Material relating to the Arton family

This material is held atSchool of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) Archives, University of London

  • Reference
    • GB 102 MS 381332
  • Dates of Creation
    • 1960s
  • Language of Material
    • English
  • Physical Description
    • 5 items

Scope and Content

Prayer letter, photographs and slides of Betty and Jon Arton, and their daughter Heather. The letter is written from their mission station at Stanleyville [Kisangani, Democratic Republic of the Congo], October 1963, and reports on mission work. Both the letter and many of the images appear to relate to the period shortly before the death of the family in the massacre at Stanleyville in 1964.

Administrative / Biographical History

Betty and John Arton were missionaries with the Unevangelised Field Mission [now United for Mission], stationed at Stanleyville [Kisangani, Democratic Republic of the Congo]. They were killed at Stanleyville along with their daughter and a number of other hostages in 1964, during the the Simba Rebellion ("Simba Revolution").

Access Information

Open

Acquisition Information

Donated to SOAS Library in June 2018 by the grand-daughter of Mrs Bessie Buck.

Archivist's Note

Catalogued

Conditions Governing Use

SOAS

Custodial History

The papers formerly belonged to the donor's grandmother, Mrs Bessie Buck (1900-1976), who was a friend of the Arton family and a committed supporter of overseas missionaries. She hosted many missionary families at her home in Preston when they were on leave.

Subjects