Guide to the G. Arista Staley Papers

G. Arista Staley was born in 1894 at Phoenix, Arizona. Her family (or at least she and her mother) moved to Los Angeles, where she was converted at a Christian Endeavor Convention in 1914. In 1915 she graduated from Mackay Business College and in 1918 from the Bible Institute of Los Angeles. She attended the West Adams Presbyterian Church where she was active in Sunday School and Christian Endeavor work. She applied in 1918 to the PCUSA Board of Missions for service in China, but was appointed to the West Africa Mission at Metet, Cameroon. From 1920-1932 she taught in the Girls' School and did itinerant work with African women. She also served in 1932 as assistant editor of The Drum Call, the West Africa Mission quarterly.

Beginning in 1932, and continuing until her retirement, Staley was engaged in medical work. She served as a nurse at Central Hospital, Elat, 1932-1933, 1938-1939; MacLean Memorial Hospital at Lolodorf, 1934-1935; and as nurse in charge of Schauffler Hospital at Efulan, 1936-1937, 1940-1943. She went on an extended furlough, 1944-1945, after which she returned to do medical work at Bafia, 1945-1947; Mkol Mvolan, 1948-1951; and at Foulassi, 1952-1959. In 1959 she retired after forty years of service.