Davidson Nicol: A man of many careers
To celebrate Black History Month in Oct 2020 staff at Churchill Archives Centre explored the papers of Davidson Nicol (1924-1994), a diplomat who was educated in Nigeria, Sierra Leone and later at Cambridge University and London University. Before becoming a diplomat Nicol had careers in medical science and education.
When preparing for Black History Month there were really not many collections to choose from – in fact this is the only collection in the Churchill Archive which was created by a Black person! The collections of the Archive Centre reflect mainly 20th century political, scientific and military leadership, so are inevitably non-diverse with the majority of collections belonging to white men.
The Archives Centre is a collecting institution so we have the opportunity to diversify our collections going forward to reflect changes in leadership within society, and we are actively pursuing this. We are also committed to looking for diverse stories in our collections and presenting these via our social media channels. As the new head of the Sir Winston Churchill Archives Trust, Lord Boateng stated “I [and we] hope that this hugely significant Archive Centre will come to be seen as a place where many different stories are heard not all of them yet written but where all are respected.”
Davidson Nicol (on left), undated
From the papers of Davidson Nicol, NICL Box 11
Davidson Nicol was born in Freetown, Sierra Leone in 1924, and spent part of his childhood in Nigeria. He taught science at the Prince of Wales School in Freetown before winning a scholarship for Christ’s College in Cambridge.
Nicol graduated from Cambridge with a first class honours degree in Natural Sciences in 1947. He went on to gain a medical degree from London University, was appointed a lecturer at Ibadan University medical school in Nigeria (1952) and conducted research into tropical malnutrition.
Davidson Nicol (on right) [possibly whilst a student at Christ’s College Cambridge in the mid-1940s].
Photograph taken by H H Tansley, Burlington Studios, Sheringham and Cromer (Norfolk)
The Papers of Davidson Nicol, NICL Box 11
In 1957 Nicol returned to Christ’s College Cambridge as a Fellow to work on the structure of insulin. He was the first to analyse the breakdown of insulin in the human body which was a breakthrough for the treatment of diabetes.
Nicol was the first black African Cambridge Fellow and also the first black African to graduate with a first class honours degree.
In 1958, Nicol returned to Sierra Leone and worked for the Government as a pathologist until 1960.
Photograph of (left-right): the Sierra Leone Minister for Health, Dr Davidson Nicol (Senior Pathologist) and Dr Abayonin-Cole (Principle Medical Officer). Waiting to welcome guests at the Sierra Leone reception Geneva, 10 May 1960.
From the Papers of Davidson Nicol, NICL Box 11
In 1960, Nicol became Principal of Forah Bay College in Sierra Leone, which was receiving British Government support (in preparation for Sierra Leone’s independence in 1961). The College had been associated with Durham University since 1876, and became part of the newly founded University of Sierra Leone.
Davidson Nicol was awarded a CMG (Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George) by the British Government for his leadership of the College.
Queen Elizabeth II visiting Forah Bay College, Sierra Leone, in 1961. NICL Box 11
Davidson Nicol, Principal of Forah Bay College, with Queen Elizabeth II during her visit to the College in 1961. NICL Box 11
After a scientific career, and a career as an educational leader Davidson Nicol tackled diplomacy next.
As Sierra Leone Ambassador to the United Nations (appointed in 1969), Nicol received a copy of the responses that United States President Nixon made to the Black Caucus, via the United States Representative to the United Nations (George Bush, later President).
Letter from George Bush (United States Representative to the United Nations). From NICL Box 10
One page from responses that United States President Nixon made to recommendations from the Black Caucus. From NICL Box 10
Davidson Nicol was part of the United Nations Special Committee on the situation with regard to the implementation of the Declaration on the granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples, also known as the Special Committee on Decolonisation or C-24.
Report on “Implementation of the declaration on the granting of independence to colonial countries and peoples by the specialized agencies and the international institutions associated with the United Nations”, 30 Jun 1970. From NICL Box 10
![[Davidson Nicol’s] delegate badge from a meeting of the United Nations Special Committee on Decolonisation, in Algiers. From NICL Box 10](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f327a1eafa1f910a1b2baa9/1605105491119-H7XIFCSVA6BRTZZKOK6U/NICL+Box+10+badge.jpg)
[Davidson Nicol’s] delegate badge from a meeting of the United Nations Special Committee on Decolonisation, in Algiers. From NICL Box 10
Nicol was chairman of the United Nations Security Council in 1970-1971
Nicol with Dr Gunnar Jarring, the United Nations Secretary-General’s representative, following discussions on the peace proposals in the Middle East. Sept 1970
From the Papers of Davidson Nicol, NICL Box 4
United Nations Security Council meeting at which they demanded complete and immediate withdrawal of all Israeli forces from Lebanon, New York, 5 Sep 1970
From the Papers of Davidson Nicol, NICL Box 5
In 1971, Nicol headed to London as High Commissioner for Sierra Leone, but he returned to the United Nations in 1972 as Under-Secretary-General and as Director of the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR).
Not only did Davidson Nicol have careers in medical science, education and diplomacy, he also actively pursued historical research and literature.
As Abioseh Nicol he published collections of short stories in 1965 (‘The Truly Married Woman’ and ‘Two African Tales’) and contributed poems to the anthology ‘Modern African Poetry’ (1982).
Nicol gave a series of lectures at the University of Ghana which were published as ‘Africa: a Subjective View’ in 1964. He published several articles based on his historical research and after retirement in 1983, Nicol continued his historical work and held visiting fellowships at North American universities.
Published in 1965
Photograph of Davidson Nicol “an interested observer of presidential election polls located at Temple University’s suburban Ambler Campus” outside of Philadelphia, United States. Reproduced with kind permission of Special Collections Research Center, Temple University Libraries. From NICL Box 5
Nicol was visiting lecturer at the Ambler Campus (4-5 Nov 1968) where he spoke on “American contributions to Africa in the 20th Century”.
The Papers of Davidson Nicol are not yet catalogued but we welcome enquiries and are planning future work to make the collection available.
If you have any queries about the Nicol papers or any of our other collections please get in touch.