W88-0301. Board of World Missions.
Records, 1846-1980. 5.00 linear ft.
Abstract
The Board of Foreign Missions (later, World Missions) was organized by the General Synod in 1832. The board was under the direction of the RCA but was also under the authority of the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions. David Abeel led the first mission of the RCA to the island of Borneo in the Dutch East Indies in 1836. Missions also sprouted in four primary target areas: Japan, India, China, and Arabia. In 1857, the board broke away from its ties with the American Board of Missions and established independent missions. Under its current name, the board is still active. This collection consists of annual reports (1857-1968); foreign mission conference proceedings (1899-1944); materials from individual missions; articles and serial publications; minutes; photographs; and booklets and brochures. Materials also include a large cloth map of Asia (1896); the board constitution; a memoriam for Isaac Chamberlain; missionary address list; missionary profiles; and a facsimile program for an 1864 ceremony at Holland’s Black Lake, entitled “Laying the Keel.”
| Accession No.: | W88-0301 |
Provenance: | Western Theological Seminary |
Donor: | Western Theological Seminary |
Photographs: | 2 images, Box 2 |
Processed by: | Michael Douma, June 2001 |
History
The Board of Foreign (later, World) Missions was organized by the General Synod in 1832. The board was under the direction of the RCA but was also under the authority of the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions. David Abeel led the first mission of the RCA to the island of Borneo in the Dutch East Indies in 1836. This mission was largely a failure and a new one was begun in Amoy, China, in 1842. Another successful mission was founded in 1853 in Arcot, India. Missions to Japan, Arabia, and Mesopotamia followed in the decades to come. In 1857 the board broke away from its ties with the American Board of Missions and established independent missions. Under its new name, the board is still active.
Scope and Content
This collection consists of annual reports (1857-1968); foreign mission conference proceedings (1899-1944); materials from individual missions; articles and serial publications; minutes; photographs; and booklets and brochures associated with the RCA Board of World Missions. Materials also include a large cloth map of Asia (1896); the board constitution; manuals; a memoriam for Isaac Chamberlain; publications; missionary address list; missionary profiles; and a facsimile program for an 1864 ceremony at Holland’s Black Lake, entitled “Laying the Keel.”
Container List
Box 1
100th Anniversary (1832-1932), 1932
Addresses and Sermons, 1885, 1936, n. d.
Africa, General, 1946-1982
Agenda, Minutes, 1945-1963
Articles, 1927-1978
Bibliography on Christian Missions, n. d.
Board of Missionary Preparation Publications, 1914-1918
Board of Missionary Preparation, Third Report, 1914
Books
Roadbuilders, Sue Weddell, 1932
The Worldwide Christian Mission, 1932
Booklets
Foreign Missions at the Cross Roads, c. 1926
The Foreign Missions of the Reformed Church in America: The Year’s Story Illustrated, 1914
General, 1894-1966
Brochures, 1943-1956, n. d.
Bulletins, 1931
Centennial, 1896
Certificates of Contributions, 1884
“Christian Mission Digest” magazine 1965
Constitution and By-Laws, 1957, 1965
Conference on Unity and Cooperation, 1914
Correspondence/Mailings, 1904-1968
Executive Committee Minutes, 1961-1968
Facts and Opinions concerning the Far East, 1940
Federation of Women’s, 1944, 1977
Handbook, “Open Gates,” 1952
Historical Materials, 1864, 1932, n. d.
Inter-Cultural Missions, 1979
International Missionary Council Minutes, 1923, 1932
“Laying of the Keel,” 1864 facsimile program, 1908
Laymen’s Foreign Missions Inquiry Report and Related Articles, 1923-1932
Layman’s Missionary Movement Publications, 1908, 1909, n. d.
Manuals, 1909, 1948, 1956
Meeting Agenda, Reports, Financial Report, 1962
Memoriam, Rev. William Isaac Chamberlain, 1938
“Minister’s Exclusive” newsletter, 1948-1962
Minutes
1961-1962
1963-1964
1965-1971
“Mission Monthly” newsletter, 1878-1880
Box 2
Missionary Address List, 1980, 1981
“Missionary Monthly” newsletter, 1933, 1956
Missionary Profiles, 1946-1950, n. d.
Missionary Review of the World, 1893, 1894, 1937
Non-RCA Publications, 1927-1944, n. d.
“Our Work in Asia” newsletter, 1905, 1907
Pamphlets, 1926-1960
Papers, 1961-1978
Philippines, Articles, 1956-1972 (scattered)
Photographs, 1960-1966 (2 images)
Soviet Union, Articles, 1963-1978 (scattered)
Spain, Article, 1963
Student Volunteer Movement Publications, 1908, 1917
Taiwan Articles, Releases, Correspondence, 1962-1980 (scattered)
Box 3
“The Reformed Church in the East” Annual, 1911-1931
World Student Christian Federation Publications, 1899, 1900-1901
Zendingsfeesten Conferences, 1916-1924
Foreign Missions Conference Proceedings
1899-1904
1905-1911
1912-1913
1914-1916
1917-1921
1922-1926
1927-1928
1932-1937
1938-1942
1944
Box 4
Annual Reports
1857-1868
1869-1877
1878-1881
1884-1889
1890-1895
1896-1901
1902-1906
1907-1910
1911-1914
1945-1916
1917-1919
1920-1923
1924-1927
1929-1934
1935-1938
1940-1941
1942-1949
1950-1954
1955-1960
1961
1961-1968
Oversize, Non-Photographic Media
Large Cloth Map of Asia, 1896
Joint Archives Main Page