James Mathers - journals of mission work among the poor in Sydney, 1897-1911

MLMSS 7260

fonds

1897-1911

100805

2 boxes - 0.36 Meters

James Mathers was a missionary for the Sydney City Mission from 1897 to 1911. Born in Lurgan, Ireland, in 1852, he grew up in Glasgow. He became an active lay missionary in Scotland. After emigrating to Sydney in 1897 he worked as a missionary in slum areas of The Rocks and Millers Point until his death in 1911.

Sixteen volumes: fifteen volumes of diaries describing Mathers' daily work among the poor; one volume containing notes about the free breakfasts organised by Mathers, 1903-1904, and lists of donations, 1908. The Sydney City Mission issued Mathers with two diaries to be used in alternate months. At the end of each month he submitted one of the diaries to the Mission Secretary and used the other to record his activities.

Item 01
Journal of Mr James Mathers missionary for The Rocks District, July 1897-January 1899

Item 02
Journal of Mr James Mathers missionary for The Rocks District, August 1897-December 1898

Item 03
Journal of Mr James Mathers missionary for The Rocks District, January 1899-March 1901

Item 04
Journal of Mr James Mathers missionary for The Rocks District, February 1899-December 1900

Item 05
Journal of Mr James Mathers missionary for The Rocks District, February 1901-August 1902

Item 06
Journal of Mr James Mathers missionary for The Rocks District, October 1902-June 1904

Item 07
Journal of Mr James Mathers missionary for The Rocks District, May 1901-January 1903

Item 08
Journal of Mr James Mathers missionary for The Rocks District, March 1903-October 1904

Item 09
Journal of Mr James Mathers missionary for The Rocks District, October 1904-April 1907

Item 10
Journal of Mr James Mathers missionary for The Rocks District, July 1904-March 1907

Item 11
Journal of Mr James Mathers missionary for The Rocks District, May 1907-May 1909

Item 12
Journal of Mr James Mathers missionary for The Rocks District, June 1907-August 1908

Item 13
Journal of Mr James Mathers missionary for The Rocks District, August 1908-October 1910

Item 14
Journal of Mr James Mathers missionary for The Rocks District, July 1909-March 1911

Item 15
Journal of Mr James Mathers missionary for The Rocks District, December 1910-February 1911

Item 16
Journal of Mr James Mathers missionary for The Rocks District, September 1903-October 1904

An account of Mathers' work can be found in 'City of God, city of man: images of the slum, 1897-1911' by Malcolm Prentis in 'Gritty Cities: Images of the Urban', edited by Lynette Finch and Chris McConville, 1999 (Mitchell Library printed books collection 307.76/1)

Old Sydney: The Rocks and Millers Point - Historic Houses Trust of New South Wales