Angolan political papers of William David Grenfell

Political papers and documents from Angolan political parties, including: political papers of the Reverend David Grenfell and Jim Grenfell (his nephew), 1960-1977; papers of the Revolutionary Government of Angola in Exile (GRAE), National Front for the Liberation of Angola (FNLA) and associated agencies, 1962-1967; papers of the Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola' (MPLA) and associated agencies, 1961-1963; papers of Nwizani a Kongo (Ngwizako); papers of the Partido Democratico de Angola (PDA), 1961-1967; papers of União Nacional para a Independência Total de Angola (UNITA); papers of União Progressista Nacional de Angola (UPRONA), 1966-1969; papers of the Committee for Freedom in Mozambique, Angola and Guiné (CFMAG); papers of Frente de Libertação de Moçambique (FRELIMO); political ephemera from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (Zaire), 1961-1966; miscellaneous correspondence 1961-1967; press cuttings on the Angolan war, 1961-1970s; Luanda newspapers, 1961; press cuttings on Rhodesia, South Africa, Zaire and Africa in general, 1962-1974; press cuttings on the Baptists' Missionary work among Angolan refugees; 'Angola calling', journal edited by David Grenfell, 1950-1955; GRAE Safe Conduct Passes, August 1964 - December 1965.

William David Grenfell was born and educated in Leeds, and later trained at Cliff College and Rawdon Baptist College. After leaving school at thirteen, he worked for ten years as a chemical plumber before entering the ministry. He worked in Angola from 1933 to 1961 among the Zombo people in the north of the country. When the revolt began in 1961, Grenfell was immediately involved in the care of refugees whose numbers quickly grew as a result of Portuguese bombing of villages hitherto unattacked in the guerilla war led by União das Populações de Angola (UPA). Much of the relief work was done under illegal conditions as it involved contact with UPA cadres and visits to zones administered by the UPA. Grenfell was in a unique position to gather information about the northern Angolan revolt as he was Field Secretary for the Baptist Missionary Society, one of the main missionary groups operating in the area, and many of the UPA leaders were evangelical protestants. The Portuguese government eventually expelled the Baptists from Angola, accusing them of directly instigating the revolt. Grenfell was compelled to leave in 1961, but from 1966 onwards he worked on the other side of the border in southern Zaire with the refugees from Angola. Relief work amongst them refugees was done in close co-operation with Governo Revolucionário de Angola no Exílio (GRAE), the UPA provisional government which was headed by Holden Roberto. David Grenfell retired in 1969 to live in Buckinghamshire, and the same year he received the MBE. He died in 1980.

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William David Grenfell was born and educated in Leeds, and later trained at Cliff College and Rawdon Baptist College. After leaving school at thirteen, he worked for ten years as a chemical plumber before entering the ministry. He worked in Angola from 1933 to 1961 among the Zombo people in the north of the country. When the revolt began in 1961, Grenfell was immediately involved in the care of refugees whose numbers quickly grew as a result of Portuguese bombing of villages hitherto unattacked in the guerilla war led by União das Populações de Angola (UPA). Much of the relief work was done under illegal conditions as it involved contact with UPA cadres and visits to zones administered by the UPA. Grenfell was in a unique position to gather information about the northern Angolan revolt as he was Field Secretary for the Baptist Missionary Society, one of the main missionary groups operating in the area, and many of the UPA leaders were evangelical protestants. The Portuguese government eventually expelled the Baptists from Angola, accusing them of directly instigating the revolt. Grenfell was compelled to leave in 1961, but from 1966 onwards he worked on the other side of the border in southern Zaire with the refugees from Angola. Relief work amongst them refugees was done in close co-operation with Governo Revolucionário de Angola no Exílio (GRAE), the UPA provisional government which was headed by Holden Roberto. David Grenfell retired in 1969 to live in Buckinghamshire, and the same year he received the MBE. He died in 1980.

* Borthwick Institute, GB 193 CSASMF/66-67: William David Grenfell Papers (microfilmed)

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Further accruals are not expected.

Hoover Institution Archives, Stanford University: David Grenfell Reports, 1963-1970 (reference 96021).

Published

GB 193