| Description | Papers organised by BCMS into its mission areas: Arctic, Burma, China, Ethiopia, India, Morocco, Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda. Many files contain significant volumes of material including application papers, references, medical reports, correspondence with the society and other information such as prayer letters and news reports. A number of files contain papers relating to resignations and retirements.
The papers were compiled by the society and largely comprise incoming correspondence and outgoing copy correspondence. The majority of papers date from the late 1930s although some missionary files contain application papers from as early as the mid 1920s. Some files include telegrams, postcards and photographs. Application papers have sometimes been kept in original packets which provide details of the missionaries' home address, date of birth, date of offer of service, referees, date placed before committee and biographical information.
The records are a useful source for examining the type of missionary work undertaken, including educational and medical work. Some correspondence illustrates the effects of the Second World War, especially the files of Burmese missionaries who were evacuated from the country. Other themes indicate the language difficulties encountered in non-English speaking countries; and the financial situation of missionaries, especially in relation to pension payments |