Working in the vegetable gardens, Livingstonia, ca.1920

“Afternoon work of pupils at Overtoun Institution.” Exterior view of a number of indigenous men and women hoeing a vegetable patch. Pupils studied trades as well as academic subjects, many training to be catechist and preachers, the intention had been to develop the school into a university, although this was not fulfilled until 2003, at the time the Institution was thought to provide some of the best education in the region. ❧ The Livingstonia mission station was established in 1891 by Dr Robert Laws (1851-1934) when he travelled north from Bandawe to set up a Training Institution and Industrial Mission. It was situated four miles from Lake Nyasa at Khondowe on a high plateau behind Mount Waller. As well as the school, hospital and accommodation, there were workshops for carpentry, printing and engineering, and mills, brickworks and a pottery. The Overtoun Institution was named after John Campbell White, Baron of Overtoun (1843-1908) who was a Convener of the Livingstonia Mission and a major financial contributor. The purpose of the instruction was to provide Christian leaders for the expanding mission and to develop commercial activities and encourage trade.