Guide to the Adolphus Clemens Good Papers

Descriptive Summary

Title

Adolphus Clemens Good Papers

Inclusive Dates

1882-1896

Call Number

RG 169

Creator(s)

Good, Adolphus Clemens, 1856-1894.

Quantity

0.50 cubic feet (1 box)

Language

Some materials in Bulu language

Restrictions on Access

Collection open for research

Digital Content

To browse this collection's digital content visit Pearl.

Repository

Presbyterian Historical Society, 425 Lombard Street, Philadelphia, PA 19147-1516 USA

Biographical Note / Administrative History

Biographical Note

Adolphus Clemens Good was appointed in 1882 by the Board of Foreign Missions to the West Africa Mission of the Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A. Initially assigned to the Baraka Station, he was transferred to the Ogowe River area in 1884 and spent the bulk of his career there. Assigned in 1892 by the BFM to explore the Batanga area, Dr. Good journeyed into the unexplored interior on three occasions. His first two journeys led to the selection of Efulen as the site of the first interior station. His third and most extensive journey resulted in the selection of Ebolewo as the second interior station. While on a fourth journey in 1894, Dr. Good contacted blackwater fever and died shortly after his return to Efulan. In addition to his work as a teacher and evangelist, Dr. Good studied bird and animal life in the Ogowe Valley and in the Cameroon, as well as the ethnology and religious beliefs of various West African tribes. He also prepared a text on Bulu grammar which was published posthumously.

Collection Overview

Record Group 169 contains materials that document Dr. Good's African experiences. Of particular value are his journals and notes, his papers on the religious beliefs of the Gabwa and the role of women among the Bulu and miscellaneous Bulu language items. The collection also consists of various personal items, scattered correspondence and approximately twenty condolence letters sent to his widow, Lydia B. Walker Good.

Series I includes journals covering the following years: September 1882 - February 1884, 1885-1890, and 1890-1891. It also includes the following papers and notes: "The Religious Ideas of the Gabwa," 1891 ; "Woman's Place and Lot among the Bulu," 1892?; "Notes on a voyage to Liberia," 1892; and "Notes on Second Journey from Batanga to Nyahitande," 1892. There is also an undated list of Bulu words for tribal families. Series II includes Dr. Good's marriage and ordination certificates, 1882-1883; miscellaneous correspondence, 1882; and condolence letters, 1894-1896.

All materials are arranged chronologically by year.

Organization and Arrangement

SERIES I: JOURNALS/MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS, 1882-1892

SERIES II: CORRESPONDENCE /MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS, 1882-1896

Alternative Formats

To browse this collection's digitized content visit Pearl.

Administrative Information

Processing Information

Collection processed and finding aid prepared: 1984
Frederick J. Heuser, Jr., Archivist

Catalog Headings

The following headings have been used to index the description of this collection in the society’s electronic catalog.

Personal Name Subject

Good, Adolphus Clemens, 1856-1894.

Corporate Subject

Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A. West Africa Mission.

Topical Subject

Missionaries--Africa.

Presbyterian Church--Missions--Africa, West.

Presbyterian Church--Missions--Congo (Democratic Republic)

Presbyterian Church--Missions--Gabon.

Presbyterian Church--Missions--Cameroon.

Gabonese--Religion.

Bulu (African people)--Social life and customs.

Bulu language--Texts.

Geographic Subject

Africa, West--Missions.

Gabon--Missions.

Congo (Democratic Republic)--Missions.

Cameroon--Missions.

Genre-form

Diaries. aat

Correspondence. aat

Personal Added Name

Good, Lydia Belle Walker, 1856-1924.

Corporate Added Name

Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A. West Africa Mission.

Collection Inventory

Box	Folder	Description	Alternative Formats

		SERIES I: JOURNALS/MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS, 1882-1892

1	1	Finding Aid to RG 169
1	2	Journal, 1882 September-1884 February (transcript included)	Digital
1	3	Journal/miscellaneous notes (v.1), 1885-1890	Digital
1	4	Journal/miscellaneous notes (v.2), 1890-1891	Digital
1	5	Paper, "The Religious Ideas of the Gabwa," 1891	Digital
1	6	Paper, "Woman's Place and Lot Among the Bulu," 1892?	Digital
1	7	Journal, "Notes on a Voyage to Liberia," 1892	Digital
1	7a	Journal, "Notes of Journeys About Batanga," 1892	Digital
1	8	Journal, "Notes on Second Journey from Batanga to Nyahitande," 1892	Digital
1	9	List, Bulu words for tribal families, undated	Digital

		SERIES II: CORRESPONDENCE/MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS, 1882-1896

1	10	Marriage and ordination certificates, 1882-1883	Digital
1	11	Miscellaneous correspondence, 1882	Digital
1	12	Condolence letters to Lydia B. Walker Good, 1894-1896	Digital

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Guide to the Adolphus Clemens Good Papers

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