Scope and Contents
The personal journals, letters, and station diaries contained in this collection provide exceptionally detailed documentation of the life and work of the Walns in Angola. Series I, Writings of Duane Waln, includes his journals from 1930 through 1962 plus material related to his graduate work while on furlough, and a series of biographical sketches of native Christians in Angola. The Writings of Marian ("Peggy") Waln in Series II also include biographical sketches of native women Christians as well as various drafts of talks and articles related to her work in Africa. Series III, Correspondence of Marian ("Peggy") Waln consists primarily of typescript carbons of letters written by her to family members, friends, and supporters in the United States. In particular, letters to women in supporting churches in the U.S. provide detailed accounts of Peggy's work in the field of women's education in Angola. Series IV includes various notes and published materials related to the Ovimbundu people and Umbundu language while Series V includes documentation related to the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions work in Angola. Series VI includes writings of a missionary colleague, books about Angola, and samples of the wood of various Angolan trees that Duane Waln collected.
Dates
- 1905-1962
Creator
Conditions Governing Access
The materials are open for research.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Gift of the Waln family.
Arrangement
- I. Writings of Duane V. Waln
- II. Writings of Marian ("Peggy") Waln
- III. Correspondence of Marian ("Peggy") Waln
- IV. Ovimbundu/ Umbundu Materials
- V. ABCFM Angola Mission Records
- VI. Collected Materials
Extent
4 Linear Feet (8 boxes)
Language of Materials
English
Catalog Record
A record for this collection is available in Orbis, the Yale University Library catalog
Persistent URL
Abstract
Journals, correspondence, and mission station "diaries" provide thorough and detailed documentation of work at the Chilesso Station of the ABCFM in Angola from 1905 to 1962. Also of interest in the collection are Duane Waln's papers on the Ovimbundu people and their customs, Umbundu language grammars and dictionaries, writings of the Walns relating to life on Chilesso Station and biographies of the native Christians. Duane and Marian ("Peggy") Waln were American missionaries in Angola from 1929 to 1962, serving primarily at the Chilesso Station of the West Central Africa Mission of the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions. Duane Waln was involved in mission administrative work and evangelism. Peggy Waln's major project at Chilesso Station was founding and running a school for women, which had a home economics program.
Biographical / Historical
The Walns were engaged in language study in Portugal from1928-1929 before going to the Chilesso Station of the ABCFM West Central Africa Mission, where they served from 1929 to 1962. Duane Victor Waln was acting director of the Currie Institute in Dondi for a brief period, but the Walns were primarily stationed at Chilesso.
Duane was engaged in evangelistic work, but also supervised construction and operation of the mission schools, hospital, and residences. Marian Ingram Waln (known as "Peggy") ran a Home Economics School for women and was much occupied by hospitality for mission colleagues and visitors. The Walns had two sons: Duane, Jr. and Robert.
- Title
- Guide to the Duane and Marian Waln Papers
- Author
- Compiled by Dionis Gauvin and Martha Lund Smalley
- Date
- 2002
- Description rules
- Finding Aid Prepared According To Local Divinity Library Descriptive Practices
- Language of description note
- Finding aid written in English.
Part of the Yale Divinity Library Repository