GB 0102 PP MS 12 - Richards, Charles Granston

17 boxes

GB 0102 PP MS 12 Created 1935-1995 Collection (fonds) 17 boxes Richards , Charles Granston , b 1908 , missionary and publisher
Charles Granston Richards was born in 1908. He went to Kenya in 1935 as a missionary for the Church Missionary Society, with special responsibility for the encouragement of literacy and literature among East Africans. Working through the CMS Bookshop in Nairobi, he became a publisher - for example, under the imprint of the Highway Press. In 1948, following an appraisal by Elspeth Huxley, the East African Governor's Conference decided to set up an East African Literature Bureau (EALB). Charles Richards wrote the report which led to its establishment and became its first Director. The EALB published a variety of texts, in English and in the major African languages - some of which are included in this collection. Richards remained Director of the EALB for fifteen years.

In 1963 Dr. Richards moved to the Oxford University Press to build up its publishing in East Africa, but in 1964 the OUP released him to work part-time in setting up what became the Christian Literature Fund (CLF) of the World Council of Churches. Richards was full-time Director of the CLF from 1965-1970, and of its successor, the Agency for Christian Literature Development (ACLD) from 1970-1974. The offices of the CLF were in Lausanne, but Richards was constantly 'in the field', as his Tour reports indicate. In December 1974 Dr. Richards retired as Director of the ACLD, which was then replaced by the Print Media Development Unit (PMDU) of the new World Association for Christian Communication (WACC), under the Acting Director, Reverend A. D. Manuel. Richards maintained an active association with the PMDU, and with other agencies concerned with literature and literacy. He served on the British Committee on Literacy, conducted an evaluation of the South African Bureau of Literacy, investigated the progress of the East African Venture, which he had helped to start while at the ACLD, and continued to give talks on his past work.

Donated in 1991, 1992 and 1993.

Papers, 1935-1995, of Charles Granston Richards, comprising articles, reports, books, pamphlets and correspondence reflecting his work and interests. The papers cover his work with the Church Missionary Society in Kenya, East African Literary Bureau, Oxford University Press, Christian Literature Fund and Agency for Christian Literature Development in addition to his retirement years.

The arrangement of these papers is broadly chronological, following the main stages of Dr. Richard's career: personal papers (1939-1978); with the Missionary Society in Kenya (1935-1948); director of the East African Literature Bureau (1948-1963); with the Oxford University Press in Africa (1964-1965); Director of the Christian Literature Fund (1965-1970); Director of the Agency for Christian Literature Development (1970-1974); in retirement (1975-); miscellaneous.

Within the three principal agencies of which Dr. Richards was Director, the East African Literature Bureau, Christian Literature Fund and the Agency for Christian Literature, a common pattern of arrangement has been followed:
First - documents relating to the setting up of the agency
Second - official papers of the agency (Minutes, Reports)
Third - documents illustrating the work of the agency
Fourth - articles and talks publicising the work of the agency
Fifth - photographs.

In addition, the collection contains a large number of printed books and pamphlets, and some of these have been placed outside the chronological arrangement. Books and pamphlets collected by Dr. Richard for use in his work have been split off from the work itself, and are listed separately (PP MS 12/LIB/1-74, pp.17-20 of the handlist). Other printed works, for example articles by Richards or sponsored by him, are listed in the appropriate chronological section.

Unrestricted.

No publication without written permission. Apply to archivist in the first instance.
Mainly English

Unpublished handlist.

The Church Missionary Society Archives are held at Birmingham University. The Kenya Missionary Papers are held at Rhodes House Library, Oxford.

15 May 2000 African literature Ancient religions Anglicanism Anglicans Basic study subjects British Committee on Literacy Christianity Christians Church Missionary Society Communication personnel Conference of East African Governors East Africa East African Literature Bureau East African Venture Educational missionaries Educational missionary work Educational programmes Highway Press Kenya Lay missionaries Literacy Literacy programmes Missionaries Missionary work National literatures Oxford University Press Photographs Protestantism Protestants Publishers Publishing Publishing industry Religions Religious activities Religious doctrines Religious groups Religious institutions Religious movements Religious texts Richards , Charles Granston , b 1908 , missionary and publisher South Africa South African Bureau of Literacy Southern Africa Theology Visual materials World Association for Christian Communication , Print Media Development Unit x Print Media Development Unit World Council of Churches , Agency for Christian Literature Development x Agency for Christian Literature Development World Council of Churches , Christian Literature Fund x Christian Literature Fund Personnel People by occupation People Catholicism Catholics

Donated in 1991, 1992 and 1993.

Papers, 1935-1995, of Charles Granston Richards, comprising articles, reports, books, pamphlets and correspondence reflecting his work and interests. The papers cover his work with the Church Missionary Society in Kenya, East African Literary Bureau, Oxford University Press, Christian Literature Fund and Agency for Christian Literature Development in addition to his retirement years.

The arrangement of these papers is broadly chronological, following the main stages of Dr. Richard's career: personal papers (1939-1978); with the Missionary Society in Kenya (1935-1948); director of the East African Literature Bureau (1948-1963); with the Oxford University Press in Africa (1964-1965); Director of the Christian Literature Fund (1965-1970); Director of the Agency for Christian Literature Development (1970-1974); in retirement (1975-); miscellaneous.

Within the three principal agencies of which Dr. Richards was Director, the East African Literature Bureau, Christian Literature Fund and the Agency for Christian Literature, a common pattern of arrangement has been followed:
First - documents relating to the setting up of the agency
Second - official papers of the agency (Minutes, Reports)
Third - documents illustrating the work of the agency
Fourth - articles and talks publicising the work of the agency
Fifth - photographs.

In addition, the collection contains a large number of printed books and pamphlets, and some of these have been placed outside the chronological arrangement. Books and pamphlets collected by Dr. Richard for use in his work have been split off from the work itself, and are listed separately (PP MS 12/LIB/1-74, pp.17-20 of the handlist). Other printed works, for example articles by Richards or sponsored by him, are listed in the appropriate chronological section.

Unrestricted.

No publication without written permission. Apply to archivist in the first instance.

• English

• Latin

Mainly English

Unpublished handlist.

The Church Missionary Society Archives are held at Birmingham University. The Kenya Missionary Papers are held at Rhodes House Library, Oxford.

• English