Repertorium van Nederlandse zendings- en missie-archieven 1800-1960

Het archief van de BMG lijkt in veel opzichten op het archief van de Rheinische Missionsgesellschaft (RMG). Het is opmerkelijk goed bewaard gebleven en bevat veel stukken met rapporten over het zendingsgebied naar het thuisfront, de verhandelingen van de conferenties van zendelingen en acht persoonlijke verzamelingen van zendelingen. De aandacht waard is de verzameling foto's die is gedigitaliseerd en op internet kan worden bestudeerd.

Onderzoekers moeten een afspraak maken met de beheerder van het archief dhr. Guy Thomas, Missionshaus, Basel.

The following archival blocks contain much information relevant to our subject

B-1

Correspondence and reports from, 1899-1924

7 files

Mainly documents about the period of the RMG-mission and the take over by the BMG 1921-1925.

B-2

Minutes of official conferences of missionaries with official reaction of the committee in Basel and other related documents, transactions of synods of the Dayak Church, 1924-1959

7 files

The minutes have the same structure as at the RMG: minutes, answer of the board and text of lectures held by missionaries. The conferences took 10-14 days normally. All aspects of the missionary work used to be put on the agenda. The lectures dealth with subjects like how to propagate the gospel, the challenge of the Islam and the wish of the Dayak Christians to have an independent church.

As an example of what these files may contain, a specification of nr. B-2, 1:

conference 1924, 29 January - 9 February

conference 1926, 1-15 March

(with lecture by br. Phil. Zimmermann, ‘Seminarvorsteher’, about the training for advanced native missionary workers)

conference 1928, 30 January - 10 February

conference 1930, 24 February Februari-7 March

With lecture by br. Flückiger at the synod in Mandomai 4 November 1930 ‘Über die werdende Dajakkirche’, paper by G. Baier at the general conference at Mandomai February-March 1930, ‘Was können wir tun om frisch zu bleiben?’, paper by Kühnle at the conference at Bandjermasin ‘Wie treiben wir die Heidenpredigt?’ and paper by Weisser ‘Danket dem Hernn’ about the second Dayak synod at Mandomai 4-8 November 1930.

conference 1933, 1-5 March

With papers by Van den Berg about a comparison about the situation in Batak Country with Borneo (Dutch language), by Epple about mission and Islam in Southern-Borneo, by Schwarz ‘Was können wir von Keysser und Gutmann lernen’, by Weiler, ‘Kurze Ratschläge für unsere Evangelisten betriffend Arbeitsplan und Methode’; a paper by Weisser about the arise of a movement in Kapoeas and Kahajan was not found in the file.

B-3

Correspondence and other documents, partly general and partly with individual missionaries, 1919-1959

47 files

Specification:

This category consists of files with a great variety of documents arranged in an alphabetical and chronological order among which many letters  to or from missionaries and also files with correspondence with individual missionaries.

The files with general correspondence also contain documents with: Dutch authorities, the Zendingsconsulaat, the colonial government of the Dutch East Indies, the Netherlands Bible Society, the classis Amsterdam of the Nederlands Hervormde Kerk, the director of the Dutch missionary centre at Oegstgeest, missionaries sent out by the BMG and working for the Sangir and Talaut Committee (!), Dutch missionaries and supporters, 1919-1959

There are files with correspondence with the following individual missionaries:

(the periods between brackets taken from the list are probably the period the files cover)

K.G. Weiler, 1930-1946

K. Epple, 1931-1938

H. Göttin, 1940-1946 en 1954-1956

W. Bigler, 1946-1953

H. Schärer, 1946-1947

G. van Noordennen, 1946-1954

H. Röthlisberger, 1950-1966

W. Städeli, 1957-1970

A. Stuby, 1965

M. Kägi, z.j.

Ch. Zimmermann, 1962-1969

B-6

Annual and other periodical and incidental reports, 1921-1946

Sent in by the president (‘Präses’) the station holders, the training school for native personnel and individual missionaries. Every missionary was obliged to report periodically. The reports are arranged according to the stations:

Bandjermassin, 1921-1946

Kandan, 1925-1941

Kasongan, 1925-1939

Koeala Kapoeas, 1924-1943

Koeala Koeron, 1925-1943

Mandomai, 1925-1943

Mengkatip, 1921-1944

Moeara Teweh, 1933-1937

Nangaboelik, 1929-1940

Pahandoet, 1924-1935

Pangkoh, 1927-1940

Poedjoen, 1925-1938

Poeroek Tjahoe, 1921-1940

Singkawang, 1933-1940

Tamianglajang, 1922-1940

Tewah, 1925-1940

Mission among women, 1931-1942

idem, Mrs. Kühnle-Degeler, 1921-1938

As an example of what these files may contain, a specification of nr. B-6-1,1:

general

Not only the leading missionaries, but also the other ones with minor duties wrote reports to the inspectorate. These reports have been written in a lively and narrative style, which made them suitable for publication. Maps have been added sometimes, photographs or other visual material not. Just like the reports in the archive of the Rhineland Mission attention is also paid to landscape, vegetation and wild life and the reports are full of ethnographical details.

annual report from Bandjermasin year 1921 by K. Hendrich

(religious movement among the Maanjangland population consisting of a mixture of pagan elements with political ideas of chasing away the Europeans; merchants sell oil which makes people invulnerable; people who refuse to join the movement are put under pressure; the authorities have suppressed the movement and arrested the leaders, but it has gone underground and still exists)

report of a journey to the upper Kahajan by K.G. Weiler, May 1921.

report of a journey to Maanjanland by G. Weiler and Hendrich, the Präses of the Rhineland Mission to Talang, the village where the princes of this Dayak tribe live , July-August 1921

(a good example of an incidental journey aimed at ta new attempt to convert the chief of the Maanjan-Dayaks).

Description of the town of Bandjermasin by Weiler, quarterly report May 1922

(Weiler does not like Islamics; when writing about Madurese sailors who come to Bandjermasin to sell vegetables, he writes that these people were dangerous pirates in the past, but owing to the Dutch they do not dare any more to attack ships.)

short report about the station of Bandjermasin, no date

annual report 1933 by K.G. Weiler

annual report 1935 by K.G. Weiler and K. Epple

paper by G. Weiler for the general conference of missionaries 25 March 1935 entitled ‘The influence of western culture on Southern-Borneo

(the conclusion deals with the problem of taking over European customs and manners and the process of secularisation. Weiler is quite negative about that and ends by saying all attendants of the meeting will agree with him and that the same process is going on in India and Africa.)

halfyear report about the Christian-Dutch Native Schools by K.G. Weiler, 1933

annual report by K.G. Weiler 1937

paper by K.G. Weiler entitled ‘Some reflexions about the problem: ‘Kirchenzucht und Abendmahl’ [= ecclesiastical censorship and Lord’s  Supper], no date

article by K.G. Weiler entitled ‘In der Stunde der Versuchung’, 1946

annual reports by  J. Huber about his work in Bandjermasin, 1922, 1923, 1924 and 1926

four short articles by mr. Huber and his wife about life and work in Southern-Borneo published in the Mitteilungen und Nachrichten von Zürcher Missionaren der Basler Mission

report about the Chinese community in Bandjermasin by Schreiben, no date

annual report by C. Schreiber about stations Bandjermasin and Kota Waringin 1926

report by Schreiber about his work in Bandjermasin, 1927

report of a missionary journey by Schreiber to the principality of  Kotawaringin April-June 1927

annual reports of station Bandjermasin by C. Schreiber, 1927 and 1928

quarterly report by Hans Bart about his work among the Chinese in Bandjermasin, 1930

quarterly report by Hans Bart about the Chinese mission, first and second quarter 1931

annual report station Bandjermasin by Bart, 1931

report of an explorative journey along the coast of South-East Borneo by Hans Bart April-May 1932

report of an explorative journey bij Hans Bart to the Chinese communities in West Borneo October-November 1932

annual report station Bandjermasin by Hans Bart 1932

quarterly report Bandjermasin second quarter 1930 by L. Walter, 1930

annual report station Bandjermassin by Gustav Trostel 1933.

report of the second journey of Gottlob Bär and his wife from Basel to Bandjermasin, 1936,

annual report station Bandjermasin by G. Bär 1937, 1938 and 1939

annual report station Bandjermasin by Weiler and Epple 1935

annual reporst station Bandjermasin by H. Reiter 1937 and 1938

report by J.W. Göttin of his journey to the area under the care of the classis Amsterdam, Mentaja-Katingan and about the world of the Islam in that region. 1 October-12 November 1938, 54 p.

On the title page has been written: ‘niets te publiceren!’ [= not for publication!];

chapters:

1. History of the area

2. Overview of the orthodox Islam in the area

3. The ‘reformatorisch-missionarische Vereinigung Mohammadijah’

4. The importance of Islamic centres

5. Reflexions about the missionary work.

B-7

‘Kirchenzensus’, data, 1922-1940

2 files

In B-10, 8, 4 a statistical survey of adult baptisms in Borneo, 1925-1940 by NN

B-8

Correspondence and reports of visitations, 1934-1963

B-9

Statutes of churches and publications,1855, 1935 en 1945-1946

B-10

Reports and grey literature

This number contains a great diversity of files among which some diaries and other interesting records.

B-11

Circular letters, periodical reports, 1921-1978

22 files

B-16

Medical certificates of missionaries, 1927-1946

2 files

B-17

Instructions for missionaries leaving for the Dutch East Indies/Indonesia, 1926-1970

2 files

B-20

Manuscripts in Indonesian languages, among which several translations of the Old and New Testament in Dayak languages made by missionaries.

Personal collections

The archive contains several personal collections of documents written or gathered by missionaries and donated to the archive.

1.

Johann (Hans) Göttin (1901-1989)

Covers mainly period 1940-1950

With several essays and reports about the Islam in Borneo

2.

dr. Matthäus Karl Vischer (1896-1943) and his wife Betsy Mylius (?-1943)

3.

Karl David Epple (1877-1944)

4.

dr. Hans Schärer (1904-1947)

5.

Heinrich Honegger (1914-1996)

6.

Ernst Kühnle (1887-1959) and his wife Rosa Degeler (1892-1968)

Biographical information

Ernst was born 12 March 1887 at Heidenheim (Württemberg) and died 15 January 1959 at Ulm

His original profession: carpenter

He married 9 September 1919 with Rosa Degeler

Rosa Degeler was born at Heidenheim in 1892 and died in 1968

Her original profession: teacher

Ernst was admitted to the BMG 1907 and ordained in 1913

He left for Kamerun in 1913 and again for Borneo in 1920

The couple was stationed at Mengkatip 1921-1931, Koeala Kapoeas, 1932-1934 and Mandomai 1934-1938

They left Bandjermasin on 26 February 1938 and did not return to Indonesia, possibly caused by health problems the diary of Rosa talks a lot about

Ernst was retired in 1955.

The diaries

All copies are in typescript, and some parts seem to be abstracts from the originals. The diary of Rosa Degeler describes meticulously the daily life at a missionary station. Rosa’s husband was frequently on travel to outer posts and Rosa observed everything what was going on around her. It seems Rosa was particularly interested in health problems and death, as she often describes the death of Dayak children and the rituals of their burials. 

The file is a mixture of copies from letters by Rosa to her husband and other people with copies of her diary. The copies probably dates from after her death in 1968. The original diaries which the copies refer to have not beenn found. Rosa’s diary covers the years 1928-1931 and 1936-1938 and is almost complete except the pages 73, 125-128, 140, 204-206.

It seems Rosa loved writing. The file contains circular letters written by Rosa every year during her stay in Borneo. Some of them were stencilled as ‘Berichte von Missionsfeld’ and distributed in Germany and Switzerland. In Mandomai she was busy with  a girls school (‘Haushaltungsschule’).

The diary of Ernst starts with copies of his letters to his future wedding partner Rosa written at Barcelona in 1919 followed by a report about his experiences between 1914 and 1919. The diary properly starts in Rotterdam on 15 January 1921 when he sails off. Arrival in Batavia 19 February 1921. Arrival in Borneo 2 March 1921. Ends with a note of 4 December 1921. Followed by several notes covering the pages 25-52 and referring to the pages of the original diary. A choice from the subjects the notes are dealing with:

Pagan resistance

The powerlessness of Islamics and pagans in times of trouble and bad luck

How an Islamic tries to explain and to proteect his religion

The watergod

The vengeance to the gods

Do Islamics have a belief or do they realize the existence of God?

Jenny Buddoh and the pleasure girls

Falling back into paganism

Dayak folk story about how the man arrived on the moon.

7.

Werner Bigler (1903-1976)

8.

Arnoud Hendrik Klokke (1920-?)

Klokke was a Dutch physician who worked at the hospital in Koeala Kapoeas.

The pictorial archive has been digitized and put on internet (www.bmpix.org). It consists of 1428 pictures of The Dutch East Indies and  46 pictures of Suriname. Almost all Indonesian pictures are of South-Borneo, the area which the Basler Missionary Society took over from the Rhineland Missionary Society between 1920 and 1926. The stations were situated in the inner country which was mainly inhabited by Dayak tribes, having their villages along the big rivers flowing from north to south. A few pictures have subjects from Java, Sumatra and the Dutch East Indies in general. Most photos are black and white, colour photos date from after 1945. The quality of the material is reasonable if we bear in mind the photographs have been taken by amateurs. The subjects of the photos often relate to land and people, churches, Christian services and pagan or half-pagan customs. Some pictures have been taken from the missionary workers, portraits as well as group photos. It is not clear why photographs of Suriname have been deposited in the archive of the BMG.