The
Missionary Herald was a prominent religious monthly magazine published in
Boston from 1821 to 1934. It served as the official organ of the American Board
of Commissioners for Foreign Missions (ABCFM), primarily representing the
Congregationalist Church.
Key Facts and
History
Origins: It
began in 1818 as an abridged version of The Panoplist and Missionary Herald
before becoming a standalone publication in 1821.
Purpose: For
many 19th-century Americans, it was a "window to the world,"
providing rare accounts of foreign lands before the era of modern
communication.
Content: The
magazine published detailed missionary reports including descriptions of:
Geographic
and Cultural Data: Native customs, history, economic activities, and
geographical features.
Global Reach:
Reports from locations such as India, China, Ceylon (Sri Lanka), Africa, the
Middle East, and the "Sandwich Islands" (Hawaii).
North
America: Missions to Native American tribes, including the Cherokee, Choctaw,
and Seneca.
Publishers:
Early volumes were printed by individuals such as Samuel T. Armstrong and later
by the firm Crocker & Brewster.