Collection 607 Oral History Interviews with Herbert and Frieda Atkinson
Scope and Contents
Oral History Interviews with Dr. Herbert Andrew Atkinson (1931-2009) and his wife, Frieda Elizabeth (Paul) Atkinson (1930- ), missionaries with Africa Inland Mission (AIM) in the Belgian Congo. Dr. Atkinson discusses his family background, conversion, Wheaton College, influence of his roommate Bill Kornfield and Dr. V. Raymond Edman, God's provision for his entering medical school, ministry in Oicha, obstacles in communication with the Congolese, lessons learned on the mission field. Frieda Atkinson describes her childhood and parents ministry in Africa, her call to medical missions, raising children on the mission field, village evangelistic work, Sunday school and church services, relationships with Congolese Christians, ministry with children and women in Michigan, the faithfulness of God. The time period covered by the interviews is 1930 to 1988.
Herbert Andrew Atkinson was interviewed by Lawrence Wesley Fountain on November 19, 1988 at the Atkinson's home in Stevensville, Michigan.
Dates
- Created: 1988
Conditions Governing Access
There are no restrictions on the use of this collection.
Biographical Information
Full Name: Herbert Andrew Atkinson
Birth: May 27, 1931, Miles City, Montana
Family:
Parents: Henry Sheperd and Lilian (Hoagland) Atkinson
Siblings: An older sister
Marital Status: Married Frieda Elizabeth Paul, June 18, 1954, Wheaton, Illinois
Children: David Henry, Daniel Paul, Ruth Lillian, Esther Elizabeth
Conversion: At the age of 9 at home with the help of his mother
Education:
1948-1952 - Wheaton College (BS degree), Wheaton, Illinois
1952-1956 - University of Illinois Medical School, Chicago, Illinois (BS & MD degrees)
1957-1958 - Baptist Bible Seminary, Johnson City, New York (now at Clarks Summit, Pennsylvania
Career:
1956-1957 - Decatur & Macon County Hospital, Decatur, Illinois (Internship)
1959 - Commissioned by Hydewood Park Baptist Church, North Plainfield, New Jersey for missionary work with AIM
1959-1964 - 1st term. Medical missionary with AIM in Oicha, Belgian Congo (now Democratic Republic of Congo).
1966-1969 - 2nd term. Medical missionary in Nyankunde, Congo
1970-1973 - 3rd term. Medical missionary in Nyankunde, Congo
Other Significant Information:
Herbert's father was a pastor who died when Herbert was three years old
Full Name: Frieda Elizabeth (Paul) Atkinson
Birth: January 28, 1930, Aba mission station in the Belgian Congo (now Democratic Republic of Congo)
Family:
Parents: Samuel Austin Horn and Elizabeth J.A. (Riemann) Paul, Jr.
Siblings: Older brother Harold and three younger siblings, Miriam, Victor, James
Marital Status: Married Herbert Andrew Atkinson, June 18, 1954, Wheaton, Illinois
Children: David Henry, Daniel Paul, Ruth Lillian, Esther Elizabeth
Conversion: At the age of 4? at home with the help of her mother after hearing a sermon by her father
Education:
1944-1946 - Rethy Academy
1946-1948 - Westervelt High School
1948-1950 - Columbia Bible College, Columbia, South Carolina
1950-1954 - Presbyterian School of Nursing, Chicago, Illinois (RN degree)
Career:
1953-1956 - Presbyterian Hospital, Chicago, Illinois (professional nursing)
1959 - Commissioned by Hydewood Park Baptist Church, North Plainfield, New Jersey for missionary work with AIM
1959-1964 - 1st term. Medical missionary with AIM in Oicha, Belgian Congo (now Democratic Republic of Congo).
1966-1969 - 2nd term. Medical missionary in Nyankunde, Congo
1970-1973 - 3rd term. Medical missionary in Nyankunde, Congo
Other Significant Information: Frieda's parents were AIM missionaries in Congo
Extent
2 Video Tapes
135 Minutes
Language of Materials
English
Accruals and Additions
The materials in this collection were given to the Billy Graham Center Archives by Herbert Andrew Atkinson, Frieda Elizabeth (Paul) Atkinson and Lawrence Wesley Fountain in January 1989.
Accession: 03-60
April 19, 2005
Wayne D. Weber
- Africa Inland Mission.
- Atkinson, Frieda E.
- Atkinson, Herbert Andres.
- Children of missionaries.
- Columbia Bible College (Columbia, S.C.)
- Congo (Democratic Republic) -- History -- Civil War, 1960-1965.
- Congo (Democratic Republic) -- History.
- Conversion -- Christianity.
- Edman, V. Raymond (Victor Raymond), 1900-1967.
- Elliot, Jim, 1927-1956.
- Evangelistic work -- Congo (Democratic Republic)
- Evangelistic work.
- Howard, David M.
- Medical care
- Medical care -- Congo (Democratic Republic)
- Missionaries -- Appointment, call, and election.
- Missionaries.
- Missions -- Congo (Democratic Republic).
- Missions, Medical -- Congo (Democratic Republic)
- Missions, Medical.
- Missions.
- Paul, S. Austin.
- Rethy Academy (Zaire)
- Sunday schools.
- Wheaton College (Ill.)
- Wheaton College (Ill.) -- Alumni.
- Women missionaries.
- Worship -- Congo (Democratic Republic)
- Title
- Collection 607 Oral History Interviews with Herbert and Frieda Atkinson
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Roman Script
Repository Details
Part of the Evangelism & Missions Archives Repository