MenuInventory of the McGee Family Papers, 1958-2011
Abstract
John Sidney and Doris Thompson McGee were Baptist missionaries to Iwo, Igede-Ekiti, and Ikogosi, Nigeria from 1945-1977. They had two children, John David and Sidney.
The McGee Family Papers represent the life work of two missionaries, John Sidney and Doris McGee. John and Doris were appointed to Nigeria in 1945 by the Foreign Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention, and served eight consecutive tours of service. The current collection contains correspondence between the McGee family members as John and Doris served in Nigeria, printed materials and publications about mission work and life in Nigeria (including several books authored by members of the McGee family), hundreds of photographs related to the McGee's work, and several audio-visual materials.
Descriptive Summary
- Repository
- David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Duke University
- Creator
- McGee
- Title
- McGee Family Papers, 1958-2011
- Language of Material
- English
- Extent
- 2.5 Linear Feet, 1875 Items
- Location
- For current information on the location of these materials, please consult the Library's online catalog.
Collection Overview
This collection involves 5 main series: Collection Information, Correspondence, Printed Materials and Publications, Visual Materials, and Audio-Visual Materials.
The Collection Information Series was compiled by John David McGee, and it provides a detailed guide to using the McGee Family Papers. It includes lists and details of other series in the collection, background information on the family, a list of Baptist missionaries in Nigeria, and a thorough history of the Baptist Mission in Nigeria.
The Correspondence Series includes correspondence between members of the McGee family as they were separated during various Nigerian tours. It is broken into several subseries based on John David's education at the time. The subseries are: High School Years, College Years, Seminary Years, and Final Tours. Letters are both from John David to Doris and John S., from Doris and John S. to John David, and from Sidney to both his parents and John David. Later letters are also from and to some of John David's girlfriends and, eventually, his wife. Letters deal with a variety of subjects, including life in Nigeria and daily occurences as a missionary, John David's academic, career, and life plans, and arrangements for visits to Nigeria.
The Printed Materials and Publications Series includes 2 subseries: printed materials by the McGee family members, and printed materials by other authors. The McGee family publications include diaries kept while in Nigeria, published books and memoirs, and a case study written by Erin McGee after her visit to Nigeria. Also included are several religious pamphlets and texts authored and arranged by Doris McGee. The other authors subseries includes diaries of other Nigerian missionaries, and a published book about African missionaries.
The Visual Materials series is chiefly composed of several hundred slides of photographs from the McGee family's time in Nigeria. The slides are all numbered and grouped into several major categories (listed below). A description of each picture can be found in the Collection Information Series.
- Slides 000-999: Missionaries and Missionary Kids ("MKs")
- Slides 1000-1999: Nigerians
- Slides 2000-2999: Baptist Mission Churches
- Slides 3000-3999: Baptist Mission Schools
- Slides 4000-4999: Baptist Mission Medical Work
- Slides 5000-5999: General Life Scenes
- Slides 6000-7999: Places/Locations
- Slides 8000-8999: Mission Stations
- Slides 9001-9999: Family/Personal
The Audio-Visual Materials Series includes several recordings and films taken by the McGee family members of various tours in Nigeria. The films range from 1945 to 2009, and span the three generations of McGee missionaries. Also included is a DVD about the Conferment of Chieftancy on John David McGee. The audio materials include several recordings of John and Doris McGee telling their life stories, talking about missionary work in Nigeria (especially regarding Baptist churches), and their first tour.
This collection also arrived with 2 USB thumb drives containing digital copies of all documents and slides. These items have been transferred to Duke's Electronic Records Archivist. Please contact Research Services with questions about using digital materials.
Administrative Information
Collections are on the move for the renovation of the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library. Contact Rubenstein Library staff before visiting. Read More »
Access Restrictions
Collection is open for research.
However, collection may contain materials to which the Acknowledgment of Legal Responsibilities and Privacy Rights form applies. Patrons must sign this form before using this collection.
In addition, original audiovisual materials are closed to patron use. Some use copies are available in the collection. Otherwise, Research Services staff need to produce use copies before contents can be accessed.
Also, all or portions of this collection may be housed off-site in Duke University's Library Service Center. Consequently, there may be a 24-hour delay in obtaining these materials.
Please contact Research Services staff before visiting the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library to use this collection.
Use Restrictions
The copyright interests in this collection have not been transferred to Duke University. For more information, consult the copyright section of the Regulations and Procedures of the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library.
Contents of the Collection
Browse List of Series
Collapse All
Expand AllCollection Information, 2011
Compiled by John David McGee, the Collection Information Series provides a detailed guide to using the McGee Family Papers. It includes lists and details of other series in the collection, background information on the family, a list of Baptist missionaries in Nigeria, and a thorough history of the Baptist Mission in Nigeria.
Correspondence 1958-1968
This series includes correspondence between members of the McGee family as they were separated during various Nigerian tours. It is broken into several subseries based on John David's education at the time. The subseries are: High School Years, College Years, Seminary Years, and Final Tours. Letters are both from John David to Doris and John S., from Doris and John S. to John David, and from Sidney to both his parents and John David. Later letters are also from and to some of John David's girlfriends and, eventually, his wife. Letters deal with a variety of subjects, including life in Nigeria and daily occurences as a missionary, John David's academic, career, and life plans, and arrangements for visits to Nigeria.
Printed Materials and Publications
This series includes 2 subseries: printed materials by the McGee family members, and printed materials by other authors. The McGee family publications include diaries kept while in Nigeria, published books and memoirs, and a case study written by Erin McGee after her visit to Nigeria. Also included are several religious pamphlets and texts authored and arranged by Doris McGee. The other authors subseries includes diaries of other Nigerian missionaries, and a published book about African missionaries.
Visual Materials
The Visual Materials series is chiefly composed of several hundred slides of photographs from the McGee family's time in Nigeria. The slides are all numbered and grouped into several major categories (listed below). A description of each picture can be found in the Collection Information Series.
- Slides 000-999: Missionaries and Missionary Kids ("MKs")
- Slides 1000-1999: Nigerians
- Slides 2000-2999: Baptist Mission Churches
- Slides 3000-3999: Baptist Mission Schools
- Slides 4000-4999: Baptist Mission Medical Work
- Slides 5000-5999: General Life Scenes
- Slides 6000-7999: Places/Locations
- Slides 8000-8999: Mission Stations
- Slides 9001-9999: Family/Personal
The Audio-Visual Materials Series includes several recordings and films taken by the McGee family members of various tours in Nigeria. The films range from 1945 to 2009, and span the three generations of McGee missionaries. Also included is a DVD about the Conferment of Chieftancy on John David McGee. The audio materials include several recordings of John and Doris McGee telling their life stories, talking about missionary work in Nigeria (especially regarding Baptist churches), and their first tour.
This series may contain original audiovisual materials which are closed to patron use. Some use copies are available in the collection. Otherwise, Research Services staff need to produce use copies before contents can be accessed.
Please contact Research Services staff before visiting the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library to use this collection.
CDs
Historical Note
John Sidney (1913-1999) and Doris (1918-1998) McGee were appointed on April 11th, 1945 by the Foreign Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention to Nigeria, where they served eight consecutive terms. Their primary role was that of "missionary advisors," or "field evangelism" for church development. They served at the Baptist College of Iwo from 1945-1948, and then at the Baptist Mission in Igede-Ekiti (Western Nigeria) and Ikogosi from 1949-1977. In 1956, they helped establish the sixth Baptist high school in Nigeria: the Ekiti Baptist High School, in Igede. In 1957, they were made "Chief Gbaiyegun of Igede," by the Onigede and Chiefs of Igede-Ekiti. In 1961, they were made paramount chief by the Ewi of Ado, on behalf of the Ekiti Baptist Association. In 1977, they were made "Chief Akorewolu of Ikogosi" by Loja and Chiefs of Ikogosi-Ekiti. The couple retired in 1978 after thirty-three years of missionary service.
John Sidney and Doris had two sons, John David (b. 1943) and Sidney (b. 1948). The McGees' children stayed with them in Nigeria until John David returned to the US for high school in 1958, where he stayed with a foster family. Much of the correspondence between family members takes place when the McGee children are in the United States to finish their education.
Subject Headings
- McGee Family.
- McGee, John Sidney.
- McGee, Doris Thompson.
- McGee, John David.
- McGee, Sidney.
- Southern Baptist Convention. Foreign Mission Board.
- Missionaries--Nigeria.
- Children of missionaries.
- Married people in missionary work.
- Nigeria--Description and travel.
- Nigeria--Social life and customs.
- Iwo (Nigeria)
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], McGee Family Papers, David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Duke University.
Provenance
The McGee Family Papers were received by the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library as a gift in August 2011.
Processing Information
Processed by Meghan Lyon, Chloe Rockow, April 2012
Encoded by Meghan Lyon, Chloe Rockow, April 2012
Accession(s) described in this finding aid: 2011-1041
Descriptive sources and standards used to create this inventory: DACS, EAD, NCEAD guidelines, and local Style Guide.
This finding aid is NCEAD compliant.