Biographical/historical information

Lorena Kelly was born on May 17, 1903, at Mt. Mourne in Iredell County, N.C. After obtaining her M.A. from Scarritt College, she received an appointment from the Western Carolina Conference of the Methodist Church as a teaching missionary to the Congo. She worked there from 1936 to 1969.

Scope and arrangement

Kelly recounts her experiences on the mission field working in the rural Congo. Particular note is made of impressions of African life, organization of missionary stations, development of schools, students' prospects for success, leadership positions being undertaken by women, the Congolese Rebellion of 1960-1963 and treatment of missionaries during the outbreak, current control of the mission organization by African people, and medical care in the area. Included are samples of the Otetela language. For related material see Collection #208.

Administrative information

Source of acquisition

Gift of Lorena Kelly

Processing information

Processed by C. Carter, February 1984

Encoded by Apex Data Services

Copyright notice

Repository does not own copyright to the oral history collection. Permission to cite, reproduce, or broadcast must be obtained from both the repository and the participants in the oral history, or their heirs.

Metadata Rights Declaration

General note

1936-1969

Key terms

Personal Names

Kelly, Lorena, 1903-

Topical

Medical care--Congo (Democratic Republic)
Missionaries--Congo (Democratic Republic)
Missionary settlements--Congo (Democratic Republic)--Lodja
Tetela language--Congo (Democratic Republic)
Women--Congo (Democratic Republic)

Places

Congo (Democratic Republic)--History--Civil War, 1960-1965
Congo (Democratic Republic)--Social conditions--20th century
Congo (Democratic Republic)--Social life and customs--20th century

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