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LevelSub-sub-sub-fonds
Finding Number (Click this to view full catalogue structure)CMS/B/OMS/A1
TitleWest Africa (Sierra Leone) Mission
Extent42 volumes, 250 files, 15 boxes
Date1803-1934
DescriptionPapers compiled under the Committee of Correspondence 1803-1880 and under the Africa (initially 'Group 3') Committee 1880-1934. The 'West Africa Mission' was renamed 'Sierra Leone Mission' in 1894.

Papers under the Committee of Correspondence comprise Individual Letter-books 1852-1873, Letter-books 1820-1883, Mission books 1820-1880, files of Early correspondence 1803-1820 and Original papers 1820-1880.

Papers under the Africa (Group 3) Committee comprise Letter-books 1883-1934, Précis books 1880-1934 and files of Original papers 1880-1934.

[Papers of the West Africa Mission 1935-1959 are catalogued separately]
Access ConditionsFor preservation reasons, microfilm or digital copies are made available in place of the original documents.
Access StatusOpen, but subject to some access restrictions
Physical DescriptionThe archive reference numbers for the pre-1880 papers have been marked in pencil on the back of each individual item, eg C A1/O 4/21. The post-1880 papers are each individually marked in red ink, and this number, plus the year, comprises the archive reference for each item, eg [G3 A1/1889/124].
Administrative HistoryThis mission comprised all activity in West Africa up to 1844, after which its sphere was confined to Sierra Leone. The name of the mission, however, did not change until 3 July 1894.
Custodial HistoryPapers catalogued by H. S. Cobb 1952. Hard copy handlist revised and expanded by Rosemary Keen 1960. Further revised by Rosemary Keen 1978.
CopiesAvailable on microfilm and online.

Microfilm:
Church Missionary Society Archive, Section IV: Africa Missions, Parts 1-2, 5, 12.
Publisher: Marlborough: Adam Matthew Publications, 1999-2001.
Location in the Cadbury Research Library: microfilm drawers A10, B1, C2 and C3.

Dgital publication:
Church Missionary Society Archive: Africa Missions: West Africa (Sierra Leone) Mission.
Publisher: Adam Matthew Digital.
Access: by institutional subscription: free to members of the University of Birmingham and visitors to the Cadbury Research Library and other subscribing institutions.
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