Angus Library and Archive
| Angus Library | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Type | University of Oxford Collegiate Library |
| Established | 1893 |
| Collection | |
| Size | 70,000 items |
| Criteria for collection | Baptist Heritage |
| Other information | |
| Website | [1] |
The Angus Library and Archive is a significant collection of over 70,000 items relating to the history of the Baptist movement from 1612. It is based on the site of Regent's Park College, Oxford, a Permanent Private Hall of the University of Oxford and one of the key centres for Baptist ministerial training worldwide.
History of the Library
British Baptist life began in 1612 when a group of men and women returned to England from the Netherlands where they had been sheltering from religious persecution. They did so in the knowledge that they would face more persecution. From that day, through to the late nineteenth century, when the final restrictions on Baptists and other non-conformists were lifted, Baptists faced fines, imprisonment and restrictions on their liberties. The Angus Library and Archive holds many volumes and documents which are critical to the understanding of this time in history and many of which cannot be found anywhere else in the world.
The core of the collection was left to Regent’s Park College by Dr. Joseph Angus who was Principal from 1849 to 1893. The Angus now comprises over 70,000 printed books, pamphlets, journals, church and association records, church histories, manuscript letters and other artifacts from the late fifteenth century to the present day. The collection relates to the life and history of Baptists in Britain and the wider world. Alongside this unique insight into Baptist and nonconformist history there is a considerable amount of material from non-Baptist sources relating to issues and controversies in which Baptists were involved. There is also an extensive hymnody collection from various denominations and cultures. Many of the items are only found in The Angus Library.
Contents and Collections
It offers printed books, pamphlets, journals, church and association records, church histories, manuscript letters and other artefacts from the early sixteenth century to the present day. It contains a comprehensive collection of Baptist periodicals from around the world.
The Angus Library has an extensive manuscript collection including collection from key Baptist people such as William Carey, C.H. Spurgeon, John and Hannah Marshman and Willam Ward, E.A. Payne, and J. H Rushbrook. We also hold manuscripts for leading Baptist families such as Angus, Steele, Whitaker, and Reeves.
There is a collection of minutes and papers from a variety of Baptist organisations or organisations with which Baptists have been involved such as the Baptist Union of Great Britain, Baptist World Alliance, Baptist Historical Society, Deaconess Movement, World Council of Churches and the European Baptist Fellowship. For a complete list please click on the Manuscript Link in the side bar.
Special collections, including those of the Baptist Missionary Society, offer material relating to Baptist witness in Eastern Europe, the Caribbean, West Africa, India, China and South East Asia. Early connections between Baptists in Britain and the United States of America are well covered.[1]
The Angus incorporates the former libraries and archives of:
- The Baptist Missionary Society (founded in 1792)
- The Baptist Union of Great Britain (founded in 1832)
- The Baptist Historical Society
Apart from the origins of the Baptist movement, the collection has special holdings relating to:
- The early colonies
- English sermons on the American War of Independence
- Jonathan Edwards and Fullerism
- Anglo-American relations
- Slavery and its abolition
- The founding of the modern missionary movement
- The Baptist World Alliance
The Angus Library and Archive is used by international scholars researching Baptist history, the history of Dissent in the UK, the social history of foreign missions and linguistics. It is also used by members of the public researching, among other things, the history of their families or local communities. Each year there are in the region of 1000 requests for information from outside the University of Oxford. The people involved in research come from a variety of countries including the USA, Australia, China, India, the Caribbean and Europe.
Future
The Library secured, in late 2012, a £488,000 grant from the National Lottery and Baptist Union Newington Court Fund to extend and continue its work outside of the University.[2]