![]() ![]() Needless to say, a draft of Kaunda’s manuscript would have particular historical and cultural significance for modern-day researchers - not to mention the Zambian people. (far left) - congratulate Zambian President Kenneth Kaunda on his inauguration in 1964 (Brethren in Christ Historical Library and Archives)Īpparently, the manuscript Thomas uncovered was an early draft of Zambia Shall Be Free, the 1962 autobiography of Zambian President Kenneth Kaunda, who led the country’s 1964 independence movement, famous for its use of nonviolent tactics. Church leaders - including then-Brethren in Christ bishop Frank Kipe Sr. The files had been previously examined, but tucked behind the files in a previously unnoticed box was typed manuscript of several hundred pages in two volumes. Temple, a British missionary who had served for a time as headmaster of the David Livingston Teacher Training School in Livingston, Zambia, a school that was part of the PHC ministry in the 1950’s and 1960’s. Thomas examined three boxes of materials in the archives that Rev. Thomas interviewed retired missionary Daniel Bursch who once served as the national director in Zambia.ĭr. The Wesleyan Church news story recounts the tale: Sometimes, though, archival research yields unexpected treasures, as was the case for Thomas. It’s not particularly glamorous work (although for some of us, it does have its charms!). Of course, anyone who’s done archival research knows it can be quite tedious: paging through dusty, dog-eared file after dusty, dog-eared file squinting to decipher sometimes-indiscernible handwriting distracted down a research rabbit-hole that ultimately leads nowhere. (I don’t know too much about this book, but I’m hoping to learn more soon!)Īs part of his research for the book, in summer 2013 Thomas visited the Wesleyan Church Archives in Fishers, Indiana, in pursuit of information about the “Pilgrim Holiness Church (PHC) missionary collaboration with the Brethren in Christ (BIC) in Zambia in the early to mid-twentieth century,” according to this story from the Wesleyan Church website. (As a sidenote, the Pilgrim Holiness Church merged with the Wesleyan Church at some point in its history.) Thomas is currently working on a book titled Missionaries on the Fringe, which apparently focuses on early Brethren in Christ missionary endeavors in Zambia. Last week in our Brethren in Christ on the World Wide Web roundup, The Search for Piety and Obedience highlighted a series of interesting stories centering on the research of Brethren in Christ scholar Dwight W. This story is too good not to share again! ![]()
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