Papers Relating to Dorothy Isaac

There are four bundles containing: one letter written by Dorothy Isaac, copies of letters written by Dorothy Isaac, copies of letters written by Mr.and Mrs.T.H. Wilson, verse written by Mr.T.H.Wilson and a printed map of the area. Most of the letters were probably copied by Mrs. Isaac, Dorothy Isaac's mother, who numbered them and added notes about them.

Dorothy Isaac describes her journey from England to Inkongo as well as, on arrival, the missionary work, teaching work in the pharmacy, illnesses suffered by the missionaries and the local people, contact with American Presbyterian missionaries at Lusambo, Belgian Traders, the native way of life, customs and fetishes, insects, wildlife and plant-life and the climate.

Miss Dorothy Isaac went as a missionary to the Belgian Congo in 1921. During the period which these papers cover (1921-1924) she was based at Inkongo under the leadership of Mr.T.H.Wilson who also journeyed to other districts and set up a mission station at Bakwa Mbule.

Each document has been given a separate number although they were found in four bundles. This arrangement follows Mrs.Isaac's numbering of the letters. Therefore:

• Bundle 1="CBA" 5630(1-6),
• Bundle 2="CBA" 5630(7-17),
• Bundle 3="CBA" 5630(18-30),
• Bundle 4="CBA" 5630(31-45).

It was very difficult to be certain about the correct spelling of some of the African village names. Since most of the letters are copies it is probable that names were copied incorrectly. Therefore, where known the correct versions are placed in square brackets after the version in the text.

The collection is open to any accredited reader.

The papers here listed were donated by Mr.F.F. Mitchell.

A catalogue of the Collection was produced by Susan M. Noble in 1984 (reference number CBA H1). The present catalogue has been produced to replace this with a modern ISAD(G) compliant catalogue.

Photocopies and photographic copies of material in the archive can be supplied for private study purposes only, depending on the condition of the documents.

A number of items within the archive remain within copyright under the terms of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988; it is the responsibility of users to obtain the copyright holder's permission for reproduction of copyright material for purposes other than research or private study.

Prior written permission must be obtained from the Library for publication or reproduction of any material within the archive. Please contact the Keeper of Manuscripts and Archives, John Rylands University Library, 150 Deansgate, Manchester, M3 3EH.

The John Rylands University Library also holds the papers of Echoes of Service, the Christian Brethren missionary service organisation ( GB 133 EOS).

"Into his marvellous light": a story of 50 years service in Central Africa (London: Central Bible Truth Depot, n.d. [c. 1945])

Tim Grass, Gathering to his Name: The Story of the Open Brethren in Britain and Ireland (Milton Keynes: Paternoster, 2006)

Frederick A. Tatford, That the World May Know, Volume 6: Light Over the Dark Continent (Bath: Echoes Publications, 1984)