Gwendolen M. Carter

She contracted polio at home as a child, losing the use of her legs for life despite therapy and the care of her physician father.

At Oxford, she served as ceremonial "mayoress" for a day (her uncle was the Mayor at the time) and had a photograph taken as a memento (See image at right).

Through many years of her professional life, she maintained personal correspondence with leading figures such as Julius Nyerere, Seretse Khama, Gatsha Buthelezi, Steve Biko, and Helen Joseph.

Carter's frequent research trips to South Africa resulted in many publications, several of which have become classics in both political science and African studies.

Northwestern University offers a scholarship in her name (along with that of Kofi Annan, former Secretary General of the United Nations).