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Gena L. Reisner correspondence, 1964-1966.Finding AidEncoding funded by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.© 2003
Biographical NoteGena Lee Reisner was born on February 24, 1943 in Kew Gardens, New York to Bernard and Edith Reisner. She graduated from Herricks High School in 1960. She attended Mount Holyoke from 1960-62, and then transferred to Barnard. In 1964 she entered the Peace Corps and went to Togo, Africa. There she taught English in a small village. She published many articles conscerning her experiences in Africa. Return to the Table of Contents Scope and Contents of the CollectionThe Gena Reisner Papers consist of correspondence and writings. The material relates to her work as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Togo, Africa from 1964-1966 and to her other experiences in that country. The collection contains typed excerpts of the frequent letters Reisner wrote to her family from the two towns where she was stationed: Waomé, a small town on the Ghanaian border from 1964-1965 and Lomé, the coastal capital city from 1965-1966. The letters pay significant attention to African politics during decolonization and the immediate post-colonial period. They also provide reflections on the circumstances and politics in Togo, from the variety of local cultures and traditions to the impact of the western world on developing countries. During her year in Waomé, she taught English to members of the Ewe ethnic group. She discusses funeral and wedding ceremonies in the village, along with the Ewe understanding of western culture and their pro-United States stance in the Cold War. The letters also provide insight into Togolese African nationalism on the local, national, and continental levels. During her year in Lomé, she taught English at the College Protestante and taught sewing and health and baby care in her spare time. She also frequently discusses the time she spent with her circle of friends, who were predominantly other Peace Corps Volunteers and French-speaking Togolese people. During her time off, she traveled with friends to Ghana, Nigeria, Dahomey (renamed Benin in 1975), Kenya, and Tanzania. She discusses the differences between West and East African cultures and landscapes. One letter in the collection is addressed to Elizabeth A. Green, a Mount Holyoke College English professor. The letter explains her reasons for transferring to Barnard and her regret over not being more academically oriented at Mount Holyoke College. After Reisner returned from the Peace Corps she wrote a number of newspaper articles about Togo, several of which are included in the collection. The articles address cultural diversity in Togo, "Nana Benzes," or powerful and wealthy Togolese businesswomen who are known for their chauffeured Mercedes Benzes, and tourism. Return to the Table of Contents Search TermsReturn to the Table of Contents Organization of the CollectionChronologically arranged. Return to the Table of Contents |
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