African History Expert Looks at the Copper Industry and Decolonization

Jan. 4, 2007 -- Decolonization’s impacts on Central Africa’s copper industry will be the focus of a talk scheduled Thursday, Jan. 11, at 3 p.m. in the University of Wyoming American Heritage Center Stock Grower’s Room.

The speaker will be Ian Phimister, the AHC’s 2007 George A. Rentschler Distinguished Visiting Lecturer and a professor in the Department of History at The University of Sheffield, England. He will discuss "Copper and Decolonization in Central Africa: Sir Ronald Prain and the End of Empire." Prain was a mid 20th century industrialist best know for his contributions to Africa’s copper industry.

Phimister’s research focuses on the history of 19th and 20th century Africa, and particularly on the overseas interests of the City of London in the same period. He has written or co-written several books on the economic and social history of Zimbabwe, along with more than 50 articles on aspects of African history and British overseas economic expansion. He teaches a general course on Britain’s retreat from empire.

The George A. Rentschler Distinguished Visiting Lecture Series is made possible by an endowment established by Frederick B. Rentschler and his mother, the late Rita Rentschler Cushman.

Posted on Thursday, January 04, 2007