A Liberian Journey

Creator

Richard Pearson Strong

Date

9/17/26

Coverage

Monrovia, Montserrado County, Liberia

Transcription

July 17th.

I am trying to hurry up our official permits to allow us to go into the interior, and our gun licenses and spent some time yesterday at our legation and the Dept. of the Interior, and finally with the Secretary of State. Mr. Clarke is not disposed to take any steps to push the matter. He says we cannot leave until the President entertains us since he has expressed this wish. This of course is obvious. However, the President asked Mr. Clarke to let him know our plans and it seems to me that Mr. Clarke therefore could say that we were anxious to get into the interior and begin our work as soon as possible. The Secretary of State, Mr. Barclay, told me yesterday he would try and hasten things at the Dept. of the Interior. Mr. Barclay is said to be a fine musician - to play the violin, piano and organ well, and to have composed some good music. In my informal call upon him yesterday I talked of music a little before explaining our plans. He suggested it would be a good idea for us to make a study of the inhabitants of Congotown. The inhabitants of this town are the descendants of Congo slaves that were freed by one of our U. S. warships some years ago. They are looked down upon by the Americo-Liberians as none of these Congo slaves ever reached America and they therefore are regarded by the Americo-Liberians as a degenerate race.

The mail came in July 17th. I only received two letters, one from Boston from Nobechi, my student, saying the faculty had on my recommendation recommended him for the degree of Doctor of Public Health without examination. I am naturally very glad and sent him a postal expressing congratulations which I also got George S., Bequaert and Theiler to sign, as he had also studied with them. George S. got a letter from his father telling him of his election as President of the American Society of Tropical Medicine. George was of course greatly pleased and in his modest way came to me and said they had only made him President because I told them to. I replied they made him President because he deserved it, which he certainly does. He has had special experience in the P.I., in Serbia, South America and now Africa. I naturally recommended him to the officers and council of the society as a President and he was made Vice President two years ago. I wrote a postcard of congratulations to his dear mother and father, which all the men but George signed. I know it will please them. I am devoted to them as you know and have the highest admiration for them.

I have been to our legation again today and urged Mr. Clarke again. He has promised to try and do something about our permits and I have made a definite appointment with the Secretary of the Interior at 10 o’clock Monday. The men have worked hard in repacking all the tents and supplies, of course they have had servants to help make them into loads of 50-55 pounds. Bequaert is splendid in such work.

Dr. and Mme. Bouet called last evening, also Bishop Campbell. The former brought me a list of all his publications, which I am glad to have for reference. Mr. James L. Sibley, an American, came to see me a few days ago. Anson Phelps Stokes gave him a letter to me. He has been sent out here in connection with the Stokes Phelps Foundation, of which I believe Anson is chairman. Sibley is Adviser in West African education. He used to be in the educational department in the Philippine Islands. He asked me to look into the condition of some of the missions here. The American Lutheran Mission is one which he says has a large amount of illness. About half the staff are always away, either on leave or sick (at home). That of course is too high a percentage. He would like to have my opinion and advice. This society and affiliated missions are spending between $300,000 and $400,000 per year here. This morning I have had a letter from J. D. Curran asking me to visit the mission. He says, “Learning that you are interested in the bettering of the world and its conditions, I take the privilege of inviting you up to our mission. ... I am sorry our hospital is practically out of use just now, partly from lack of a doctor, but also because of building an addition.” How can one refuse such a flattering invitation? I really must look a little into where the $300,000 per year goes.

Type

Diary

Citation