Sources Guides list

Sources Guide: Medical Missionaries And Missionary Societies

NB collections range in size from single items to large personal or organisational archives

Further information about the materials mentioned below can be found on the Archives and Manuscripts Online Catalogue

In some cases the full detailed catalogues of archive collections are not yet in this online database: hard copy versions are available in the Rare Materials Room of the Library and on request to archs+mss@wellcome.ac.uk

Medical missionaries and mission societies

F Savary French missionary priest in Tonkin: 'Journal du voyage de France en Chine. Macao, le 2 janvier 1755 ... fin. Décrit à Caen ce premier de mai 1758'. An autobiographical narrative by Savary of his voyage from France to Tonkin via Mauritius and Macao, 1754-55, and of his missionary work in Tonkin [now Vietnam], 1755-58 MS.6065

Felipe Salvador Gilij Jesuit missionary: Translation into Spanish and paraphrase, probably carried out in Mexico, of part of Gilij's Saggia di storia americana, dealing with indigenous vegetable remedies, c.1785 MS.Amer 8

Rev George Charles Jenner: Appointments as a missionary at Harbor Grace, Newfoundland, and as a Justice of the Peace for Conception Bay, Apr-Aug 1794 MS.5228/6-8

Morrison and Hobson Families: Correspondence and papers, especially of the Rev Robert Morrison (1782-1834), missionary in China, 1807-34; John Robert Morrison (1814-1843), Chinese interpreter, Colonial Secretary of the Hong Kong government; and Dr Benjamin Hobson (1816-1873), medical missionary in China, 1839-59; 1807-1963, n.d MSS.5827-52; MS. 7127; MSS.7337/84-85

G R Nylander missionary in Sierra Leone: Autograph letter describing conditions in Sierra Leone, including the slave trade and the various European religious missions, 1809 MS.7330/38

Missionary Society of The Protestant Episcopal Church, New Brunswick, Canada: Manuscript copy of a published depiction of "the most approved toilet", linking toilet articles to virtues (the best lip salve, for example, is cheerfulness), 1828, copied 1860 MS.4810

David Livingstone medical missionary: Miscellaneous letters, including correspondence of those associated with Livingstone, 1840-1959 MS.7329

James Evans (fl.1841) medical missionary: copy of notes on the Cree Language MS.8458

George Williams Parker court physician, Madagascar: Papers relating to transfer of Parker's services from the London Missionary Society to the Malagasy government, 1875-6, 1883 MS.7400/1-5

Robert Laws medical missionary: List of medical stores at the Livingstone medical mission, Nyasaland, c.1880 MS.3187

Sir Albert (Ruskin) and Lady (Katharine) Cook founders of Mengo Hospital, Uganda, and Lady Coryndon Maternity Training School: Diaries, correspondence, including 'Journal letters' giving many details of life and work in Uganda, photographs, writings, family papers, 1881-1951 PP/COO

Ivy Keess, medical missionary in India : References, testimonials, photograph, 1909-37 GC/78

Stanley Browne Superintendent of the Baptist Mission Hospital, Yakusu, Belgian Congo (Zaire): Papers include leprosy records from the hospital, 1936-58, records of later leprosy research, 1959-86 and his papers as secretary of the International Leprosy Association, 1909-86; material on Browne’s evangelistic activities and work in his youth and as a medical student and his association with the Baptist Missionary Society and reasons behind his application for medical missionary work in Africa), plus work with numerous Christian missionary organisations throughout his life and career WTI/SGB

Dr. George Brown Methodist missionary, Samoa: Notes on medicinal plants used in Samoa, c.1910 MS.1724/2

Benno Heckel Benedictine monk and missionary in Nyasaland: 'Education among the Hyao tribe', 1928 MS.8126

Dr L P Ashton Medical missionary in Kenya, 1934-64: Report on smallpox epidemic in Nyanza Province, 'Review of variola major epidemic in Nyanza Province, Kenya, by Dr Ashton of the Church Missionary Society Hospital, Maseno, with 12 photographs of patients, autumn 1945 GC/195

People and organisations associated with medical misionaries and mission societies

Thomas Hodgkin and other members of Hodgkin family: Extensive archive of personal papers containing material on charitable activity in the United Kingdom and on contact with developing nations abroad, including missionary activity, 1725-1980 and n.d. PP/HO

John Ryland Baptist minister: letter to Thomas Raffles, independent minister, regarding Brother Robinson's missionary activities in Java, Robinson's dealings with Raffles' cousin Sir Thomas Stanford Raffles, colonial administrator and naturalist, and plans to send a Mr. Trowt to join him, 1814 MS.7830/53

Nathaniel Rogers Yorkshire, England: Volumes of obituaries of eminent persons and private friends: include figures of such as Rev Daniel Tyerman, missionary; George Bennet, missionary; Rev Thomas Slatyer, missionary, Samoa, 1826-69 MSS.4243-4

Wellcome Archives: Henry Wellcome's papers contain material relating to William Duncan and his missionary work among the Metlakatla [Tsimshian] Indians of British Columbia. They deal with HSW's support for Duncan in his disputes with the Church Missionary Society and the Canadian and US Governments and the eventual re-settlement of the Metlakatlan people on Annette Island in Alaska although the majority relate to the administration of the settlement and his estate after Duncan's death. Reports; Duncan's journal; article; photographs, 1887-1938. There is also material relating to a medical and educational mission to Sudan, 1933-40; articles on Missionary Societies, 1915-32 and papers relating to Wellcome's funding the publication of medical texts translated for the China Medical Missionary Association, 1907-37 WA/HSW

The papers of the Historical Medical Museum contain correspondence with the following missionary societies: London Missionary Society, Baptist Missionary Society, Church Missionary Society, Student Volunteer Missionary Society, Missionary School of Tropical Disease and Hygiene; Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society and the China Inland Mission relating to various topics, including the purchase of objects; the appointment of Henry Wellcome as Honorary Vice President of the Missionary School of Tropical Diseases and Hygiene; loan of items for exhibitions, 1904-62 WA/HMM

Wellcome Foundation: some materials relating to missionaries among the records of the pharmaceutical company, 1900s-20s WF

Medical Women's Federation (f.1916): Memorabilia collection includes biographical notes and histories of woman missionary doctors, c.1910s SA/MWF

Barbara Evans: Materials for her biography of Helena Wright include items relating to Wright and her husband's period as medical missionaries in China, 1920s PP/PRE/J; a very few items also among Wright's own papers, PP/HRW

British Social Hygiene Council: Minutes of its Joint Standing Committee with Board of Study for the Preparation of Missionaries, 1929–35 SA/BSH/G.7

Helen Alice Dorothy Barlow: Letter of Albert Schweitzer, medical missionary, 1946 PP/BAR

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Researchers' attention is also drawn to the Medical Archives and Manuscripts Survey of materials 1600-1945 in repositories in the Greater London area, which include items of relevance, and to the Mundus Gateway to overseas missionary materials in the UK