Lessons from Lambaréné. Part I.

Abstract

The following two-part article is Dr. Mattison's reflections on his experiences with Albert Schweitzer at Hôpital du Dr. Albert Schweitzer, Lambaréné, Gabon, Africa, from December of 1961 through April of 1963. Gabon, once a part of French Equatorial Africa, is located on the west coast of Africa. Dr. Mattison has chronicled and provided unique insight into Dr. Schweitzer's career and beliefs through both written text and photography. The photographs accompanying this article were taken by Joel and Jean Mattison, and are here borrowed from the archives at Princeton Theological Seminary. These and other photographs were recently complied in "Visiting Hours at Lambaréné: Photographic Reminiscences of Albert Schweitzer, 1961-1963" for an exhibition for the International Albert Schweitzer Colloquium in August of 1990 at the United Nations, in commemoration of the silver anniversary of Schweitzer's death.