2019/004

This collection covers Dorothy Myers' time in Kenya in the 1960s-1970s, and that of her parents from 1956. Dorothy's photographs were taken in the course of her work in the town planning department of Nairobi City Council, during the 1960s. Also included are a small number of printed volumes relevant to her work. Also contained in the collection are a set of films taken by her parents, Frank and Amy Halliman. These reflect the Hallimans' time in Kenya during the late 1950s to early 1960s where they worked for the colonial service in education, and include the visit of Dorothy in 1957.

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Collection

Dorothy Myers was born Dorothy Halliman in 1936, only daughter of Frank and Amy Halliman. Her father took up a teaching post in Nairobi in 1956 and Dorothy joined them soon after graduating from the London School of Economics (Geography) in 1959. During the 1960s Dorothy worked in the Town Planning department of Nairobi City Council, submitting a thesis on suburban renewal in Kibera as part of the requirements for membership of the Royal Town Planning Institute. She published several articles, and her 1965 article "The City of Nairobi" (with W.T.W. Morgan) is still referred to today. In 1965, Dorothy married the photographer and environmentalist Norman Myers; their two daughters grew up in Kenya until the family moved to Oxford in 1982. The Myers' built up a photographic business specialising mainly in wildlife, which helped to support them while Norman pursued his scientific research. He pursued his environmental interests until his death in 2019 and enjoyed international recognition for his far-sighted ideas, especially on biodiversity.