The written history of European missionaries in Africa, their lives and work has been silent on the women who were teachers, doctors, nurses, administrators and ‘just’ missionary wives. This cloak of invisibility is being lifted by this new book. Written by Isobel Reid and published by Mzuni Press, this book builds on Margaret Sinclair’s ‘Salt and Light‘ which was the story of Margaret’s parents as they travelled from Loch Lomond to Malawi in 1921. They worked there as missionaries and Mamie Martin made a huge contribution to the cause of the education of girls to be equal to that of boys.
Myth and Reality of the Missionary Family was published in Malawi last month. It was launched in Scotland at the Edinburgh City Chambers on 22nd July. It continues the work, started by Mamie Martin’s daughter, of filling in the huge gap in the available history of missionary families. Before these books, women had been largely absent from the published history of missionaries. Now that veil has been lifted. We learn that when women who were working in Malawi (and presumably in other parts of the British Empire) got married, they lost their jobs and became nameless. They actually became asterisks – an asterisk was added to the name of the male missionary whom they married.
This book is based on the letters from Jack and Mamie Martin during their time in Malawi. Mamie Martin’s grandson, Willie Sinclair, said “we get to read a fascinating account of a sparsely documented part of the recent history of Malawi, Scotland and, dare I say it, the British Empire.”
This book is available from the Mamie Martin Fund which was established in 1993 to continue what Mamie had started. All proceeds go directly to MMF for their work with girls’ education in North Malawi. Price is £15.00 & p&p. Contact admin@mamiemartin.org to arrange in-person purchase, without p&p.