Papers of Mildred Eleanor Gibbs

Research papers compiled by Gibbs for use in the composition of her publication The History of the Anglican Church in India, 1600-1970 , published in 1972.

Mildred Eleanor Gibbs was born in Salford, Lancashire, in 1901. She was educated at Newcastle-upon-Tyne Church High School, and Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford University where she gained a First in the School of Modern History, 1923. She undertook research into nineteenth century British constitutional history, for which she was awarded an MA from Manchester University. She became involved in the Student Christian Movement, and became a Church Mission Society missionary in India in 1932. From 1933-1962 she taught history at St John's College, Agra. Her publications include the monographs, From Jerusalem to New Delhi , 1964, and The History of the Anglican Church in India, 1600-1970 , 1972. Throughout her time in Agra she also edited The Diocesan Chronicle , Lucknow.

Reference: University of Birmingham, Special Collections Department, Online Archive Catalogue ( http://calmview.bham.ac.uk/ ). Accessed April 2002.

The collection comprises one series of research papers, which is further arranged into three subseries: folders arranged according to geographical/diocesan region and related institution, folders of general background material, and an alphabetical sequence of biographical notes. Arrangement has been undertaken in accordance with what is thought to be the original provenance of the papers.

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.

Under the original terms of her will, these papers were left to the India Church History College at Serampore College, West Bengal. However, the originals were deposited by Mildred Eleanor Gibbs' nephew (and executor of her will), at Selly Oak Colleges Library, Birmingham, and a microfilm copy supplied to the India Church History Association.

Please see online catalogue for further details.

Preservation microfilming has been undertaken by the British Library; microfilm copies are held by India Office Library and Records, and by the India Church History Association, India

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.

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.

The papers include a copy of the publication From Jerusalem to New Delhi. The Story of the Christian Church by M. E. Gibbs (publ. by the Christian Literature Society, 1964), now stored and catalogued separately.

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. These include the official archives of the Church Mission Society (GB 150 CMS) which contains material relating to Gibb's service as a missionary.

A notice by Miss Frances H. B. Williams (Librarian, Selly Oak Colleges Library, Birmingham) relating to the collection may be found in The Annual Bulletin of the Association of the British Theological and Philosophical Libraries (NS, No. 20, March 1981), pp. 2-3