George N. Burleigh diary, 1888

Summary Information

Abstract

George N. Burleigh was a New York City resident who served as a Christian missionary in Cape Town, South Africa. This collection contains a handwritten diary detailing his work in Cape Town in 1888.

At a Glance

Arrangement

Arrangement

This collection is arranged in one series in original order.

• George N. Burleigh diary, 1888

Description

Scope and Contents

This collection contains the handwritten diary of missionary George N. Burleigh, detailing his work in South Africa in 1888, the year he turned twenty. The 230 page diary includes entries for every day of that year, and describes Burleigh's encounters and surroundings, and includes opinions on the state of religion and "the souls of the African people." The diary also provides insights into conditions and conversations among the following religious groups: Roman Catholics, Seventh Day Adventists, Jews, Muslims, The Salvation Army, South African Methodists, and indigenous Khoikhoi ('Hottentot') religions. The diary frequently compares aspects of New York culture and the South African way of life; for example, occupational and commercial activities, modes of entertainment (long excurses on smoking, drinking, and dancing), and gender relations.

• George N. Burleigh diary, 1888

  This series contains the handwritten diary of missionary George N. Burleigh, detailing his work in South Africa in 1888, the year he turned twenty. The 230 page diary includes entries for every day of that year, and describes Burleigh's encounters and surroundings, and includes opinions on the state of religion and "the souls of the African people." The diary also provides insights into conditions and conversations among the following religious groups: Roman Catholics, Seventh Day Adventists, Jews, Muslims, The Salvation Army, South African Methodists, and indigenous Khoikhoi ('Hottentot') religions. The diary frequently compares aspects of New York culture and the South African way of life; for example, occupational and commercial activities, modes of entertainment (long excurses on smoking, drinking, and dancing), and gender relations.

Burke Library record group:

General collections

Using the Collection

Burke Library at Union Theological Seminary

Conditions Governing Access

This collection is open for research.

The following boxes are located offsite: Box 1. Please note that requests for use of boxes held in offsite storage must be made three business days in advance.

Conditions Governing Use

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.

Preferred Citation

Item description, George N. Burleigh diary, 1888, box #, The Burke Library at Union Theological Seminary, Columbia University in the City of New York.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

This collection was purchased in February 2011 by John Weaver, Director of the Burke Library.

About the Finding Aid / Processing Information

Columbia University Libraries, Burke Library at Union Theological Seminary

Processing Information

Materials were wrapped in acid-free paper and placed in a new acid-free folder and box. The finding aid was created by Erin Campbell and Brigette C. Kamsler in 2015 with the support of the Henry Luce Foundation, and edited by Leah Edelman in 2021.

Revision Description

2021-01-05 PDF converted to EAD and description updated by Leah Edelman.

Subject Headings

The subject headings listed below are found in this collection. Links below allow searches at Columbia University through the Archival Collections Portal and through CLIO, the catalog for Columbia University Libraries, as well as ArchiveGRID, a catalog that allows users to search the holdings of multiple research libraries and archives.

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Subject

History / Biographical Note

Biographical / Historical

George N. Burleigh was a New York City resident who served as a Christian missionary in Cape Town, South Africa. Burleigh was in a party of other missionaries who first sailed from New York to Cape Town in May 1887, arriving in July 1887. Burleigh lived on 5 Scott Street in Cape Town. The majority of Burleigh's work was through the sale of religious tracts and magazines.