The Nora Mitchell Collection

Nora's travels began as a young girl, in Great Britain, with day trips to Epping Forest, Burnham Beach, and Westminster. She kept a travel log etched with names of the places she visited over the holidays. No further details are provided, but the worn-out passports and endless lists of countries and towns that span her lifetime from 1920 to 2002. All speak of Nora's love of travel.

Nora belonged to a part of the Lutheran Mission. She was first stationed as a teacher, in 1956, at a mission school at Vadakangulam, near Nagercoil in Tamil Nadu. There she taught the children religious studies and physical education. During her mission year, Nora learned Tamil to converse and teach the women in the villages around Vadakangulam. She used to visit Kodaikanal over the weekends, and developed a great fondness for hiking and picnics with fellow missionaries.

In 1963, due to her indisposition, she had to move to Kodaikanal, and here she taught World History, German, Indian Social studies, and, later, Indian Geography, and Indian Philosophy at Kodai School. During her time at School, she involved her students in many field trips to help them understand India’s history, geography, and culture.

Nora's collection of photos speak the words she did not write down in her travel logs. Going through Nora's photos feels as if one had the opportunity to get into a time machine; the places, architecture, faces captured, remain engraved in our minds, and we have insight into who Nora was and how she saw the world.

These photo albums were gifted to Kodaikanal International School after her death. They remain as part of her legacy to all students old and new at KIS.