The Jean Jenkins Archive

Available for over a year

Lucy Duran heads to the National Museum of Scotland to explore the archive of pioneering ethnomusicologist Jean Jenkins. Curated by the Keeper of World Cultures Henrietta Lidchi, the NMS has recently opened its Jean Jenkins collection to the public, incorporating her musical instrument collection, diaries, hundreds of field recordings and radio archive. Producer Peter Meanwell. Jenkins travelled widely throughout Africa and Central Asia between the 1950s and 1980s creating exceptional recordings, and taking detailed notes. She was a key figure in laying the ground for the contemporary world music scene, and as well as a fascinating insight into traditional music from around the world, her archives reveal a larger than life woman, who fled McCarthy, was friends with Haile Selassie and who was meticulous, packing silk handkerchiefs and girdles whenever she travelled.