Visit to the UK National Archives

The primary goal of my research visit to the UK National Archives was to gather critical
primary source materials for my senior essay in History. My project examines how British racial
hierarchies influenced urban sanitation infrastructure in Nairobi and Hong Kong during the
period of high imperialism, specifically from 1899 to 1914. By comparing the urban
development of these two cities under British rule, my aim is to illuminate the ways in which
racial prejudice shaped colonial governance and sanitation policy.
Prior to the trip, I had identified several key collections in the National Archives under
the “Records of the Colonial Office” (CO) catalog that were essential to my research. These
included:
● CO 924: Acts, Ordinances, and Proclamations from the Colonies, Kenya
● CO 130: Acts, Ordinances, and Proclamations from the Colonies, Hong Kong
● CO 543: Records of Local Bodies of the Colonies, Kenya
● CO 133: Records of Local Bodies of the Colonies, Hong Kong
● CO 959: Private papers of high-ranking Colonial Office staff
During my visit, I reviewed a wide range of reports, correspondence, and administrative
records. Some of the most valuable finds in my research efforts included Sanitary Board
proceedings from the Hong Kong Government Gazette, which provided detailed accounts of the sanitary regulations enforced in Hong Kong and revealed the racialized logic behind sanitation
policies, as well as W. J. Simpson's “Report on Sanitary Matters in the East Africa Protectorate,
Uganda, and Zanzibar,” which documented sanitation initiatives in Nairobi and other parts of
East Africa and highlighted the racial assumptions guiding British approaches to disease control
and urban infrastructure.

Several key themes emerged from the materials. First, both Nairobi and Hong Kong’s
sanitation infrastructure evolved in ways that mirrored British racial attitudes. For instance,
ordinances in Nairobi often categorized residents by race, with distinct sanitary regulations
applied to different racial groups. Second, there was a marked disparity in the allocation of
resources to sanitation projects in Nairobi compared to Hong Kong. Documents from the
Colonial Secretary’s Office indicated that racial hierarchies influenced funding priorities, with
European enclaves receiving disproportionate attention and investment. Third, high-ranking
officials such as Charles Eliot in Kenya and James H. Stewart Lockhart in Hong Kong played
pivotal roles in shaping sanitation policies. The records revealed correspondence highlighting
their personal views on racial governance, which directly impacted urban planning decisions.
This trip was indispensable in advancing my senior essay. The primary sources I accessed
provided a robust foundation for my comparative analysis. The insights gained will enable me to
construct a nuanced argument about the intersection of race, governance, and urban development
in the British Empire. Additionally, this research contributes to broader scholarly discussions on
colonial urban planning and its long-term impacts on postcolonial cities.

Lastly, I would like to express my deep gratitude to the European Studies Council at the
MacMillan Center for funding this research trip. Special thanks also go to my advisor, Hannah Shepherd, for her guidance, and to the staff at the National Archives for their assistance during
my visit.