![]() |
Burke Library at Union Theological Seminary |
Table of Contents
Using the Collection
Note: some material may be restricted or offsite Container ListView All |
Summary InformationAbstract
At a Glance
ArrangementArrangementThis collection is arranged in three series: Series 1: Board records; Series 2: Africa; and Series 3: Asia and Philippine Islands.
DescriptionScope and ContentsThis collection contains Board Records of the Prudential Committee, which was the Executive Committee of the ABCFM; bulletins; correspondence related to ABCFM missions throughout the world; Department of Missionary Education records including notes on missionary materials; and reports, meeting minutes, correspondence, and other materials produced by the ABCFM in Africa, China, Eastern and Central Turkey, European Turkey at the Samokov Station in Bulgaria, Japan; India; and the Philippine Islands.
Burke Library record group:Missionary Research Library Archives: MRL12, Ecumenical/World Mission Using the CollectionBurke Library at Union Theological Seminary Conditions Governing AccessThis collection is open for research. ![]() The following boxes are located offsite: Box 1-7. Please note that requests for use of boxes held in offsite storage must be made three business days in advance. Conditions Governing UseSome 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 CitationItem description, MRL 12: American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions Records, 1878-1958, series #, box #, and folder #, The Burke Library at Union Theological Seminary, Columbia University in the City of New York. Related MaterialsAmerican Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions Archives, 1810-1961 (ABC 1-91) Houghton Library, Harvard University. Immediate Source of AcquisitionFormerly 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. About the Finding Aid / Processing InformationColumbia University Libraries, Burke Library at Union Theological Seminary Processing InformationAnnual reports and mimeographed reports were cataloged by Lynn A. Grove on 1988-08-02. Metal clips and staples were removed from materials and folded items were flattened. Materials were placed in new acid-free folders and boxes. Minute books were wrapped in acid-free tissue and tied with acid-free cotton tying tape. American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions Southern Rhodesia Mission Records, 1900-1949 and American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions Records, 1885-1926 relating to the East Africa Central Mission were merged into one collection. The finding aid was created by Brigette Kamsler in 2011 with the support of the Henry Luce Foundation, and edited by Leah Edelman in 2022. Revision Description2022-01-31 PDF converted to EAD and description updated by Leah Edelman. Subject HeadingsThe 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. All links open new windows. Subject
History / Biographical NoteBiographical / HistoricalThe American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions was organized in 1810 by students of Williams College in Massachusetts as the first successful North American agency dedicated to foreign missions. It would grow to be the largest American foreign mission board in the nineteenth century. ABCFM is recognized as a leader in regards to theology, theory, and policies of foreign missions by those in America. Legally incorporated in 1812, ABCFM sponsored 157 ordained missionaries by 1850. Congregationalist in nature, ABCFM accepted missionaries from a variety of denominational backgrounds. The American missionaries were first sent to Africa in 1834 to work with the Zulu but had earlier supported the first missionaries to the Eastern Mediterranean in 1819. In 1961, ABCFM merged with the Board of International Missions to form United Church Board for World Ministries. In 2000, the UCBWM became the Wider Church Ministries of the United Church of Christ. |