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American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions. Missionary Memoirs. Papers, Records 1804-1964, bulk dates

Records, 1804 - 1994

6 cubic feet

RG 1200

Processed by Jessica Steytler, July 2000

Wider Church Ministries, UCC permission required

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Introduction

There are many collections regarding the American Board/United Church Board. Harvard University holds the majority of ABCFM documents and records.

For more information on the ABCFM, see the Congregational Library card catalog. The Congregational Library holds a large collection of ABCFM printed pamphlets arranged by the country. The Congregational Library also has a microfilm copy of the ABCFM archives; see Papers of the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions: Documents Administered by the Houghton Library of Harvard University. Guide to the Microfilm Collection (Woodbridge, Ct. : Research Publications International, 1994) for a name and missionary substation index to the microfilm. Note that this index is a quick source of birth and death dates and missionary lists. The Panopolist and Missionary Herald periodicals printed letters and reports received by the ABCFM headquarters. Note that the Congregational Library maintains a fairly complete card personal name index to these periodicals and that each volume of the periodical contains an extensive personal name and geographic name index. For photographs of the ABCFM offices while they were located in Congregational House, 14 Beacon Street, Boston, Mass., see the American Congregational Association records (RG 0004), series M.

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Historical Note

The American Board was of Commissioners of Foreign Missions was organized by the General Association of formed in 1810 "for the purpose of devising ways and means, and adopting and prosecuting measures, for promoting the spread of the gospel in Heathen lands." The first missionaries sailed for Calcutta, India in 1812; since that date thousands of regularly appointed missionaries and shorter term workers have been sent out under Board auspices.

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Scope and Content

4 out of 7 boxes contain missionaries' memoirs (Series A). The bulk of the dates range from 1900 - 1960, although there are a number of memoirs that range from 1804 - 1899. The dates may be a bit misleading, as they often reflect the lifespan of the missionary. If it was possible, the dates attached to the memoirs were those in which the missionary was abroad. The majority of 19th century memoirs are from the 1870s - 1890s. The folders are arranged in alphabetical order, according to the missionary's last name, regardless of who wrote the account.

Countries:

Series B contains the records collected by Fred F. Goodsell. Goodsell was the Executive Vice President of the ABCFM (dates). There are four volumes of "Important Documents, 1930 - 1963" that Goodsell kept during his tenure as Executive Vice - President. Following these documents are histories and workbooks compiled by Goodsell.

Finally, Series C is records from the Congregational Christian Service Committee. The dates range from 1940 - 1964, plus a Library List from 1984. The first section of the series is minutes of meetings and annual reports. There is a file of the History of the CCSC, 1947 and a scrapbook from the "Heifer Project, 1959."

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Folder List

Series A - Missionary Memoirs

Ballou, Earle Hoit China

Ballou, Thelma China, 1864 - 1903

Barnum, Henry and Helen Turkey, 1864 - 1903

Bauer, Alby A. India, 1926 - 1967

Beals, Mary (3) South Africa, 1938 - 1942

Beruit Missionaries, Bliss - Dodge - Jessup Genealogy 1827 - 1904

Buck, Theresa South Africa, 1948 - 1964

Bucher, Olive (6) China, n.d.

Bunker, Fred South Africa, 1892

Burling, Katherine White Turkey, 1900 - 1915

Cathcart, Lillie S. 1884

Carter, Minnie E. Africa, 1916 - 1956

Cary, Alice Hawaii, 1941 - 1944

Cary, Frank Manila/Philippines, 1945

Clapp, Sara China, ca. 1878 - 1889

"Love's Call to China," by Dorothea Smith Coryell, 1879 - 1923

Cook, Margit M. Vadala/India, 1956 - 1965

"I Married a Saint, What is a Saint?" (India) 1947 - 1982

Compton, Carl Turkey, 1913 - 1958

Cotton, Gertrude Jacobs Africa, 1889 - 1891

Copp, Charles Japanese internment camps, 1942

Coryell, Dorothea China, 1977

"Small Mouse Person in China", n.d.

"Recollections…" n.d.

Cross, Rowland, M. China, 1917 - 1953

Box 2

Dart, Ruth "From Rhodesia With Love," 1911 - 1917

Dille, Carl and Lois Angola, 1938 - 1966

de Vargas, Dora n.d. [in French]

Dirney, Helen China, 1920 - 1950

Donaldson, Franklin Rhodesia, 1974

Douglas, Leonone Bulgaria/Turkey, ca. 1911 - 1949

Downs, Lucille Japan, 1945 - 1947

Engstrom, Richard Marshall Islands, 1978 - 1986

Feierabend, Herman (2) 1889 - 1971

Galt, Edith J. Korea, 1955

Gilbert (16) China, 1925 - 1941

Box 3

Gillett, Clarence and Marron Japanese Relocation, 1941 - 1948

Gray, Mary W. Tyler South Africa, nd.

Hammaker, Margaret (4) India, 1933 - 1963

Hausske, Albert C. "In the Shadow of the White Pagoda" (China), 1920 - 1950

Heinnger, Alfred China, 1922 - 1923

Heinrich, John "The Mission from Where I Sit" 1965

Hoisington, Nancy Lyman India/Ceylon, 1804 - 1878

Hollady, William "Is the Old Testament Zionist?" 1968

Houston, Lyda China, 1924 - 1950

"Adventure in Friendships, Fukien" China, 1932 - 1942

Howe, Annie Lyon Japan, 1887 - 1927

Husted, Edith India, 1942 - 1945

Iseley, Merrill Turkey, 1962

Judd, Walter China, 1920s

Kies, Lydia India, 1921 - 1937

Mathhews, Alden and Derrith China, 1982

Mellen, Laurana and Gracie (2) South Africa, 1851

Meyer, Hulda D. India, 1921 -

Miller, Gene E. Jamaica, 1991

Palmer, Annette Ponape, 1884 - 1906

Porter, Lillian Dudley China, 1957

Reed, Alice C. China, 1916 - 1942

China, 1916 - 1948

Reuling, Eleanor Swanson (2 copies) "Springtime in Africa" 1920s - 1940

Riggs, Grace Frederick China, 1916 - 1953

Robinson, Hugh and Olga China, 1925 - 1974

Box 4

Sano - Gerber, Anne "Getting to Know the Japanese"

Saunders, Minnie (4) West Angola, 1882 - 1891

Schneder, Anna M. "Power of God Unto Salvation." Japan, 1887 - 1941

Schroer, Gilbert and Cornelia "We Two" Japan, 1922 - 1972

Seabury, Ruth Africa, 1952

Shrader, Elizabeth (4) China, 1926 - 1932

Seybold, Theodore India, 1913 - ca. 1947

Skog, Katharine (3) Japan, 1927 - 1963

Snyder, Grace China, n.d.

Stone, Seth B. South Africa, 1850 - 1875

Taylor, Alan B. Africa, n.d.

Whitener, Sterling H. China, 1950 - 1951

Whitaker, Burdette and Mattie "Mother and Daddy's Story," by Frances Riggs, China, 1994

Wiley, Martha China, 1900 - 1947

Wilson, Eleanor Marshall Islands, 1946 - 1949

Ussher, Clarence Wyoming, 1893

Wood, Agnes (2) Africa, 1929 - 1965

Africa, 1929 - 1984

Wright, Mary P. Turkey, 1881,1903,1906

Series B - - Records Collected by Fred F. Goodsell

Box 5

List of Missionaries, Near East n.d.

Master Roll of Missionaries, Near East 1820 - 1970

Goodsell Papers, Vol. I (4) 1820 - 1970

Goodsell Vol. II (4) 1930 - 1963

Goodsell Vol. III (4) 1930 - 1963

Goodsell, Supplemental (4) 1930 - 1963

Historical Sketches of Higher Educational Institutions Related

to the American Board (3) 1959

Workbook on Zulu Missions (2) 1962

History of the Near East Mission

of the American Board (2) 1976

Workbook on Southern Rhodesia 1955

Scrapbook, American University

of Beirut 1921 - 1922

Major Steps Toward the Fulfillment of our Christian World Mission, A History of the ABCFM (3) 1810 - 1960

Series C - - Congregational Christian Service Committee

Box 6

Executive Committee for the Assistance to War Victims, Minutes

1940 - 1943

CCSC, Minutes (2) 1947 - 1951

Board of Directors, Minutes (2) 1951

Executive Minutes 1952

Minutes/Financial Statements (2/year ea.) 1955 - 1961

By - Laws 1962

Minutes (2) 1963

Minutes (2) 1964

Allocations Committee (2) 1949 - 1952

Allocations (2) 1952 - 1954

Allocations 1953 - 1955

Audits 1941 - 1955

Box 7

History of the CCSC (2) 1947

CCSC in the 60s

Reports (2) 1960s

Development Foundation of Turkey 1978

Library List 1984

Scrap Book, Heifer Project 1959

Oversize

Architectural Drawings: Pearl Harbor Memorial Church (In flat file in RBR)