This finding aid is made available for public use following the Universal 1.0 Public Domain Dedication Creative Commons designation.
This collection is open for research.
Onsite storage.
Formerly part of the independent Missionary Research Library (MRL), these records were accessioned by the Burke Library at the time of the MRL's closure in 1976.
This collection is arranged in one chronological series.
The Rhenish Missionary Society from Germany was formed in September 1828 as a unification of the Elberfeld Missionary Society of 1799; the Barmen Missionary Society of 1818; the Wesel Missionary Society of 1822; and the Cologne Missionary Society of 1822. It was officially recognized by the King of Prussia in June 1829. The RMS was the largest of the German Protestant Missionary Societies. Along with Southern Africa, it was established in Borneo, China, Batakland/Sumatra, Nias and New Guinea.
The RMS had a tempestuous relationship with South Africa; however the time from 1894 to 1904 was relatively peaceful. This sharply ended with the Herero uprisings of 1904. Over the next ten years leading to World War I, Germany increased its military presence in Africa to maintain peace. During this time, the number of converts increased dramatically, as did the number of missionaries. The RMS began to focus their efforts in places other than South Africa.
In 1971, the RMS merged with the Bethel Mission to form the Vereinigten Evangelischen Mission (United Evangelical Mission).
The RMS had a tempestuous relationship with South Africa, however the time from 1894 to 1904 was relatively peaceful. This ended with the Herero uprisings of 1904. Over the next ten years leading to World War I, Germany increased its military presence in Africa to maintain peace. During this time, the number of converts increased dramatically, as did the number of missionaries. The RMS began to focus their efforts in places other than South Africa. In 1971, the RMS merged with the Bethel Mission to form the Vereinigten Evangelischen Mission (United Evangelical Mission).
Missionary Research Library Archives: MRL1, Africa
Item description, MRL1: Rheinische Missiongesellschaft Reports, 1897-1912, box #, folder #, The Burke Library at Union Theological Seminary, Columbia University in the City of New York.
Materials were placed in new acid-free folders. Acidic items were separated from one another by interleaving with acid-free paper as needed. Items in an advanced state of deterioration were placed in Mylar envelopes. The finding aid was created by Brigette C. Kamsler in 2011 with the support of the Henry Luce Foundation, and edited by Leah Edelman in 2020.
This series contains copies of handwritten and typed reports, in German, from the Rheinische Missionsgesellschaft (Rhenish Missionary Society) missionaries located in Southern Africa, Borneo, Sumatra, Nias and New Guinea. Reports discuss progress, experiences of other missionaries, as well as events in each location, such as the Herero uprisings of 1904 in South Africa. The majority of reports are written by J. Spiecker, with others interspersed from such people as G. Haussleiter and R. Wegner.
Some material in this collection may be protected by copyright and other rights. Information concerning copyright, fair use, and reproduction requests can be consulted at Columbia's Copyright Advisory Office.
This series is open for research.
This series is arranged chronologically.
This series contains copies of handwritten and typed reports, in German, from the Rheinische Missionsgesellschaft (Rhenish Missionary Society) missionaries located in Southern Africa, Borneo, Sumatra, Nias and New Guinea. Reports discuss progress, experiences of other missionaries, as well as events in each location, such as the Herero uprisings of 1904 in South Africa. The majority of reports are written by J. Spiecker, with others interspersed from such people as G. Haussleiter and R. Wegner.