Joseph Blake correspondence

Primarily comprising correspondence written to the secretaries of the WMMS between 1838 and 1862 regarding the establishment of juvenile missionary societies or associations and fundraising through children. In particular, Blake writes at great length regarding the systematic collection of small amo...

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Order number: MMS/Special Series/Biographical/Europe/FBN 1 (fiche 20-26)
Date(s) of creation: 1838-1862
Level: Sub-Sub-Series
Format: Archive           
Main author: Blake; Joseph (1791-1869); shoemaker, fundraiser

Order number: MMS/Special Series/Biographical/Europe/FBN 1 (fiche 20-26)
Summary: Primarily comprising correspondence written to the secretaries of the WMMS between 1838 and 1862 regarding the establishment of juvenile missionary societies or associations and fundraising through children. In particular, Blake writes at great length regarding the systematic collection of small amounts of money (half-a-pence) by each child from about eight individuals on a weekly basis. He frequently laments the Society's insistence on concentrating on collecting money at specific times (e.g. Christmas). The correspondence also includes information on: the formation of juvenile missionary societies (including Blake's work at Harrow); his book 'The Day of Small Things' and related publications; the importance of Sabbath (Sunday) schools; collecting for missionary ships and establishing a fund for old preachers. There are also a couple of letters regarding Harrow Chapel itself. Finally, there are a few printed items including two printed Christmas appeals by the WMMS to children (1841 & 1843) and two circular letters written by Blake promoting the 'Juvenile Home and Foreign Missionary Society' (1862).
Main author: Blake; Joseph (1791-1869); shoemaker, fundraiser
Extent: One folder
Admin history: Joseph Blake (1791-1869), a shoemaker by trade, was influential in the creation of Wesleyan Methodist juvenile missionary societies and the Juvenile Home and Foreign Missionary Society (later to become known as the Juvenile Missionary Association). Blake spent much of his adult life teaching in Methodist Sunday schools (principally at Harrow, Middlesex) and encouraging the WMMS to involve children in its work, particularly through fundraising. Inspired by a sermon delivered by the Rev Matthew Wills in 1812 Blake initiated a scheme in Wandswor ... View more
Access status: Open
Access conditions: Only to be viewed on microfiche
Copyright: Copyright held by Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes
User restrictions: For permission to publish, please contact Archives & Special Collections, SOAS Library in the first instance
Language: English
Related material: Further correspondence by Blake can be found amongst the Home correspondence - see handlist for details. It is possible that replies to Blake's letters are extant amongst the Outgoing correspondence series (MMS/Home/Correspondence/Outgoing/FBN 24A-24B). Within Notes & Transcripts (item 6) there is some material - notes and correspondence, 1948-1952 - on Blake and the evolution of the JMA (MMS/Special Series/Notes & Transcripts/FBN 1) as well as (item 200) a photograph of the memorial tablet to him formerly in Bessborough Ro ... View more
Format: Archive