Nina T— is described by Alfred Aloysius Horn in his memoirs, Trader Horn. Albert Schweitzer also mentions her in his African Notebook, where he refers to her as Lola. They report that a member of a prominent English family, George T— ran away to Africa where he married, had children, and experienced a number of adventures. He met his end at the hands of a witch doctor, and his daughter - named Nina or Lola - was raised by a native tribe as a priestess of the cult of Izaga.
In Tarzan Alive, Philip José Farmer reveals that George was the eldest son of the 12th Baron Tennington, head of the Rutherford family. Nina is a member of the Wold Newton Family through her grandparents.