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Shepperson Memorial

MY FAVORITE UNCLE

Gary W. Clendennen

One day back then (September 21, 1973) I rode the bus down Liberton Brae,
crossed The Meadows, and entered Edinburgh’s George Square. A kindly servitor in
the David Hume Tower pointed the way, and up I went to “Sam” Shepperson’s door.
I wasn’t tense, but alert as mother lion out hunting. In I went.
Things went well: “He seemed very helpful and genuinely interested in what
I’m here for.” He assigned two books, and suggested I visit Livingstone’s
birthplace/museum in Blantyre (my family did so eleven days later). In Professor’s
office I noted a framed item on his wall: a letter written by Abraham Lincoln, and I
knew I was in good hands.
Five weeks later on the same path, the Professor suggested I write a biography
of Charles Livingstone. I was disappointed: “Not that wretch!”: I hoped to study
Livingstone’s work in Botswana from 1841 to 1848, but I kept still. Instead, I agreed
whole-heartedly: one respects teachers. He assigned a paper: read and comment on a
recent book that was scathingly negative about David Livingstone. Suddenly the
ocean was deep: should I write what I think he wanted to read (of which I had scant
idea), or may I invest the project with the lessons of a host of previous English and
History teachers? Scary.
Coming near Christmastime, back in the tower, the Professor was “… very
pleased, very pleased indeed” with my book review. Whew: the rest would be easy.
We outlined my study for the coming year: the Zambezi Expedition of 1858 to 1864.
I welcomed the topic, with its time limitation. My family and I enjoyed the holiday
season.
In mid-February, the Professor advised me that the position of bibliographer of
Livingstone materials, under the National Library of Scotland, with support for two
years, was upcoming available. If I chose, he’d include me among the candidates. I
had Masters’ degrees in history (Minnesota) and librarianship (Rutgers), and we both
figured that given a chance, I might do it. Two months later I completed my second
written assignment. It was over 56 pages long, and that’s all I remember (!), except
that it was my introduction to African studies.
Sam’s comment was again brief: “very good.” I liked that: no fuss and
feathers. “Very good” requires no commentary.
In mid-June, after a tense interview in a room with a less-than-cordial
atmosphere, I was appointed Bibliographer to the David Livingstone Documentation
Project, supported also by the University of Edinburgh and a veritable host of other
entities: geographical societies, universities, churches, citizens, and all the rest. Here
came down Pennies from Heaven, enabling me to do Zambezi Expedition research
while fulfilling my obligations to the Project.
The yellow brick road extended forward. It was now and then to be rocky, as
all roads are.
Two years later, the first half of 1976, both projects were well in hand.
Assistant Keeper of Manuscripts for the National Library (Mr. I. C. Cunningham,
Project Secretary) did yeoman’s work with me, and the lion’s share of the Project
work was now desk work. Professor Shepperson, as Project Chairman, well advised
me of the “British” way of doing things (perhaps only half of which I internalized),
smoothed my way when necessary, and we had success. Two other Committee
members who rendered every possible aid, were Mr. William “Bill” Cunningham,

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