Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- 1817-1951 (Creation)
Level of description
Extent and medium
2.5 boxes
Context area
Name of creator
Biographical history
Born in Kirkcaldy, Fife, Scotland, 1775; apprenticed to a linen manufacturer in Leven; clerk in Dundee, 1794-1797; converted in the Haldane revival; studied at Hoxton Theological College for three years and entered the Congregational ministry; assistant in Newbury, Berkshire; minister at the first Scottish Congregational chapel in Aberdeen, 1804; married Jane Ross (d 1847), 1809; the work of the London Missionary Society (LMS) in South Africa was threatened with closure by the British authorities and as an LMS director went on a deputation, with the Rev John Campbell, to investigate, 1818; arrived in Cape Town, 1819; prevented by a war from travelling beyond the colony; found the mission stations neglected and colonial opinion against the missionaries' benign relations with indigenous people; believed the population to be oppressed by the settlers; appointed to remain in South Africa as LMS superintendent, 1820; his wife, Jane, was the de facto LMS administrative secretary there; Doctor of Divinity, Princetown College, New Jersey, USA, 1820; travelled extensively to inspect mission stations within and beyond the colony and to collect evidence supporting his theories, 1820-1826; pastor of the new Union chapel in Cape Town, 1822; campaigned for civil rights for the 'Cape Coloured' people, who formed a number of LMS congregations, 1823; visited Britain to lobby for their civil rights, 1826; the campaign achieved success and, following Sir Thomas Fowell Buxton's motion in the House of Commons, the Cape government was ordered to implement Philip's recommendations, 1828; Philip hoped that the Christian `mini-state' the Griqua people, aided by the LMS, had formed beyond the Cape Colony frontier would become a model for other indigenous peoples; while in Europe, solicited the Paris Evangelical Mission Society and the Rhenish Missionary Society to begin work in South Africa; corresponded with the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions to persuade them to come; advocated the idea that only Africans could convert Africa ('native agency'); returned to Africa to increased unpopularity from the white population, 1829; a libel suit by William Mackay, one of the officials accused by Philip in his Researches in South Africa, resulted in a unanimous verdict for Mackay, 1830; visited stations within and beyond the colony, 1832-1833; accompanied Coloured and Xhosa Christians to London to give evidence before a parliamentary committee and rouse public opinion against the Cape government, 1836; the committee's report supported his views, but his insistence that much of the responsibility for the war lay with the British authorities and white colonists brought hostility from much of the white population in the Cape, 1837; returned to South Africa, 1837-1838; travelled extensively to promote his scheme for establishment of independent states north and east of the colony, 1839, 1842; following a war (1846) Philip withdrew from public affairs, 1849; retired to Hankey; died, 1851; admired by the Coloured, Griqua, Sotho and Xhosa peoples, he was buried in the Coloured graveyard of a Coloured township. Publication: Researches in South Africa, illustrating the civil, moral and religious condition of the Native Tribes (2 volumes, 1828).
Archival history
The papers were accumulated by the London Missionary Society and form part of the special series of papers which fall outside the Home and Regional series.
GB 0102 CWM/LMS Africa Miscellaneous Boxes 12-14 1817-1951 Collection (fonds) 2.5 boxes Philip , John , 1775-1851 , missionary
Born in Kirkcaldy, Fife, Scotland, 1775; apprenticed to a linen manufacturer in Leven; clerk in Dundee, 1794-1797; converted in the Haldane revival; studied at Hoxton Theological College for three years and entered the Congregational ministry; assistant in Newbury, Berkshire; minister at the first Scottish Congregational chapel in Aberdeen, 1804; married Jane Ross (d 1847), 1809; the work of the London Missionary Society (LMS) in South Africa was threatened with closure by the British authorities and as an LMS director went on a deputation, with the Rev John Campbell, to investigate, 1818; arrived in Cape Town, 1819; prevented by a war from travelling beyond the colony; found the mission stations neglected and colonial opinion against the missionaries' benign relations with indigenous people; believed the population to be oppressed by the settlers; appointed to remain in South Africa as LMS superintendent, 1820; his wife, Jane, was the de facto LMS administrative secretary there; Doctor of Divinity, Princetown College, New Jersey, USA, 1820; travelled extensively to inspect mission stations within and beyond the colony and to collect evidence supporting his theories, 1820-1826; pastor of the new Union chapel in Cape Town, 1822; campaigned for civil rights for the 'Cape Coloured' people, who formed a number of LMS congregations, 1823; visited Britain to lobby for their civil rights, 1826; the campaign achieved success and, following Sir Thomas Fowell Buxton's motion in the House of Commons, the Cape government was ordered to implement Philip's recommendations, 1828; Philip hoped that the Christian `mini-state' the Griqua people, aided by the LMS, had formed beyond the Cape Colony frontier would become a model for other indigenous peoples; while in Europe, solicited the Paris Evangelical Mission Society and the Rhenish Missionary Society to begin work in South Africa; corresponded with the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions to persuade them to come; advocated the idea that only Africans could convert Africa ('native agency'); returned to Africa to increased unpopularity from the white population, 1829; a libel suit by William Mackay, one of the officials accused by Philip in his Researches in South Africa, resulted in a unanimous verdict for Mackay, 1830; visited stations within and beyond the colony, 1832-1833; accompanied Coloured and Xhosa Christians to London to give evidence before a parliamentary committee and rouse public opinion against the Cape government, 1836; the committee's report supported his views, but his insistence that much of the responsibility for the war lay with the British authorities and white colonists brought hostility from much of the white population in the Cape, 1837; returned to South Africa, 1837-1838; travelled extensively to promote his scheme for establishment of independent states north and east of the colony, 1839, 1842; following a war (1846) Philip withdrew from public affairs, 1849; retired to Hankey; died, 1851; admired by the Coloured, Griqua, Sotho and Xhosa peoples, he was buried in the Coloured graveyard of a Coloured township. Publication: Researches in South Africa, illustrating the civil, moral and religious condition of the Native Tribes (2 volumes, 1828).
The papers were accumulated by the London Missionary Society and form part of the special series of papers which fall outside the Home and Regional series.
Deposited on permanent loan with the records of the London Missionary Society by the Congregational Council for World Mission (later Council for World Mission) in 1973.
Papers, 1817-1951, of and relating to John Philip, comprising correspondence and papers, 1817-1849, including manuscripts and pamphlets, on his call to South Africa and the reluctance of his Aberdeen congregation that he should leave; the situation in South Africa and government policy, leading to the writing of his Researches; the ensuing court case (against William Mackay); the Wesleyan intrusion in Griqualand; also including editions of South African newspapers, 1824; letters from Robert Moffat concerning the mission station at Kuruman, 1845; manuscript papers by Philip concerning South Africa and the life of Sir Thomas Fowell Buxton sent to Sir Edward Buxton, 1846; papers concerning Philip and South Africa, 1910-1951, including correspondence and press cuttings, some relating to W M Macmillan's Cape Colour Question (1927). The subjects include missionary activities and journeys, settlement in the region, race relations, slavery, and colonial policy.
Unrestricted.
No publication without written permission. Apply to archivist in the first instance.
English
Unpublished handlist; detailed typescript list stored with the material.
Published on microfiche by IDC Publishers.
The School of Oriental and African Studies holds the records of the London Missionary Society (Ref: CWM/LMS), including letters from individual missionaries, among them Philip (Ref: CWM/LMS South Africa Incoming Correspondence); correspondence and papers of John Philip, 1818-1850s (Ref: CWM/LMS Africa Miscellaneous Box 10); photographs of Philip (Ref: CWM/LMS General Portraits Box 4); print of an engraving of Philip, taken from a painting (Ref: CWM/LMS Africa Photographs Box 3 File 31).
Oxford University, Rhodes House Library, holds Philip's correspondence with Thomas Buxton, 1834-1843 (Ref: MSS Brit Emp s 444).
Compiled by Rachel Kemsley as part of the RSLP AIM25 project. Sources: Dictionary of National Biography; Biographical Dictionary of Christian Missions, ed Gerald H Anderson (1998); LMS Register of Missionaries, ed James Sibree; National Register of Archives. 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. Feb 2002 Aberdeen Aberdeen Congregational Chapel Aberdeenshire Administration of justice Ancient religions Buxton , Sir , Edward North , 1812-1858 , 2nd Baronet , politician Buxton , Sir , Thomas Fowell , 1786-1845 , 1st Baronet , philanthropist Christianity Christians Clergy Colonial administration Colonial countries Colonization Congregationalism Congregationalists Europe Evangelistic missionaries Evangelistic missionary work Griqualand East Griqualand West Interethnic relations Internal politics Kuruman Legal procedure Mackay , William , fl 1830 , South African official Macmillan , William Miller , 1885-1974 , historian Methodism Methodists Missionaries Missionary deputations Missionary Society x LMS , London Missionary Society x London Missionary Society Missionary work Newspaper press Ordained missionaries Philip , John , 1775-1851 , missionary Political leadership Political systems Politicians Press Press cuttings Protestantism Protestant nonconformists Protestant nonconformity Protestants Province of the Eastern Cape Province of the Northern Cape Religion Religions Religious activities Religious conflicts Religious experience Religious groups Religious institutions Religious movements Scotland Slavery Social structure South Africa Southern Africa Travel Travel abroad UK Western Europe London England Nonconformists Nonconformity
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
Deposited on permanent loan with the records of the London Missionary Society by the Congregational Council for World Mission (later Council for World Mission) in 1973.
Content and structure area
Scope and content
Papers, 1817-1951, of and relating to John Philip, comprising correspondence and papers, 1817-1849, including manuscripts and pamphlets, on his call to South Africa and the reluctance of his Aberdeen congregation that he should leave; the situation in South Africa and government policy, leading to the writing of his Researches; the ensuing court case (against William Mackay); the Wesleyan intrusion in Griqualand; also including editions of South African newspapers, 1824; letters from Robert Moffat concerning the mission station at Kuruman, 1845; manuscript papers by Philip concerning South Africa and the life of Sir Thomas Fowell Buxton sent to Sir Edward Buxton, 1846; papers concerning Philip and South Africa, 1910-1951, including correspondence and press cuttings, some relating to W M Macmillan's Cape Colour Question (1927). The subjects include missionary activities and journeys, settlement in the region, race relations, slavery, and colonial policy.
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
The School of Oriental and African Studies holds the records of the London Missionary Society (Ref: CWM/LMS), including letters from individual missionaries, among them Philip (Ref: CWM/LMS South Africa Incoming Correspondence); correspondence and papers of John Philip, 1818-1850s (Ref: CWM/LMS Africa Miscellaneous Box 10); photographs of Philip (Ref: CWM/LMS General Portraits Box 4); print of an engraving of Philip, taken from a painting (Ref: CWM/LMS Africa Photographs Box 3 File 31).
Finding aids
Unpublished handlist; detailed typescript list stored with the material.
Allied materials area
Existence and location of originals
Existence and location of copies
Published on microfiche by IDC Publishers.
Related units of description
Oxford University, Rhodes House Library, holds Philip's correspondence with Thomas Buxton, 1834-1843 (Ref: MSS Brit Emp s 444).
Publication note
Notes area
Note
Alternative identifier(s)
Access points
Subject access points
- Administration of justice
- Religions » Ancient religions
- Religions » Ancient religions » Christianity
- Religious groups » Christians
- Religious groups » Clergy
- Political systems » Colonial countries
- Political systems » Colonial countries » Colonization
- Interethnic relations
- Internal politics
- Administration of justice » Legal procedure
- Religious activities » Missionary work
- Press » Newspaper press
- Internal politics » Political leadership
- Political systems
- Internal politics » Political leadership » Politicians
- Press
- Press » Newspaper press » Press cuttings
- Religions » Ancient religions » Christianity » Protestantism
- Religion
- Religions
- Religious activities
- Religion » Religious conflicts
- Religion » Religious experience
- Religious groups
- Religious institutions
- Religious institutions » Religious movements
- Social structure » Slavery
- Social structure
- Travel
- Travel » Travel abroad
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