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Acknowledgments

Research for this book was assisted by grants from the Fulbright Program in 1995 that afforded me the opportunity to begin researching Josie Mpama in South Africa and from the International Research and Exchanges Board that allowed me to travel to Moscow for several weeks in 1998. Apollon Davidson facilitated my stay in Moscow, and his colleague Valentin Gorodnov walked me through the bureaucratic labyrinth to arrange for research permits and assisted in identifying relevant files at the Russian Center for the Preservation and Study of Contemporary History. They were generous hosts, and I cannot thank them enough for their support. Dan Johns arranged accommodation for me in Moscow and has been a constant source of encouragement.

I have benefited enormously from the comments of Julie Wells, Noor Nieftagodien, Iris Berger, Helen Hopps, Andre Odendaal, Elinor Sisulu, Russell Martin, and several anonymous reviewers of earlier versions of my manuscript. The remarkable Africana bibliographer and historian Peter Limb alerted me to several newspaper columns mentioning Stephen Mpama.

Librarians and archivists have been instrumental in identifying sources. Michelle Pickover and Gabriele Mohale of the Historical Papers Archive at Witwatersrand University and Najwa Hendrickse of the Cape Town campus of the National Library of South Africa have been especially helpful.

As I was conceptualizing this study, I profited from a seminar organized by Phil Bonner and Noor Nieftagodien at the Local History project at Witwatersrand University.

Sally Gaulle assisted me with preserving photographs from a Palmer family album. I thank her for her friendship and dedication to my project. Rita Potenza assisted with identifying additional photographic material.

I benefited from the cooperation and support of Josie Palmer’s children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren: Hilda Johnson, Francis Palmer, Carol Matsie, Lorraine Johnson, Bella Johnson, Belinda Palmer, Virginia Palmer, and Nicolai Allard.

Vusi Khumalo arranged for an interview with Lorraine Johnson.

I continue to rely on the support of the Department of African Studies at Howard University and the Department of Historical Studies at Stellenbosch University.

Throughout my professional life, I have enjoyed the support of a network of friends who have encouraged my research. I would like to thank Albert and Anna Mari Grundlingh, Gail Gerhart, Peter Limb, Brenda Randolph, Chris and Pam Saunders, David Ambrose, Robert Vinson, Anne Mager, Charles and Eileen Villa Vicencio, Sally Gaule, May McClain, Charlotte and Pioneer Nhlapo, Mbye Cham, Sehoai Santho, Motlatsi Thabane, Hilary Sapire, David and Manana Coplan, Mathews and Pinky Phosa, Tito Mboweni, Roger and Hilary Southall, Luyanda Msumza, Vangi Titi, Neo and Khabo Ramoupi, Tshepo Moloi, Bruce Murray, Anthea Josias, David Wallace, Trish and Greg Josias, Andre Odendaal, Zohra Ibrahim, Rehana Odendaal, Adam Odendaal, Nadia Odendaal, David and Polly Dean, and Ben Carton and his impi.

I salute the League of Extraordinary Gentlemen for managing to publish dozens of books without once using the word zombie in a title.

As always, I thank my son Leteane for beginning and ending every day with a smile.

Finally, I would like to express my appreciation of Gill Berchowitz of Ohio University Press, who has guided several of my publications to fruition. She has been a mentor whose vision has contributed to not only past and present generations of Africanists but also to the next one.