropolitan Archives; London, England, UK; London Church of England Parish Registers; Reference Number: Dro/096/003".
  45. ↑ "On typed listing "44.17; "James Harvey Chaplin; 4.7.61 Zambia; Southern; Jim; James Chaplin; portrait; Livingstone; present" A portrait of James Harvey Chaplin, Jim Chaplin's son, wearing a blue-grey buttoned shirt. [FG 10/07/2025] Date: 4 July 1961". Chaplin Collection. MAA Collections. Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology. IDNO T.177782.JCP, FM:319370. Retrieved 2026-03-27.
  46. ↑ Chaplin, Jim (Autumn 1968). "The Coup". PRISM international. Vol. eight, no. two. University of British Columbia. p. 85. doi:10.14288/1.0135410. ISSN 0032-8790. UBC Library bibId 1215619, Open Collections 1.0135410, AIP UUID 366b6fbd-8550-489f-88cc-4714391cc30f, PR8900_P7_008_002.
  47. 1 2 Posnansky, Merrick (September 10, 2001). J. Desmond Clark: An archaeologist at work in African prehistory and early human studies: teamwork and insight (PDF). University History Series. Transcriber: Jessica Ross Stern. Interviews Conducted by Timothy Troy. Berkeley, California: Regional Oral History Office, The Bancroft Library, University of California (published 2002). pp. 432–444 (see p. 443). Internet Archive archaeologist00clarrich.
  48. ↑ Clark, J. Desmond (January 2002). "VII: RESEARCH WORK OF THE 1960S". J. Desmond Clark: An archaeologist at work in African prehistory and early human studies: teamwork and insight (PDF). University History Series. Interviews Conducted by Timothy Troy. Berkeley, California: Regional Oral History Office, The Bancroft Library, University of California (published 2002). pp. 169–194 (see p. 171). Internet Archive archaeologist00clarrich.
  49. 1 2 "Jim Chaplin". Poetry. Transition. Vol. 6(v), no. 30 "Espionage: The Art of Seduction". Published from Baumann House (Kampala, Uganda) by Transition Ltd. with assistance from The Congress for Cultural Freedom (Paris, France). April–May 1967. p. 8. Associated with JSTOR 2934340, 2934341.
  50. ↑ "CHAPLIN James Harvey". Calendar of all grants of Probate and Letters of Administration made in The Probate Registries of The High Court of Justice in England. London: Her Majesty's Stationery Office (published 1968). 1967. p. 158. Ancestry.com collection 1904 "England & Wales, National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations), 1858-1995", record 73575865, citing "Birmingham Archives; Birmingham, England; England and Wales Probate Calendar; Reference: 1967C".
  51. ↑ Gravestone in Kampala European Cemetery, photographed and transcribed at: Barnes, Bob (2006–2008), "CHAPLIN-James Harvey", East African Cemeteries and Memorials, PUBLISHER ID#: 0417061546ke, archived from the original on 2024-05-16, retrieved 2025-10-03; Barnes, Bob (Mar 29, 2022), "James Harvey CHAPLIN (1924-1967)", Find a Grave, Ancestry.com record 209270639, Family Search ark:/61903/1:1:6FN2-KCTQ, retrieved 2025-10-03
  52. ↑ "Report of the Council for the year ending 31 December 1970". Proceedings of the Royal Anthropological Institute of Great Britain and Ireland for 1970. Royal Anthropological Institute. 1971. pp. 65–72 (see "Library Committee report" on pp. 68–69). JSTOR 3031740.
  53. ↑ "Re: James Harvey Chaplin - Deceased" (Letter). R. Lucas & Sons, Solicitors. 17 September 1970. GS/AH. 51/2/4. Wiley Digital Archives, The Royal Anthropological Institute of Great Britain and Ireland, RAIAFA091-C0001-MA000550.
  54. 1 2 "Local wills". Lynn Advertiser. Norfolk, England. 21 November 1967. p. 12.
  55. ↑ "Memorandum from the Library Committee for presentation to Council and its Committees" (Document). Royal Anthropological Institute Library. 5 January 1973. See items 4.B.b and 6.b. 51/31/44. Wiley Digital Archives, The Royal Anthropological Institute of Great Britain and Ireland, RAIAFA091-C0001-MA000573.
  56. ↑ Boston, David M. (15 September 1971). "Reopening of the Library on 1 October 1971" (Circular Letter). The Royal Anthropological Institute Library. 51/31/26, 51/35/17. Wiley Digital Archives, The Royal Anthropological Institute of Great Britain and Ireland, RAIAFA091-C0001-MA000198, RAIAFA091-C0001-MA000387.
  57. ↑ Kirkpatrick, Miss B. J. (19 July 1972). "Dear Lord Raglan: Mr Boston, Chairman of the Library Committee, and I have been discussing your very kind suggestion [...]" (Letter). . 51/2/19. Wiley Digital Archives, The Royal Anthropological Institute of Great Britain and Ireland, RAIAFA091-C0001-MA000155.
  58. ↑ "Forty-fifth annual report on the work of the Scott Polar Research Institute". Polar Record. 16 (105): 889–900 (see "Gifts" on p. 899). September 1973. Bibcode:1973PoRec..16..889.. doi:10.1017/S003224740006410X. ISSN 1475-3057. "Reprinted from Cambridge University Reporter, Vol 102, Special No 18, 15 August 1972, p 74-82."
edit

Photographs

edit

Archived research notes

edit
  • Chaplin, J. R. (23 July 1984). "Tribal art and painting, with particular reference to rock art" (two boxes). . MS 296. Wiley Digital Archives, The Royal Anthropological Institute of Great Britain and Ireland, RAIMFA290-C0001-MA000002, RAIMFA290-C0001-MA000001.
  • "Jim Chaplin slide collection: India and Turkey" (This collection forms part of a wider collection of slides taken by Jim Chaplin between 1957 and 1966. Presented to the Royal Commonwealth Society by James Harvey Chaplin's literary executor, Raymond Abthorpe, in August 1996. Finding aid created 2007-02-13 16:55:56+00:00.). ArchiveSearch, ID: GBR/0115/RCS/Y3022WWWW. Cambridge University Library.
    • "The larger part of Chaplin's slide collection relating to East and Southern Africa is held in the Photograph Collection of the Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology (MAA) in Cambridge, inventory ref: C795/, accession no. 2014.48. Listing and digitisation of the MAA collection is in progress as of 2025."
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=James_Harvey_Chaplin&oldid=1349655800"