David M. Foley papers

David Michael Foley was born in Springfield, Ohio on May 2, 1937. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Belmont Abbey College in 1959, a Master of Arts degree from Auburn University in 1961, and a Ph.D. in history from the London School of Economics in 1965. It was in 1965 when he moved to Sierra Leone to take a lecturing position at the University College in Sierra Leone, remaining there until 1967. While there, the Liberian government granted him special access to its national archives. During that trip, Dr. Foley took extensive notes concerning the state of the Liberian archives and later published an article in the African Studies Bulletin, entitled “Liberia’s Archival Collection.” From 1967 to 1977, he was assistant professor of history at the University of Georgia; and in 1977, he became the Associate professor of history at Augusta College. During his career, he has been a co-editor of the African Studies Journal, a member of the American Historical Association, and a fellow of the African Studies Association. Foley died on March 11, 2003 in Charlotte, NC.

The history of Liberia begins in 1822, when freed slaves from the United States sailed to the west coast of Africa to establish for themselves a refuge, free from slavery, racial prejudice and discrimination they experienced in the United States. Their efforts were financed mostly by church and philanthropic organizations; and especially the American Colonization Society.

However, upon their arrival in Africa, these “American-Africans” encountered native tribes, whom the American-Africans felt to be inferior. Most of the subsequent history of the new country was marked by the mutual distrust that the American-Africans and native Africans had for each other. The language, customs, religion and culture that these settlers brought with them were of a much more Euro-American influence, and were sources of division of the incoming settlers on the coast, and the natives, living inland. Ultimately, the American-Liberians (who constituted a very small minority) dominated the natives in politics and society.

The new government was established in 1847, and the Republic of Liberia was declared on July 26 of that year. Liberia, a term derived from European languages, means “Land of the Free,” and its capital, Monrovia, was named after James Monroe, who was president of the American Colonization Society at one time.

To a certain extent, it was the European’s recognition of the American-Liberian culture, society and political establishment that prevented European powers from overwhelming and colonizing it in the latter part of the nineteenth century.

For most of its history, especially its early history, Liberia was isolated from the rest of the world. This began to change in the twentieth century. In 1926, the Liberian government granted a contract (called a “concession”) to the Firestone Plantation Company—a decision that began the modernization process of the Liberian economy. During World War II, the United States extended a great deal of technical and economic assistance that increased the rate of economic, industrial and social change.