MOORS, MARTHA L. b. ca. 1898
Family collection, 1909-1925, n.d.

MANUSCRIPT NUMBER 171

ACCESS: Unrestricted

REPRODUCTION: All requests subject to limitations noted in departmental policies on reproduction.

COPYRIGHT: Information on copyright (literary rights) available from repository.

CITATION:  Martha L. Moors Family collection, MSS 171, Archives and Manuscripts Dept., Pitts Theology Library, Emory University. 

Martha L. Moors was a missionary in Angola in the early and mid 1920's.  Based upon her correspondence, she was a nurse, midwife, or doctor, and possibly a teacher.  She was born ca. 1898.  Other members of her family, such as her father and possibly a sister, were also missionaries. 

These letters were written to Laura Burrows, grandmother of Martha L. Moors, from 1909 through 1925.  Most of the letters are from Moors while she was serving as a missionary in Angola.  Two letters are from another granddaughter named Mona, who was possibly Moors' sister or cousin.  Other letters are to and from correspondents whose full names are not clear including Lou or Louise, an Aunt Martha, and an Aunt Laura, all of whom appear to be relatives of Martha L. Moors.  The last name of these women may be Burrows.  The letters are arranged by date with undated letters last.

The strength of this collection lies in the letters written by Martha L. Moors.  In these letters Moors described her daily life from her beginning as a missionary in Africa in 1920 through 1925.  She wrote of the abuses of the colonial Portuguese government towards whom she felt disdain and of Arthur Sylva, a Portuguese official.  Moors also told her grandmother of her nursing or medical duties among the native population of her mission.  Moors nursed people during sickness and tells of the diseases, including smallpox and respiratory infections, that killed many Africans.  She also assisted women in childbirth.

Every letter reveals her faith in God and feelings as a missionary.  Moors may have been Seventh-Day Adventist based upon clues in her letters.  She also might have been Congregationalist as she made some references to the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions, a Congregationalist group.  Despite these clues, Moors never concretely specified her religious affiliation.

Moors discussed family matters with her grandmother.  From this information, it appears that other family members were also missionaries or ministers.

CONTAINER LISTING

BOX  FOLDER     DESCRIPTION             DATE

1       1       Correspondence          1909-1923

1       2       Correspondence          1924, n.d.