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Ethiopia Missions collection, 1950-1994

 Collection
Identifier: MSS-Miss-17

Scope and Contents

The Ethiopia Missions collection spans three boxes over two cubic feet and dates between 1950 and 1994.

The Field Records cover two folders. They hold Amharic language records, records for missionary Ruth Gonfa, records on the Guder Health Station. There are two maps of Ethiopia included.

The Ralph Larson folder contains the report of the missionary's death and his Ethiopian driver's licence.

The Public Health Ledger is mostly in Amharic and dates between 1951 and 1957. It records interactions with the Ministry of Public Health in Ethiopia.

The Radio Log Books date between 1964 to 1980. They record dates and subjects of radio communications in Addis Ababa.

The Diary Ledger dates between 1968 and 1970 and records daily information, including memos and correspondence.

The photographs and glass slides picture documents, including the negatives for the hospital contracts.

The Tokay Health Station records the documentation establishing the health station in Tokay-Erensa of the Ambo Awraja area in 1989 and on through 1991.

The Baptist Evangelical Association folder dates between 1993 and 1994 and holds records about a property dispute between the Baptist Evangelical Association and an Ethiopian church.

The Legal Items folder includes correspondence with the Provisional Military Government of Socialist Ethiopia, a land lease agreement, and a map around Langano Lake.

The Statistics on Churches folder provides data on churches in Ethiopia, much of which is in Amharic.

The Debbis Bridge folder documents an agreement to turn over the bridge to the Farmers' Associations of Ambo Wereda, Jebat and Mecha Aweraja in 1983. The Baptist General Conference helped to sponsor the bridge's construction.

The Selale project folder documents worke done in the Selale/ Debre Libanos areas, including famine relief, well digging, health projects, and other rural development.

The Ethiopian Famine photographs date to the 1980s famine, showing mostly relief stations. A binder titled "Ethiopian Relief: Drought and Famine are... Slow Killers!" was created by Aubrey R. Huskey. It holds photographs and statistics compiled regarding sending food to Ethiopia by the Baptist World Alliance and Baptist General Conference.

Dates

  • 1950 - 1994

Conditions Governing Access

This collection is open for researcher use.

Historical note

Sten Lindberg and Jim Luckman surveyed Ethiopia and met Emporer Haile Selassie in 1950, when they were allowed to begin Baptist General Conference mission work in the country. Missionary Ralph Larson was shot and killed in 1951. Missionaries opened the Door of Life Hospital in Ambo, a medical clinic in Gindabarat, Guder Health Station, Tokay Health Station, schools, a bookstore, and churches. During the famine of 1983 to 1985, the Baptist General Conference Mission of Ethiopia (BGCM) assisted with food relief.

Extent

2 Cubic Feet

Language of Materials

English

Amharic

Arrangement

The internal folder arrangement is kept in their original order.

Custodial History

It is unclear when this collection was donated to the History Center.

Title
Ethiopia Missions collection, 1950-1994
Author
Rebekah Bain
Date
August 2024
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin

Repository Details

Part of the The History Center: Archives of Bethel University and Converge Repository

Contact:
3900 Bethel Drive
Arden Hills MINNESOTA 55112 United States