Papers of the Edinburgh Conference Continuation Committee

Scope and Content

Papers of a Sub-Committee of the Edinburgh Conference Continuation Committee on "Language Schools in the Field". This Sub-Committee, chaired by Dr Henry Hodgkin of England, sent out a series of questions in 1911 in order to establish the views of missionaries regarding the need for language training schools in the field and missionary methods of language study. These papers include the returns from Japan, India and China, 1911-1913. Additional notes and other papers relating to language training and schools for missionaries, apparently unconnected with questionnaire, have been added in the 1920s.

Administrative / Biographical History

The Edinburgh Conference was held in 1910 and was attended by representatives of missionary societies under the chairmanship of John Mott. The goal of this conference was to survey the missionary activity throughout the world of non Roman churches. The conference was attended by more than 1000 delegates form all over the world. There was a full discussion of the need for adequate and appropriate language study for missionaries and the Conference recognised the importance of the issue. It remitted the matter to the Continuation Committee of the Conference which, in turn, placed it in the hands of a Sub-Committee chaired by Dr Henry Hodgkin who was Secretary of the Friends' Foreign Mission Association.

Reference: Alan N. Siggelkow The Ecumenical Movement with Special Emphasis on the Lutheran-Catholic Dialogue on Justification ( http://www.wls.wels.net/library/Essays/Authors/S/SiggelkowEcumenical/SiggelkowEcumenical.pdf ). Accessed April 2002. ; J. H. Wyckoff, Language schools for missionaries in South India in The Harvest Field ( Vol. XXXI, No. 8, Aug 1911 ).

Access Information

Open. Access to all bona fide researchers. All papers held at the Orchard Learning Resources Centre will be viewed at the Birmingham University Information Services, Special Collections Department. Please contact the University Archivist for further information.

Acquisition Information

This source of this collection is unknown.

Other Finding Aids

See full catalogue for more information.

Conditions Governing Use

Permission to make any published use of any material from the collection must be sought in advance in writing from the University Archivist, Special Collections. Identification of copyright holders of unpublished material is often difficult. Special Collections will assist where possible with identifying copyright owners, but responsibility for ensuring copyright clearance rests with the user of the material.

Custodial History

Following the merger of the Selly Oak Colleges and the University of Birmingham in 1999 the custodial ownership of collections belonging to the Selly Oak Colleges and held at the Orchard Learning and Resource Centre (OLRC) was transferred to the University. These collections now form part of the University's Special Collections Department and are available for consultation at the Main Library on the University's Edgbaston Campus.

Related Material

The University of Birmingham, Special Collections Department holds a rich collection of archives relating to missions, charities and other religious and ecclesiastical organisations and individuals.