Guide to the Adolphus Clemens Good Papers
Open for research.
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Adolphus Clemens Good was appointed in 1882 by the Board of Foreign Missions to the West Africa Mission of the Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A. Initially assigned to the Baraka Station, he was transferred to the Ogowe River area in 1884 and spent the bulk of his career there. Assigned in 1892 by the BFM to explore the Batanga area, Dr. Good journeyed into the unexplored interior on three occasions. His first two journeys led to the selection of Efulen as the site of the first interior station. His third and most extensive journey resulted in the selection of Ebolewo as the second interior station. While on a fourth journey in 1894, Dr. Good contacted blackwater fever and died shortly after his return to Efulan. In addition to his work as a teacher and evangelist, Dr. Good studied bird and animal life in the Ogowe Valley and in the Cameroon, as well as the ethnology and religious beliefs of various West African tribes. He also prepared a text on Bulu grammar which was published posthumously.
Record Group 169 contains materials that document Dr. Good's African experiences. Of particular value are his journals and notes, his papers on the religious beliefs of the Gabwa and the role of women among the Bulu and miscellaneous Bulu language items. The collection also consists of various personal items, scattered correspondence and approximately twenty condolence letters sent to his widow, Lydia B. Walker Good.
Series I includes journals covering the following years: September 1882 - February 1884, 1885-1890, and 1890-1891. It also includes the following papers and notes: "The Religious Ideas of the Gabwa," 1891 ; "Woman's Place and Lot among the Bulu," 1892?; "Notes on a voyage to Liberia," 1892; and "Notes on Second Journey from Batanga to Nyahitande," 1892. There is also an undated list of Bulu words for tribal families. Series II includes Dr. Good's marriage and ordination certificates, 1882-1883; miscellaneous correspondence, 1882; and condolence letters, 1894-1896.
All materials are arranged chronologically by year.
SERIES I: JOURNALS/MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS, 1882-1892
SERIES II: CORRESPONDENCE /MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS, 1882-1896
To browse this collection's digitized content visit Pearl.
Collection processed and finding aid prepared: 1984
Frederick J. Heuser, Jr., Archivist
| Box | Folder | Description | Alternative Formats |
| SERIES I: JOURNALS/MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS, 1882-1892 | |||
| 1 | 1 | Finding Aid to RG 169 | |
| 1 | 2 | Journal, 1882 September-1884 February (transcript included) | Digital |
| 1 | 3 | Journal/miscellaneous notes (v.1), 1885-1890 | Digital |
| 1 | 4 | Journal/miscellaneous notes (v.2), 1890-1891 | Digital |
| 1 | 5 | Paper, "The Religious Ideas of the Gabwa," 1891 | Digital |
| 1 | 6 | Paper, "Woman's Place and Lot Among the Bulu," 1892? | Digital |
| 1 | 7 | Journal, "Notes on a Voyage to Liberia," 1892 | Digital |
| 1 | 7a | Journal, "Notes of Journeys About Batanga," 1892 | Digital |
| 1 | 8 | Journal, "Notes on Second Journey from Batanga to Nyahitande," 1892 | Digital |
| 1 | 9 | List, Bulu words for tribal families, undated | Digital |
| SERIES II: CORRESPONDENCE/MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS, 1882-1896 | |||
| 1 | 10 | Marriage and ordination certificates, 1882-1883 | Digital |
| 1 | 11 | Miscellaneous correspondence, 1882 | Digital |
| 1 | 12 | Condolence letters to Lydia B. Walker Good, 1894-1896 | Digital |