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This series contains correspondence, meeting minutes, and other records relating to the three missionary organisations with which Mary Andrews was most closely connected: The Church Missionary Society of Australia (CMS), CMS-UK, and the South American Missionary Service (SAMS).Mary Andrews was a missionary with CMS from 1938-1951, working primarily in
China but with a short role in India. She had a secondment agreement of sorts with CMS-UK, with which she was in regular contact while in the field. Following her return to Australia, she made inquiries with CMS-UK regarding the possibility of missionary work with them in South-East Asia. After this failed to eventuate, she remained in casual correspondence with staff at CMS-UK for some time. In addition to the paper records in this series there are two cassette recordings viz: CMS Prayer Weekend 1981 (Rev R.A. Cole) and CMS Summer School 1982 Dr and Mrs Coleman. These may be located in Series 29/4.
Due to her position as Principal of Deaconess House (and missionary experience), Mary was part of the CMS Candidates Committee, Training Committee, and General Committee. As a number of single female missionaries and missionary wives were trained at Deaconess House, Mary was responsible for providing candidate evaluation reports and occasionally conducted interviews with prospective missionaries (including missionary couples) on behalf of the Candidates Committee. She also regularly attended meetings of the above and made a number of recommendations on training policy. Mary ceased being a member of the Candidates Committee in 1976, following her retirement. She then resigned from the General Committee in 1987. Return correspondence suggests that she was dissatisfied with what she perceived as the narrow roles that CMS would allow female missionaries to fill. SAMS was founded in 1844 as a missionary society focused on evangelising Latin America. Mary Andrews served on their Candidates Committee and NSW General Committee from 1975 (at the latest; possibly as early as 1965) until her death in 1996. She also engaged in friendly correspondence with a number of SAMS missionaries and home staff.

The series comprises original documents and copies of material possibly gathered for Mary Andrew's planned autobiography that was never published, the partial biography written by Margaret Yarwood Lamb and may be used for future biographical purposes. In addition to official documentation such as birth certificate, visas, passports, the series includes charitable donations, family history, school reunion, details of travels, response to her Member of the Order of Australia award.
Also includes copies of her ordination certificate (1946) and her death certificate (1996).
A note concerning Item 31 of this series. It appears that soon after returning to Australia from Missionary service Mary Andrews commenced preparing lists with brief descriptions of the major events and achievements in her life including overseas travel and lists of positions held were appended. . These seems to have been updated regularly although the date of composition is not recorded prior to 1979. From March 1979 they were known as Bio Data. It is assumed that these were prepared for occasions when background information was required and as source material for biographers and journalists..
Some routine material has been culled. Some however has been retained (such as travel documents) as this has been used to date some of Mary's writings.
The routine material (tickets, boarding passes, drafts have been removed from the travel records.

Mary Andrews naturally took a greater interest in care for the elderly following her own retirement in 1975. From that point until her death in 1996 she lived at the Goodwin Village, a holding of the Anglican Retirement Villages, and acted as chaplain. In addition to running occasional church and prayer services, she also wrote a column for the monthly Village newsletter and visited other ARV residences. In 1995, a new ARV residence was named the Mary Andrews Village in her honour.

This series contains records relating to organisations that Mary Andrews was interested in or had some relationship with in a professional or personal capacity.
The majority are religious organisations, with some exceptions.
Of particular significance:
The Diocese of Sydney: In her roles as Principal of Deaconess House and as Head Deaconess, Mary Andrews came under the authority of and had frequent correspondence with the Archbishop of Sydney. Following her retirement (with accommodation and employment partially arranged by the Diocese), Mary was elected as Synod representative from her local Parish on a number of occasions and took a particular interest in Synod votes on the topics of women's ministry, lay presidency, and aged care.
The Anglican Fellowship of Prayer: After taking a keen interest in the Fellowship over a number of years (including several international conference trips in her role of local coordinator), Mary was designated as the Province Representative for the Anglican Church of Australia in 1981. There is a cassette recording from this meeting available in Series 29/5
The Order of Australia Association: Mary joined the Association shortly after it was founded in 1980. Activities consisted mostly of annual dinners, with occasional tours of regions Australia of historical or cultural importance. Mary obtained a life membership in 1984.

These letters and invitations are from the Archbishop and other Diocesan officials, the Governor and NSW Government and sundry other correspondents.
The letters include invitations to meetings and State and Diocesan social functions, acknowledgements of hospitality. Responses to letters she had sent, opinions that she made known, comments she had made and articles submitted for publication
Many letters and invitations were sent in regard to Ms Andrews capacities as Principal of Deaconess House and Head Deaconess others because she was a well-known personality.
These letters contrast with personal letters received in that the items are matters of business and there is no evidence of a personal relationship between the contributors although some of the correspondents were well known to Mary.

This series consists of orders of service and other papers for occasions when Mary Andrews had spoken or on occasions preached, and letters of acknowledgement sent following her visits. The series demonstrates two important features of Mary Andrew's mission .
(a) Spreading her passion for Christian work in China
(b) Encouraging interest and commitment to women's ministry including the work of Deaconess House and of Parish Sisters and sundry organisations committed to the ministry of women.
It would appear that the extant material is a small portion of Mary's ministry of accepting invitations to speak wherever possible.
The series does not contain the text of papers delivered by the Deaconess.
There are also references in Series 1 - Personal Letters Received where correspondents comment on Mary's visits and addresses.

The series consists of Mary Andrews' copies of newsletters received from former students and other Christian contacts of Mary Andrews. The letters from those in missionary work, parish appointments mainly within Australia, and in other Christian work particularly in Asia. Most letters are from individuals some are from organisations.
The series has been retained to indicate the wide influence of graduates of Deaconess House as they took on positions throughout the world; and similarly to show the wide range of contacts that Mary Andrews had made through her work in numerous orgnaisations and attendance at conferences throughout the world.
Many of the letters are undated or the dates have been obscured. An attempt has been made to estimate these dates.
This series contrasts with Series 1 that consists of private letters to Mary Andrews

The majority of these diaries date from the period during which Mary Andrews was the Principal of Deaconess House (viz 1951-1975), and from her retirement until her death in 1996.
The content varies considerably - from brief notes relating to speaking engagements and other appointments, and lists of those for whom she had prayed on particular days, to detailed descriptions of her thoughts, interviews, and experiences when travelling. Many of the diaries indicate a combination of professional and personal events. Most diaries include notes at the beginning which could have been Mary's devotional, notes for an address, or those made from a sermon heard.
Physically the series varies from pocket diaries to larger format diaries and includes notebooks. For some years Mary maintained a pocket diary that recorded appointments and a more complete diary with details of her activities, thoughts and prayers.
Some of the smaller diaries have been tied into bundles to facilitate ordering.
The following have been removed from this series as previously sorted:

• Official diaries/appointment books in regard to her roles as Principal of Deaconess House and Head Deaconess.
• Notebooks containing addresses prepared [now part of Writings of Mary Andrews, Series No. 3]
  In a number of cases it has been clear that the diary has been used several years after its official dates. It is possible that there are instances of this that have not been clear to the registrar.
  Letters, cards, business cards and loose notes have been left where found in the diaries for provenance purposes.
  Related booklets containing lists of contacts follow at the end of this series
  It is unclear whether Series 2 / Item 36 is a diary or a reminiscence.
  This series should be used in conjunction with Series 12 Draft Autobiography and related papers possibly compiled during Mary Andrews' years at Deaconess House.

The series consists of lists of correspondence with major Australian and International biographical organisations including biographical questionnaires and draft biographies and certificates awarded.