American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions records, 1878 -- 1958

After clicking 'Submit Request', users will login with their UNI and password (Columbia affiliates) or their special collections account (external users). Appointments are required and will be arranged according to each individual repository's policy.


Series 2: Africa, 1885 -- 1958

This series is open for research.

2.5 linear feet; 2.5 linear feet; 5 boxes

This series contains reports, meeting minutes, and other materials produced by the ABCFM in Africa, including detailed reports and minutes from multiple stations. The reports relate to the operations of the missions, including school reports; committee reports; reports of medical work and diseases treated; treasurer's reports; and reports for the study of language. Also included is information from different schools including the Mount Salinda School and the Chikore School, which detail names of students and what work they performed in class such as brick making and wood sawing. The minutes are from various African branches of ABCFM including the Rhodesian Mission Branch in South Africa, the Northern Branch and the East Central Africa Mission both in Mount Salinda, as well as the Zulu Missions. Annual meetings, special meetings, financial information and committees' minutes are contained in this series. One folder contains faculty committee minutes. This series also consists of correspondence dealing with items such as furloughing and reappointment of missionaries; information on changes in board members and actions taken by committees. Files are typed and appear to be copies kept by the secretaries, including Earnest W. Riggs and John S. Marsh; some have annotations and original signatures. Items are written to others in Africa; as well as ABCFM Secretary in Boston, Massachusetts.

This series is arranged roughly chronologically.



Box 2 Folder 1 Southern Africa, Rhodesia Branch Constitution, Bylaws and Rules, 1922


Box 2 Folder 2-4 Southern Africa, Rhodesia Branch Minutes Book with Secretarial Correspondence and Index, 1885 -- 1916


Box 2 Folder 5-7 Southern Africa, Rhodesia Branch Minutes, 1892 -- 1906



Box 3 Folder 1-7 Southern Africa, Rhodesia Branch Minutes Book, 1906 -- 1929



Box 4 Folder 1 Southern Africa, Rhodesia Branch Minutes, 1930 -- 1934


Box 4 Folder 2 Southern Africa, Rhodesia Branch Minutes, Faculty Committee of Mt. Salinda Institute, 1930 -- 1947


Box 4 Folder 3-5 Southern Africa, Rhodesia Branch Minutes, 1935 -- 1958


Box 4 Folder 6-9 Southern Africa, Rhodesia Branch Reports, 1894 -- 1913


Box 4 Folder 10 Southern Africa, Rhodesia Branch Reports, Chikore School, 1907 -- 1909



Box 5 Folder 1-3 Southern Africa, Rhodesia Branch Reports, 1908 -- 1927


Box 5 Folder 4 Southern Africa, Rhodesia Branch Chikore Station Report, 1921 -- 1943


Box 5 Folder 5-8 Southern Africa, Rhodesia Branch Reports, 1928 -- 1942



Box 6 Folder 1-3 Southern Africa, Rhodesia Branch Reports, 1943 -- 1949


Box 6 Folder 4 Southern Africa, Adams Station and Durban Station, Report Letters, 1949


Box 6 Folder 5 Southern Africa, Zulu Missions, General Education Policy, circa 1893 -- 1907


Box 6 Folder 6-7 Southern Africa, Zulu Missions Minutes, 1893 -- 1907


Box 6 Folder 8-9 Southern Africa, Secretarial Correspondence, 1923 -- 1950


Box 6 Folder 10 West Africa, Lobita Bay Station, Report Letter, 1949