David Livingstone papers, 1856, 1957

Creator:
Livingstone, David, 1813-1873
Abstract:
David Livingstone was a Congregationalist medical missionary assigned to Africa by the London Missionary Society. The collection contains a letter written to the London YMCA and a poster of reprodutions of postcards from the Scottish National Memorial to Livingstone in Blantyre, Scotland.
Extent:
0.25 linear feet 0.25 linear feet; 1 box
Language:
English .
Scope and content:

This collection contains an original letter from Livingstone to the Young Men's Christian Association (YMCA) at the Mission House in London, and a poster depicting reproductions of postcards from the Scottish National Memorial to Livingstone in Blantyre, Scotland.

Biographical / historical:

David Livingstone was born in 1813 to Agnes and Neil Livingstone in Scotland. From an early age, Livingstone endeavored to be a medical missionary, and after completing his training and education he arrived in Cape Town in 1840 representing the London Missionary Society. One of his best known adventures occurred in February 1844 when he was attacked by a lion. Livingstone married Mary Moffat, daughter of missionary Robert Moffat, in 1845. Together they had six children. For a stretch of sixteen years, Livingstone traveled and performed medical missionary duties throughout Africa, returning to England in 1856. In 1857, Livingstone resigned from the London Missionary Society to focus on exploring as opposed to missionary work. Livingstone was appointed Consul in the District of Quilimane on the Eastern Coast of Africa. His expeditions were funded by the Royal Geographical Society of England from 1858 to 1864. It was during this time that his book, Missionary Travels, was published. Livingstone again returned in Africa in 1866 for further exploration. Livingstone died of malaria and dysentery in Africa in 1873.

Access and use

Restrictions:

This collection is open for research.

Onsite storage.

Terms of access:

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Preferred citation:

Item description, MRL1: David Livingstone papers, 1856, 1957, box #, folder #, The Burke Library at Union Theological Seminary, Columbia University in the City of New York.

Location of this collection:
Burke Home Page
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