To formally introduce the Council for World Mission (CWM) archives, highlight the depth of its resources and capabilities as well as to demonstrate to the various member churches how to remotely access the School of African and Oriental Studies (SOAS) Library Catalogue, the CWM Archive Catalogue and the CWM digitised archives, a series of three webinars were organised.
The first, focused on the African, Caribbean, and European member churches, was conducted on 24 September.
Led by CWM Archivist, Jo Ichimura, the 41 participants from the region’s member churches as well as ecumenical and academic partners were given a comprehensive briefing on the archives, which have been located at the SOAS Library in the University of London, since 1973.
The one-hour webinar spotlighted the archives’ collection that forms a unique resource for the study of the global spread of the Christian faith over the last 200 years. The materials are accessed by academic researchers, family historians, churches, and communities from around the world.
The archives also provide a repository for a myriad of historical documents and artifacts that span the entire history of CWM from its foundation in the London Missionary Society in 1795, to the creation of CWM in 1977 and its early decades.
Participants were also given a glimpse into the vastness of the archives that comprise over 3,000 curated and preserved boxes of letters, diaries, reports, minutes, photographs, and maps, in addition to a sprawling library of printed books, pamphlets, periodicals, vernacular texts, and translations.
The next CWM Archives webinar will be conducted on 22 October at 2 p.m. (Singapore time). More details for registration and the event link will be shared closer to the date via the CWM website and social media platforms.