|
United Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A. Commission on Ecumenical Mission and Relations. Secretaries' files: West Africa Mission, 1911-1965. Finding Aid to Record Group 142 13.00 cu.ft. |
|
|---|
ADMINISTRATIVE HISTORY
Presbyterian mission work in Africa commenced in 1833 and throughout the l9th century expanded to several different areas therein. These included: Liberia, 1833-94; Corsico, 1850-75; Spanish Guinea, 1865-1924, 1932: Gaboon, 1871-92; Ogowe, 1874-92; and the Cameroon, 1889-1972.
Presbyterians began moving into the southern and eastern interior of the Cameroon following its annexation by Germany in 1887. Batanga was opened by the missionaries in 1889, followed by Efulan in 1893, Elat in 1896, Metet in 1909, and Foulassi in 1916. Sakbayeme was taken over from the Baptists' Basle Mission in 1917. Yaounde was opened in 1922, Nkol Mvolan in 1928, Baffia and Edea in 1930, Momjepom in 1933, Ilanga in 1940, Libamha
and Ibong in 1947. Through evangelism, the establishment of churches, and the provision of educational and medical work, growth was steady and gradual. The national Church in the Cameroon continues to request personnel from America and other lands to assist in operating existing work and in extending the boundaries of the Christian Church.
The PCUSA established work as early as 1865 on the seacoast of what is now Spanish Guinea. Benito station was opened in 1865, followed by a second station at Bolondo in 1869. As a result of opposition from the Spanish government and economic difficulties, the work in Spanish Guinea was halted in 1924, but later reopened in 1932. In 1958, the Presbytery of Spanish Guinea, formerly associated with the Synod of the Presbyterian Church in Cameroon, separated from that body and became affiliated with the Synod of New Jersey in anticipation of becoming an independent church and presbytery.
SCOPE AND CONTENT NOTE
Record Group 142 documents the twentieth-century history of the West African Mission primarily from the bias of the Board of Foreign Missions, and to a lesser extent, its successor, the Commission on Ecumenical Mission and Relations, 1911-1965. The collection reflects the last, somewhat troubled years of mission work in Cameroon under the German Administration, the status of various Protestant Missions there during the First World War, and the development on new terms of Presbyterian Mission work under the French. The push through Cameroon's interior during the inter-war period is evidenced by the growth of remote mission stations with the general support of colonial officials who figure frequently in these files. The Mission's grasp upon the native through the use of the vernacular, despite government pressure to emphasize the French language, is a factor often discussed from the early twenties. Also notable among those topics/events dealt with is French Cameroon's independence in 1960, its impact upon the development of the Eglise Presbiterienne Cameroonaise, and the Church's relationship with the UPCUSA thereafter. Prior to 1965, RG 142 emphasizes primarily the events in the Cameroon, though some Spanish Guinea materials may also be found.
It is arranged as follows:
SERIES 1: MISCELLANY, 1914-1945 Box 1
SERIES 2: CORRESPONDENCE, 1911-1964
(alphabetical/chronological) Boxes 2-8
SERIES 3: REPORTS, 1911-1939
(chronological) Boxes 8-9
SERIES 4: MISSION INSTITUTIONS, 1919-1946 Box 9
SERIES 5: WEST AFRICA MISSION, 1940-1965 Box 9-10
(chronological)
NOTES TO THE RESEARCHER
Series 2 includes missionary "Dear Friends" letters to supporters at home and missionary publicity articles as well as other correspondence. This series contains a broad variety of information about the West Africa Mission and extends well beyond the confines of personnel files. Series 2 also contains some pre-1927 Executive/Treasurer correspondence.
Series 5 contains the following categories of materials:
a) executive committee minutes/actions
b) Native Presbytery/Synod minutes
c) miscellaneous property and budget papers
d) station letters
e) publicity articles contributed by missionaries
f) correspondence with Cameroon nationals
g) miscellaneous correspondence
From 1940 on, all categories of papers will be found in the unified yearly sequence in which they were arranged by the creating agency.
The calendars to the correspondence available in this collection are only partially reliable.
Related collections include several personal paper RGs of West Africa missionaries, as well as RGs 74 and 142, official records of the West Africa mission.
Collection processed and finding aid prepared: 1979
Robert Goldstein, Assistant Records Researcher
Notes added to finding aid: 1983
Frederick J. Heuser, Jr., Archivist
Finding aid revised: April 1992
Stephanie Muntone, Processing Archivist
Box Folder Description | ||
1 1 Finding Aid to Record Group 142
SERIES 1: MISCELLANEOUS, 1914-1945
2 German division of Kamerun with other Missions (Buea Conference, 1914, etc)--Correspondence, Agreement, Reports, 1912-14
3 War conditions, general conditions in Kamerun, Missionary correspondence w/Board, Relatives, 1912-17, Batanga Station Report, 1914-15
4 Incidents re Missionaries--Rev George Schwab, Rev JS Cunningham,
Dr Herbert Knight, 1913-14
5 German Missionaries--Status in wartime Kamerun, 1914-16
6 Mandingo Development Association, 1915-17
7 Entry of Missionaries, supplies into French Cameroon, Board correspondence w/ authorities, 1916-20
8 Proposed establishment of independent work at Jukaduma (Cameroon), Board correspondence, 1917
9 Conferences re Africa, Planning correspondence,
Background papers, 1917-18, 1932, 1940-41
10 Paris Missionary Society--Coordination of Cameroon work w/ Presbyterians, Basel Missionary Society– Transfer of property to other Missions, 1918-19, 1928
11 Phelps Stokes Fund, Africa Educational Commission
Deputation, Board involvement in planning, 1919-21, 1923-28
12 Roman Catholic Church--Problems created by for Mission in Cameroon, Correspondence (extracts), 1920-21
13 Kirschstein, Dr Johannes--Payment for medical services rendered Presbyterian Missionaries in Kamerun, Correspondence, 1920-22
14 Yaounde--Plans for opening new station, 1920-22
15 Status of Mission Educational Enterprise, Rights of Missionaries in Cameroon, 1920-7
16 Entry of Presbyterian Missionaries of German extraction into Cameroon, Board correspondence w/ French Consul General, 1920
17 Board Deputation to West Africa, 1920-2
18 Board Deputation--Minutes, Reports, Actions, Related correspondence, 1921-22
19 "List of Documents Regarding the Attitude of the Local Government toward the Work of the BFM in Cameroon," 1922 (incl, complete set of documents)
20 British Cameroons--Proposals for commencement of work, related matters, 1922-23
21 Ohio Africa Campaign--Correspondence, Financial papers, 1922-25
22-23 International Institute of African Languages and Cultures--organization of; The vernacular in Mission Education--Presbyterian support for, 1924-43
24 McKai Tribe (Metet) Work--Correspondence, 1924-34
25 Board Deputation to West Africa--Correspondence,
Backgr'd papers, Minutes, Reports, 1927-28
26 (Post-deputation correspondence) Colonial officials,
workers in Cameroon, Board correspondence, 1929
27 Centennial Conference/Celebration (WA Mission) (1934),
Planning correspondence, 1931-32
1 28 Corisco Presbytery, et al--Proposal for Expansion into "Synod of W Africa", Board correspondence, related correspondence,1933-35
29 Ngoumba Tribe--Petition for Mission instruction in
Ngoumba Language, correspondence, petition, etc,
1934
30 Paris Missionary Fellowship, Missionary French Language study, 1934-38
31 Mission Policy Review (proposed conference of 1940),
Board, Mission suggested outlines, 1939
32 Liberia, British Africa--Misc Board correspondence,
1926-64
33-34 African-Americans--Proposals for appointment to W
Africa Mission, Correspondence, Policy Statements
(various Boards), Reports, Backgr'd papers,
1894-1926
35 Conference on Appointment of African-American
Missionaries, 1927, Appointments to W Africa
Mission, 1927-28
36 African-American Missionaries on the Foreign Field, 1930-45
SERIES 2: CORRESPONDENCE, 1911-1964
2 1 Board Letters to Mission, unnumbered, 1914-5
2-21 Numbered, 1918-39
22 Treasurer's correspondence, 1926
23-35 Executive/Treasurer's correspondence, 1927-39
3 1 Miscellaneous Field correspondence/Background papers, undated
(includes Mission History)
2 1914-15, 1917-18
3-4 1919-20
5-16 1926-41
Station Letters, Miscellaneous Correspondence
3 17 Spanish Guinea (Benito Station, etc), 1911-51
18 Batanga/Benito, 1921-31
19 Efutan, 1906-34
20 Elat, 1906-41
21 Foulassi, 1920-28, nd
22 Metet, 1918-33, 1940
23 (McLean Memorial) Lolodorf/Olama, 1919-30, 1940
24 Sakbayeme, 1921-31
25 Yaounde Station, 1924-7
Missionary Personal Correspondence
3 26 Cowden, Rev/Mrs EC, 1921-22
27 Heminger, Clara, 1911-15
3 28 Heminger, Mrs LD, 1922-23
29 Hickman, Rev FDP, 1921-22
30 Hummel, Rev/Mrs RB, 1913
31 Laible, Miss Hilde, 1918
32 Lippert, Dr/Mrs AB, 1914, 1918-19
33 Mackenzie, Miss Jean, 1913-36
34 (retired) Reutlinger, Mrs ML/De Heer, Mrs RH, 1923-26
35-43 Calendared correspondence, 1911-19
4 1-6 1920-25
7 Non-calendared correspondence, 1925-26
8-9 1926, A-S
10-19 1927-29
20-22 1930, A-Z
5 1-15 1931-37, A-Z
6 1-18 1938-48, A-Z
7 1-14 1949-58, A-Z
15-18 1960-61, A-Z
19-20 1963, A-Z
8 1-4 1964-65, A-Z
5 Miscellaneous Missionary Personal correspondence, 1960-64
SERIES 3: REPORTS, 1911-39
8 6-11 Missionary Personal Reports, 1911-17
12-32 1919-39
33-34 1911-12--Station Reports to Mission
35 1913-14--Mission Annual Report, Station Reports to Mission, German version of Annual Report for colonial authorities)
36 1916--Summary Annual Report of the Stations
37-42 1917-22--Station Reports to Mission
43 1923--Mission Annual Report, Mission Survey Report
44 Station Reports to Mission (some quarterly)
45 1924--Station Reports to Mission
46 1925
47 1926--Mission Annual Reports, Station Reports to Mission
48 1927
49 1928--Mission Annual Report, Related Reports
50 Station Reports to Mission and Board
51 1928-29--Mission Educational, General Survey Reports
52 1929--Mission Annual Report, Station Reports to Mission
9 1-9 1930-38
10 1939--Treasurer's Report, Station Reports to Mission
SERIES 4: MISSION INSTITUTIONS, 1919-46
9 11 Mission Medical Institutions/Affairs, Correspondence,
Background papers, 1929-38
12-13 Central Hospital, Elat, 1919-46
14 Annual Reports, 1925-43
15 Schauffler Hospital, Efulan, 1919-22, 1931
16 Maternity Center, Sakbayeme, 1929-33
17 Halsey Memorial Press--Correspondence, Annual Reports, 1919-45
18 Hope School for Missionary Children--Correspondence,
Background papers, 1921-46, Annual Reports, 1927-43
19 Frank James Industrial School--Correspondence,
Financial papers 1922-30, 1943-6, Annual Reports 1924-45
20 Dager Biblical Seminary--Correspondence 1933-34, Annual Reports 1933-43
21 Institutions--Projects, Reports, 1911-19
22-24 1921-39
SERIES 5: WEST AFRICA MISSION, 1940-1965
1940
10 1 Board Circular Letters to furloughed Missionaries, Missionary Relatives, etc
2 Board correspondence with Allied Missionaries, Nationals
3 Executive Committee Actions, Minutes of the Inter-Missions Committee
4 Executive/Treasurer correspondence
5 Board Letters to Mission, #228-30
6 Mission Annual Report (Field Secretary), Station Reports to Mission, Institutions (Ed), Reports
7 Missionary Personal Reports, 1940
8 Miscellaneous Financial correspondence, 1940-42, 1944
9 Establishment of Cameroon National Church– minutes and correspondence,
1940-45
1941
10 10 Board Circular Letters to Furloughed Missionaries/
Relatives, Roll of Missionaries on Field
11 Board Correspondence with Allied Missionaries, Nationals
12 Executive Committee Actions
13 Executive/Treasurer correspondence
14 Board Letters to Mission #231-2
15 Mission Annual Reports, Station Reports to Mission, Institutions (Ed), Projects, Reports
16 Missionary Personal Reports
1942
10 17 Board Circular Letters to "Friends of the W Africa Mission"/Missionaries on Furlough, Background papers
re Missionaries, Stations
18 Executive/Treasurer correspondence
10 19 Executive Committee Actions, Mission Joint Conference with Native Church
Minutes
20 Board Letters to Mission, #233-5
21 Station and Personal Reports, Miscellaneous correspondence
re station work, Mission statistics
22 Allied Missionaries, Nationals--Correspondence, related papers
23 Rest Houses (Bangwa)--Correspondence
24 Board/Mission Africa Conference
25 Foreign Missions Conference, Otterbein Conference on Africa
26 Foreign Missions Conference, Africa Study Group, 1942-43
27 Africa Study Group--West Central Africa Regional Conference (Leopoldville), 1943-6
1943
10 28 Executive Committee Actions, Related correspondence
29 Executive/Treasurer correspondence
30 Board Letters to Mission, #236-9
31 Mission Annual Reports, Institutions (Ed) Reports, Missionary Personal Reports
32 Station Reports to Mission
33 Cameroon Christian College, Correspondence
34 Miscellaneous Background, Budget papers, 1943-44;
Mefoe MeMvok (newsletter for stateside WA Missionaries)
1944
10 35 Executive/Treasurer correspondence
36 Executive Committee, Actions
37 Board Letters to Mission, #240-2
38 Missionary Personal Reports
39 Reports--Mission Annual, Stations, Institutions
1945
10 40 Miscellaneous Background papers
41 Executive/Treasurer correspondence
42 Executive Committee, Mission (partial) Minutes
43 Board Letters to Mission, #243-5
44 Missionary Personal Reports, Station Report (Benito),
Property Committee Report
45 Miscellaneous Station correspondence
1946
10 46 Appropriations, Correspondence, Background papers
47 Executive/Treasurer correspondence
48 Executive Committee--Minutes, Actions
49 Board Letters to Mission, #246-7
50 Institutions (Ed, Med)--Reports
51 Mission Annual, Station Reports (statement in re,)
Missionary Personal Reports
52 Federation of Evangelical Missions of Cameroon and
Equatorial Africa, Board Minutes, 1944, 1946
10 53 Station work--Miscellaneous correspondence
1947
54 Missionary Reinforcements, Assignments
55 Executive/Treasurer correspondence, Executive Committee
Minutes
56 Miscellaneous correspondence, Background papers
57 Board Letters to Mission, #248-9
58 Reports--Mission Annual, Stations, Missionary
Personal
59 Institutions (Ed, Med)--Projects, Reports
60 Cameroon Christian College (Institutes Missions
Evangeliques)--Correspondence, Board Minutes/Report,
Related correspondence
1948
61 Correspondence, Background papers
62 Executive/Treasurer correspondence
63 Five-Year Plan
64 Miscellaneous correspondence, Background papers,
Property List
65 Institutions--Correspondence, 1948-49
66 Executive Committee--Minutes, Related correspondence
67 Cost-of-living
68 Board Letters to Mission, #250-1
69 Reports--Mission Annual, Station
70 Institutions (Ed)--Projects, Miscellaneous, Reports
1949
11 1 Executive Committee--Mission Meeting, Minutes, Related
correspondence
2 Board Letters to Mission, #252-4
3 New Life Movement
4 Cameroon Christian College
5 Halsey Memorial Press
6 Property
7 Institutions (Ed, Med, Miscellaneous)--Projects,
Reports
8 Station Reports to Mission, Mission Annual Reports,
Report of Board Secretary Visit to Mission
9 Station Letters, Miscellaneous Station correspondence
10 Churches
11 (W A Mission) Cost-of-living Survey, 1949-50; Report,
1951
12-13 Executive/Treasurer correspondence
14 Miscellaneous correspondence, Background papers,
Mission statistical summary, Address list of
Missionaries/Former Missionaries in America
1950
11 15 Executive/Treasurer correspondence
16 Field Administrator correspondence
17 Federation of Evangelical Missions of Cameroon and
Equatorial Africa, (partial) Minutes of Board Meeting
18 Mefoe Me Mvok newsletter, Cameroon Clippings circular letter,
Miscellaneous Background papers
19 Cameroon Christian College
20 Central Hospital (Elat)
21 Institutions--Projects, Correspondence, Background Papers
22 Executive Committee Minutes, Mission Meeting Minutes, Board correspondence
23 Property
24 Institutions (Ed, Med)--Projects, Reports
25 Mission Annual Reports, Station Reports to Mission
26 Board Letter to Mission, #225
1951
11 27 Donations through Board to Churches--Correspondence
28 Field Representative correspondence
29 Treasurer correspondence
30 Mefoe Me Mvok, Cameroon Clippings
31 Institutions Correspondence, Background papers
32 Mission Annual Reports, Miscellaneous Reports
33 Property
34 Board Letters to Mission, #256-7
35 Christian Community Services Questionnaire, Cameroon Mission Responses
1952
11 36 Audio-Visual/Radio
37 Field Administrator correspondence
38 Executive/Treasurer correspondence
39 Institutions, Projects, Correspondence
40 Executive Committee, Minutes/Actions
41 Property
42 Board Letter to Mission, #258
3 Mission Annual Reports, Station Reports to Mission
44 Institutions (Ed, Med)--Projects, Reports
45 Mefoe Me Mvok, Cameroon Clippings, Miscellaneous Background papers
1953
11 46 Appropriations and Estimates
47 Audio-Visual/Radio
48 Churches, Correspondence, Address, "Political and Protestant Development"
49 Field Administrator correspondence
50 Executive/Treasurer correspondence
51 Mefoe Me Mvok, Miscellaneous Background papers
52 Institutions Correspondence, Background papers
53 Cameroon Christian College, Correspondence
11 54 Executive Committee, Sub-comm, Minutes, Reports,
Related papers, Cameroon Clippings
55 Property
56 Board Letter to Mission #259
57 Mission Annual Reports, Station Reports to Mission
58 Institutions (Ed, Med) Reports
1954
11 59 Appropriations and Estimates
60 Audio-Visual/Radio
61 Churches
62 Field Representative correspondence
63 Treasurer correspondence
64 Cameroon Christian College, Correspondence, Board Minutes
65 Institutions, Correspondence, Background papers (Hope School)
66 Projects, Youth Work Camp, Correspondence
67 Property
68 Executive Committee Minutes/Actions
69 Miscellaneous Background papers
70 Mission Annual, Station Reports
71 Institutions (Ed, Med)--Projects, Reports
72 Board Letters to Mission #260-1
1955
11 73 Churches--Correspondence
74 Field Rep correspondence
75 Treasurer correspondence
76 Miscellaneous Background papers, Evangelical Federation of Cameroon and Equatorial Africa Board Meetings– Minutes, Annual Report
77 Institutions , Correspondence , Background papers
78 Cameroon Christian College
79 Executive Committee--Minutes, Medical Committee
Minutes, Cameroon Clippings, Related papers
80 Institutions (Ed, Med), Projects, Board Deputation, Church development, Reports
81 Station Reports to Mission
82 (Special) Africa Committee (re Medical Priority), Correspondence,
Background papers, 1954-5
1956
12 1 Africa Ad Hoc Committee
2 Churches
3 Treasurer correspondence
4 Field Representative correspondence
5 Africa Five-Year Plan
6 Miscellaneous Background papers
7 Cameroon Christian College
8 Cameroon Clippings
9 Property
10 Institutions Correspondence
12 11 Institutions Reports
12 Mission, Station Annual Reports
1957
12 13 Churches
14-15 Field Representative correspondence
16 Treas correspondence
17 Miscellaneous Budget, Background papers
18 Cameroon Christian College
19 Institutions--Correspondence, Background papers
20 Institutions--Projects, Reports
21 Cameroon Clippings, Executive Committee, Actions,
Miscellaneous Church-Mission Meeting Minutes
22 Property
23 Mission, Station, Presbytery Annual Reports
24 Missionary Personal Reports
1958
12 25 Churches, Weekly Bulletins of Cameroon Presbyterian Church
26-27 Executive/Treasurer correspondence
28 Treasurer correspondence
29 Miscellaneous Background papers
30 Theological Education in Africa
31 Cameroon Clippings, Miscellaneous Church Mission, Presbytery Minutes
32 Institutions, Correspondence, Background papers
33 Property
34 Missionary Personal Reports
1959
12 35 Churches, Presbyterian Church of Cameroon, Church in Spanish Guinea
36-37 Executive/Treasurer correspondence
38 Treasurer correspondence, Budget Background papers
39 Miscellaneous Background papers--Dr Blake's Africa trip
40 Cameroon Clippings, Miscellaneous Church-Mission, Presbytery Minutes
41 Institutions, Correspondence, Background papers
42 Property
43 Institutions, Reports
44 Stations, Reports
45 Missionary Personal Reports
1960
12 46 Churches--Presbyterian Church of Cameroon, Church in Spanish Guinea
47-48 Executive/Treasurer correspondence
49 Treasurer correspondence, Budget Background papers
50 Miscellaneous Background papers
51 Cameroon Clippings, Fraternal Workers' Maintenance
Committee Minutes, Related correspondence
52 Institutions, Correspondence, Background papers, Minutes
53 Property
1961
12 54 Appropriations and Estimates
55 Audio-Visual/Radio, Literature
56 Churches--Presbyterian Church of Cameroon, Church in Spanish Guinea
57-58 Executive/Treasurer correspondence
59 Treasurer correspondence
60 Miscellaneous Background papers
61 Fraternal Workers' Relations, Maintenance Committees, Minutes
62 Institutions, Correspondence, Background papers, Minutes
63 Property
64 Mission Annual Narrative Report, Miscellaneous Mission Reports
65 Missionary Personal Reports
1962
12 66 Audio-Visual/Radio
67 Churches--Presbyterian Church of Cameroon, Church in Spanish Guinea (Mission-Church relations, Background papers, Correspondence)
68 Presbyterian Church of Cameroon, Comprehensive
Board Background Paper re, UPCUSA-EPC Relationships,
13 1-2 Executive/Treasurer correspondence
3 Miscellaneous Background papers, Correspondence
4 Cameroon Clippings, Fraternal Workers' Relations,
Maintenance Committees, Minutes, Related correspondence
5 Cameroon Christian College
6 Institutions--Correspondence, Background papers
7 Property
8 Miscellaneous Mission Reports, Statistics
1963
13 9 Appropriations and Estimates
10 Audio-Visual/Radio, Literature
11-12 Presbyterian Church of Cameroon, Relations w/UPCUSA
13 Presbyterian Church of Cameroon, Information Bulletins
14 Presbyterian Church in Rio Muni (Spanish Guinea)
15-16 Executive/Treasurer correspondence
17 Rio Muni, Executive/Treasurer correspondence
18 Mefoe Me Mvok
19 Fraternal workers' Relations Committee Minutes,
EPC General Council Minutes, Related correspondence
20 Cameroon Christian College
21 (International School of Yaounde) Hope School,
Correspondence, Meeting Minutes, Constitution
22 Institutions--Correspondence, Background papers
23 Property
24 Miscellaneous Mission, Institution Reports, Statistics
1964
13 25 Appropriations and Estimates, Miscellaneous Financial papers
26 Audio-Visual/Radio
27-28 Presbyterian Church of Cameroon--Finances, Relations w/UPCUSA, etc, Correspondence, Minutes, Background papers/Reports
29 Presbyterian Church of Cameroon--Medical Department,
Medical Fraternal Workers, Correspondence, Reports, Minutes
30 EPC-UPCUSA Treasurer correspondence
31 Presbyterian Church in Rio Muni
32-33 Executive/Treasurer correspondence
34 Treasurer correspondence (Cameroon, Rio Muni)
35 Mission Narrative Survey, Fraternal Workers Quarterly Reports
36 Property
37 Fraternal Workers' Relations Committee--Minutes,
Related correspondence, Miscellaneous EPC Papers re Missions
38 La Semaine Cameroonaise/Journalism Project, Correspondence, Minutes
39 Fraternal Worker Annual Reports
40 Institutions--Correspondence
41 Cameroon Christian College
42 Central Hospital--Correspondence
43 International/Hope School, Correspondence
44 Projects--Correspondence
1965
13 45-46 Executive correspondence
47 Treasurer correspondence (Cameroon, Rio Muni)
48 Presbyterian Church of Cameroon--Correspondence, Background papers
49 Medical Department, Medical Fraternal Workers,
Correspondence, Minutes | ||