| collection |
SOAS Archive
|
| id |
MMS.01.01.12.01.01
|
| recordtype |
archive
|
| scb_item_location |
Archive & Special Collections
|
| item_location |
Archive & Special Collections
|
| scb_loan_type |
Reference only
|
| scb_order_with |
MMS/Home & General/Minutes/Box 1386
|
| callnumber |
MMS/01/01/12/01/01
|
| callnumber_txt |
MMS/01/01/12/01/01
|
| callnumber-sort |
MMS/01/01/12/01/01
|
| prefix_number |
01
|
| scb_previous_numbers |
T136
|
| title |
Minute book containing minutes for the West African Literature Committee, the African Literature Committee and the Western Literature Committee
|
| scb_date_creation |
21 Nov 1922-29 May 1953
|
| scb_level |
File
|
| level_sort |
7/Collection/Sub-Collection/Sub-Sub-Collection/Sub-Sub-Sub-Collection/Series/Sub-Series/Sub-Sub-Series/File
|
| scb_extent |
1 volume
|
| format |
Archive
|
| scb_admin_history |
The West African Literature Committee first met on 21 November 1922 to consider how best to serve the Wesleyan Methodist community in West Africa (particularly within its Gold Coast District). Its view was that the level of religious teaching was not satisfactory and a significant factor in this was a lack of Christian literature. After the Rev W T Balmer's visit to West Africa to assess how to meet these needs a number of changes were put in place, including to the management of the book stores. Furthermore, Atlantis Press was established in 1923 initially with the remit to supply English language material for evangelical work. Later Atlantis Press expanded its remit to produce literature in indigenous languages as well.
By the summer of 1937 the committee was renamed the Africa Literature Committee. After Methodist Union in 1932 the combined missions of the newly formed Methodist Missionary Society extended significantly beyond West Africa. The committee's work therefore had to encompass the former missions of the Primitive Methodist Missionary Society missions in Rhodesia (mainly in what is now Zambia as opposed to the Wesleyan missions mainly in what is now Zimbabwe) and the former missions of the United Methodist Missionary Society in Kenya.
In June 1948 the General Committee decided the committee should also take responsibility for literature produced for its West Indian districts and the now renamed Western Literature Committee first met on 1 July 1949. This committee continued until it merged with the Overseas Literature Sub-committee of the General Committee to form the Overseas Literature Committee in June 1953.
|
| description |
Volume labelled 'West African Literature Committee Minute Book'. Contains the signed typed minutes of the following committees: West African Literature Committee, 22 November 1922-6 July 1936, African Literature Committee, 8 July 1937-18 June 1948 and Western Literature Committee, 1 July 1949-29 May 1953.
These literature committees discuss similar matters including: commissioning and publishing literature, including works on language (such as primers, grammar and readers), theology, hymnals, local history, geography, 'folk' tales, prominent figures, spiritual and moral guidance; visits to missions, districts, etc, to assess educational needs; decisions on what languages to publish in; lists of new publications; sales of publications; oversight of book rooms and depots.
|
| scb_access_status |
Open
|
| scb_copyright |
Copyright held by Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes
|
| scb_use_restrictions |
For permission to publish, please contact Archives & Special Collections, SOAS Library in the first instance
|
| language |
English
|
| language_search |
English
|
| hierarchy_top_id_raw |
MMS
|
| hierarchy_sequence |
MMS.0001.0001.0012.0001.0001
|
