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Overview
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| Record Creator: | Anderson, Mary Althea |
| Title: | Mary Althea Anderson Papers |
| Title: | Anderson Papers |
| Date Span: | 1866-1977 |
| Abstract: | Mary Althea Anderson, Methodist Episcopal Church Missionary, was born on March 14, 1879 in the British Island territory of Mauritius. The vast majority of Anderson’s tenure as a missionary was spent in Algeria. In addition to letters and documents relating to her work, Anderson was an active Poet. Many of her original manuscripts exist within her collection. Her collection also includes numerous letters from relatives, many of whom were also missionaries. |
| Extent: | 0.45 cubic feet |
| Identification: | gcah.ms.5608 |
Mary Althea Anderson, Methodist Episcopal Church Missionary, was born on March 14, 1879 on the British Island territory of Mauritius to missionary parents. Anderson’s father had Scottish ancestry, while her mother was a descendent of French Huguenots. Despite familial ties to Britain, her family never lived there and considered France to be their native home. In addition to her mother’s familial ties to France, her father, S.H. Anderson, worked in the McCall mission in Paris. Mary Anderson was educated in France, attending the Lycee Moliere in Paris. She also went to school at Bunbank/ missionary training Home in Glasgow, Scotland. Anderson trained as a student nurse in Alloa County Hospital, Scotland.
Anderson carried out her work as part of the Women’s Foreign Missionary Society, First Church, New Castle. She began her service in Algeria in October 1908. During her time as a missionary, she was associated with Emily Smith and Dora Welch in their work among the Kabyles. Anderson was also a poet, who wrote about religion and African history.
Though Mary retired on June 1, 1948, she remained in El Bier (Algiers), Algeria because “there was no home or family in France to which (she and her sister) could return” as a result of the Second World War.
By July 7, 1959, Anderson and her sister were in bad health. Ruth Lawrence, of the Women's Division of the General Board of Global Ministries,recommend that she be eligible to receive medical help for retired missionaries, it indicates that perhaps she was not considered retired as she was not recognized as living out her retirement in her “native country.”
In 1962, Anderson traveled to England because of her declining health in order to be closer to a relative, possibly her cousin Ralph J. B. Anderson. Mary died on May 29, 1963, in the French Hospital, London, England.
Mary Althea Anderson's personal letters and other record types illustrate her work and life both within and beyond the church. Correspondences from her father, S.H. Anderson, as well as Agnes Anderson, and Nellie Anderson. The former two were also involved in missionary work.
The papers focus primarily on her and her family's missionary work. There are other documents related to family that predate her service. Even though her family never lived in Britain and considered France to be their native home, her notes, documents, and letters are in primarily in English because of familial ties to Britain through her paternal line.
However, her mother was descendant of a French Huguenot family. As a result, letters and documents written in French are also within the collection.
Mary Anderson was an active Poet, and as a result, many of her original manuscripts exist within her collection. Much of her poetry reflects her missionary work. In addition to those that contain religious themes, many of Anderson's poems are written about North Africa, its history, and its people.
Also within the collection are a few noteworthy photographs depicting African peoples wearing western style dress, as well as one depicting a traditional indigenous African scene.
Materials have been arranged in the following manner.
basic
When citing material from this collection please use the following format: Direct reference to the item or its file folder, Mary Althea Anderson Papers, United Methodist Church Archives - GCAH, Madison, New Jersey. Do not make use of the item's call number as that is not a stable descriptor.
There are no restrictions on the Mary Althea Anderson Papers.
Detailed use restrictions relating to our collections can be requested from the office of the archivist at the General Commission on Archives and History. Photocopying is handled by the staff and may be limited in certain instances. Before using any material for publication from this collection a formal request for permission to publish is expected and required.
Microfilm Edition of the Mission Biographical Reference Files
Records of the Women's Division of the General Board of Global Ministries
Index Terms |
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| Subject Terms | ||
| Missionaries | ||
| Geographic Terms | ||
| Africa | ||
| Algeria | ||
| France | ||
| Added Names - Persons | ||
| Anderson, Agnes | ||
| Anderson, Nellie | ||
| Anderson, S. H. | ||
| Call Number | Folder Title | Date(s) |
| 1584-4-1: 1 | Correspondence: Agnes Anderson to Mother | 1891-1936 |
| 1584-4-1: 2 | Poetry: Mary Althea Anderson | 1900-1941 |
| 1584-4-1: 3 | Correspondence: Mary Anderson to Mumsie | 1897-1935 |
| 1584-4-1: 4 | Correspondence: Nellie Anderson to Papsie | 1901-1911 |
| 1584-4-1: 5 | Correspondence: S. H. Anderson to His Wife | 1900-1918 |
| 1584-4-1: 6 | Documents: Mary Althea Anderson | 1929-1945 |
| 1584-4-1: 7 | Photographs: Mary Althea Anderson | circa 1890-1977 |
| 1584-4-1: 8 | Correspondence: Mary Althea Anderson's Father and Grandfather | 1866-1870 |
| 1584-4-1: 9 | Miscellaneous | 1871-1920s |
| 1584-4-1: 10 | Correspondence: Esther Anderson to Mother and Father | 1900-1923 |
