Guide to the Herbert Cookman Withey Papers
Prepared by Robert Drew Simpson, Assistant Archivist, and Mark C. Shenise, Associate Archivist.
United Methodist Archives and History Center
General Commission on Archives and History of The United Methodist Church
3/1/2001
Overview of Collection
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| Record Creator: |
Withey, Herbert Cookman |
| Title: |
Herbert Cookman Withey Collection |
| Date Span: |
1891-1939 |
| Abstract: |
Herbert Cookman Withey was a missionary to Angola. The collection is made up of material relating to his work in Angola. |
| Extent: |
1.64 cubic feet |
| Resource ID:
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gcah.ms.2327 |
Biographical Note
Herbert Cookman Withey (1873-1937) was born in Lynn, Massachusetts, on June 8, 1873. At twelve, he went with his parents, Amos E. and Irene Withey, to the interior of Angola, with the original Bishop William Taylor party in 1885. From his early youth he, like his parents, was devoted to mission work. Withey combined evangelistic, educational, and industrial service in his Christian ministry to the Angolans. He learned the local languages and translated Pilgrims Progress, the catechism, the Discipline, the Psalms, and the New Testament into those languages. At the time of his death on February 9, 1937, he was working on a translation of the New Testament.
Scope Note
The Herbert Cookman Withey papers comprise a series of diaries and journals, correspondence, photographs and assorted magazines containing articles authored by Withey and others which afford an intimate view of the Angolan work. They represent a rich resource for studying the cultural, historic, economic and religious climates on the mission field. Place names that are mentioned include Kalundo, Sengue, Nhangue, Kamongua, Dondo, and Pampas. There is a useful description of his work on Quionga station and the resurgence of Roman Catholicism in the area. There is information about a missionary's program while on furlough, notes on Withey's work in the continuing translation of the Scriptures into the Kimbundu language, the effect of his ministry upon an African village and the effect of the Great Depression upon the mission work.
Withey provides much useful information concerning the Angolan mission and related topics. This is documented in a large collection of photos depicting mission facilities and missionaries. Withey's materials also include articles, clippings and photos. They greatly enhance the resources for learning of the Angola mission personal matters and finance while revealing the hardships and sacrifices made by missionaries and their families.
Arrangement
Materials have been arranged in the following manner.
The Herbert C. Withey collection is arranged in four categories. The first section contains his Diaries and Journals. In the second section is the correspondence which includes a variety of letters, some from him as well as letters from others to him. The third section contains publications from magazines which were either written by Withey or written about him. The final section holds an array of photographs which are divided into two parts. The first is a collection of family photos, and the second is a major assortment of images and photo scrapbooks depicting mission facilities and many of the missionaries who worked at these sites.
Preferred Citation
When citing material from this collection please use the following format: Direct reference to the item or its file folder, Herbert Cookman Withey Collection, United Methodist Church Archives - GCAH, Madison, New Jersey. Do not make use of the items' call number as that is not a stable descriptor.
Access Restrictions
There are no restrictions regarding this collection.
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Subject Terms |
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Additonal Creators - Personal |
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:Withey, Amos E.. |
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Subject Names - Personal |
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:Taylor, Williiam |
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:Withey, Irene. |
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Subject Topics |
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Biblical scholars |
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Missionaries |
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Missionaries' wives |
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Political, Practical. |
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Publishers |
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Subject Geographic |
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Angola. |
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Genre |
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Articles. |
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Correspondence |
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Diaries |
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Photograph albums |
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Photographs |
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Occupations |
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Missionary |
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Teacher. |
| Call Number |
Folder Title |
Date(s) |
| 1553-2-1:
1 |
Correspondence |
1933 |
| 1553-2-1:
2 |
Correspondence |
1934-1939 |
| 1553-2-1:
3 |
Magazines and Articles |
1886-1938 |
| 1553-2-1:
4 |
Magazines, Articles, and Clippings |
1891-1938 |
| 1553-2-1:
5 |
Journal |
1891-1893 |
| 1553-2-1:
6 |
Journal |
1894-1897 |
| 1553-2-1:
9 |
Journal |
1906-1908 |
| 1553-2-1:
10 |
Journal |
1908-1912 |
| 1553-2-1:
11 |
Log Book |
1921 |
| 1553-2-1:
13 |
Diary Notes |
1929 |
| 1553-2-1:
14 |
Diary |
1930-1931 |
| 1553-2-1:
16 |
Diary Notes |
1933 |
| 1553-2-1:
17 |
Diary Notes |
1934 |
| 1553-2-1:
18 |
Diary Notes |
1935 |
| 1553-2-1:
19 |
Film Negatives |
1922-1931 |
| 1553-2-1:
20 |
Withey Family Photos |
Undated |
| 1553-2-1:
21 |
Angola Mission and Missionary Photos |
Undated |
| 1553-2-2:
1 |
Angola Mission Photo Album |
1885-1908 |
| 1553-2-3:
1 |
Angola Mission Photo Album |
Undated |
| 1553-2-4:
1 |
Angola Mission Photo |
Undated |
