Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- 1919-1979 (Creation)
Level of description
Extent and medium
1 file
Context area
Name of creator
Biographical history
Born in Loftus, Cleveland, 1884; her family were Primitive Methodists; the family lived at Horwich, Lancashire, 1886-1889; subsequently brought up in Middlesbrough; worked in Scarborough as a children's nurse; a clerk at Stockton Forge, Stockton-on-Tees; trained as a nurse at York County Hospital, 1913; served in military hospitals during World War One (1914-1918); awarded the Royal Red Cross medal; worked at the Welsh Hospital, Netley, Southampton; accepted by the the Primitive Methodist Missionary Society (PMMS, succeeded after 1932 by the Methodist Missionary Society), 1919; trained at Kingsmead Missionary Training College, 1920; a pioneering nurse in eastern Nigeria, 1921-1944; first matron at the Methodist Hospital, Ama Achara; temporary service in South Africa to establish a training hospital in Thaba Nchu, South Africa, 1946-1949; returned to Middlesborough; unmarried; died, 1978. For further information see her nephew Frank Godfrey's biography, Emily: the Relentless Nurse (Teamprint, Loughborough [1999]).
Archival history
GB 0102 MS 380758 1919-1979 Collection (fonds) 1 file Godfrey , Emily , 1884-1978 , medical missionary
Born in Loftus, Cleveland, 1884; her family were Primitive Methodists; the family lived at Horwich, Lancashire, 1886-1889; subsequently brought up in Middlesbrough; worked in Scarborough as a children's nurse; a clerk at Stockton Forge, Stockton-on-Tees; trained as a nurse at York County Hospital, 1913; served in military hospitals during World War One (1914-1918); awarded the Royal Red Cross medal; worked at the Welsh Hospital, Netley, Southampton; accepted by the the Primitive Methodist Missionary Society (PMMS, succeeded after 1932 by the Methodist Missionary Society), 1919; trained at Kingsmead Missionary Training College, 1920; a pioneering nurse in eastern Nigeria, 1921-1944; first matron at the Methodist Hospital, Ama Achara; temporary service in South Africa to establish a training hospital in Thaba Nchu, South Africa, 1946-1949; returned to Middlesborough; unmarried; died, 1978. For further information see her nephew Frank Godfrey's biography, Emily: the Relentless Nurse (Teamprint, Loughborough [1999]).
Deposited in 2001.
Papers, 1919-1979, of and relating to Emily Godfrey, comprising a record of her missionary work and biographical information, 1921-1978; copy certificate as founder member of the Royal College of Nursing, undated; her testimony when applying to be a missionary, 1919, and typescript copy; letters and papers, 1919-1921, relating to her appointment by the Primitive Methodist Missionary Society (PMMS); PMMS congratulations on receiving the Royal Red Cross medal for war work, undated; printed papers relating to Methodist activities, mainly in England, some relating to addresses by Emily Godfrey, 1921-1937; printed and typescript reports on her work in Nigeria, 1922-[1934]; letters received from various correspondents, 1922-1954, the subjects including her missionary work and retirement (1944); letters, 1942-1946, from German missionaries who were interned in Nigeria and England during World War Two; papers relating to pensions, 1937-1964; leaflet appealing for funds for the Methodist Hospital, Ama Achara, Nigeria, c1976; typescript accounts by Emily Godfrey of her work in Nigeria, one made from a tape recording (since lost), undated; printed and typescript items on her death, including obituaries and a letter of condolence, 1978-1979.
Unrestricted.
No publication without written permission. Apply to archivist in the first instance.
English
Collection level description.
SOAS holds a copy of Frank Godfrey's Emily: the Relentless Nurse (Ref: MMSL AE NI 386) as well as the records of the Primitive Methodist Missionary Society (Ref: MMS/PMMS).
The Centre for the Study of Christianity in the Non-Western World, Edinburgh, holds Emily Godfrey's photographs, negatives and lantern slides of mission work in Nigeria.
Compiled by Rachel Kemsley as part of the RSLP AIM25 project. Compiled in compliance with General International Standard Archival Description, ISAD(G), second edition, 2000; National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997. Mar 2002, revised Aug 2002 Africa Ama Achara Ancient religions Awards Christianity Christians England Europe Godfrey , Emily , 1884-1978 , medical missionary Health services Hospitals Humanitarian law International conflicts Internment camps Lay missionaries Magnetic tape recordings Medals Medical institutions Medical missionaries Medical missionary work Medical personnel Medical profession Medical sciences Methodism Methodist Hospital , Ama Achara, Nigeria Methodist Missionary Society Methodists Missionaries Missionary work Mission hospitals Nigeria Nursing Paramedical personnel Pensions (private) Personnel Personnel management Primitive Methodist Missionary Society Protestantism Protestant nonconformists Protestant nonconformity Protestants Recordings Religions Religious activities Religious groups Religious institutions Religious movements Retirement Royal College of Nursing Social behaviour Social norms Social sciences Social welfare Sound recordings Surgery Travel Travel abroad UK War West Africa Western Europe Women missionaries World War One (1914-1918) World wars (events) World War Two (1939-1945) Wars (events) People by occupation People London Organization and administration Health services administration Public administration Government Nonconformists Nonconformity
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
Deposited in 2001.
Content and structure area
Scope and content
Papers, 1919-1979, of and relating to Emily Godfrey, comprising a record of her missionary work and biographical information, 1921-1978; copy certificate as founder member of the Royal College of Nursing, undated; her testimony when applying to be a missionary, 1919, and typescript copy; letters and papers, 1919-1921, relating to her appointment by the Primitive Methodist Missionary Society (PMMS); PMMS congratulations on receiving the Royal Red Cross medal for war work, undated; printed papers relating to Methodist activities, mainly in England, some relating to addresses by Emily Godfrey, 1921-1937; printed and typescript reports on her work in Nigeria, 1922-[1934]; letters received from various correspondents, 1922-1954, the subjects including her missionary work and retirement (1944); letters, 1942-1946, from German missionaries who were interned in Nigeria and England during World War Two; papers relating to pensions, 1937-1964; leaflet appealing for funds for the Methodist Hospital, Ama Achara, Nigeria, c1976; typescript accounts by Emily Godfrey of her work in Nigeria, one made from a tape recording (since lost), undated; printed and typescript items on her death, including obituaries and a letter of condolence, 1978-1979.
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling
Accruals
System of arrangement
Conditions of access and use area
Conditions governing access
Unrestricted.
Conditions governing reproduction
No publication without written permission. Apply to archivist in the first instance.
Language of material
- English
Script of material
- Latin
Language and script notes
English
Physical characteristics and technical requirements
SOAS holds a copy of Frank Godfrey's Emily: the Relentless Nurse (Ref: MMSL AE NI 386) as well as the records of the Primitive Methodist Missionary Society (Ref: MMS/PMMS).
Finding aids
Collection level description.
Allied materials area
Existence and location of originals
Existence and location of copies
Related units of description
The Centre for the Study of Christianity in the Non-Western World, Edinburgh, holds Emily Godfrey's photographs, negatives and lantern slides of mission work in Nigeria.
Publication note
Notes area
Note
Alternative identifier(s)
Access points
Subject access points
- Religions » Ancient religions
- Social behaviour » Social norms » Awards
- Religions » Ancient religions » Christianity
- Religious groups » Christians
- Health services
- Health services » Hospitals
- Humanitarian law
- International conflicts
- Recordings » Sound recordings » Magnetic tape recordings
- Medical profession » Medical personnel
- Medical profession
- Medical sciences
- Religious activities » Missionary work
- Medical sciences » Nursing
- Medical profession » Medical personnel » Paramedical personnel
- Personnel
- Personnel management
- Religions » Ancient religions » Christianity » Protestantism
- Recordings
- Religions
- Religious activities
- Religious groups
- Religious institutions
- Religious institutions » Religious movements
- Personnel management » Retirement
- Social behaviour
- Social behaviour » Social norms
- Social sciences
- Social welfare
- Recordings » Sound recordings
- Medical sciences » Surgery
- Travel
- Travel » Travel abroad
- International conflicts » War
- Government » Public administration
- Government
Place access points
Name access points
Genre access points
Description control area
Description identifier
Institution identifier
Rules and/or conventions used
Compiled in compliance with General International Standard Archival Description, ISAD(G), second edition, 2000; National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997.
Status
Level of detail
Dates of creation revision deletion
Language(s)
- English