EBF and IBTS archive
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Origins
This Archive, which dates from 1965 (earlier records of the EBF and its forerunners in Europe are to be found in the Angus Library) begins with the arrival of Ronald Goulding as Chief Executive, after which the EBF office moved from London to Germany (Gerhard Claas), to Denmark (Knud Wumpelman), to Germany (Karl-Heinz Walter) and subsequently to Bulgaria (Theo Angelov) prior to establishing its present headquarters at the International Baptist Theological Seminary in Prague. With the departure of each Chief Executive important documents and papers were forwarded to the Seminary in Rüschlikon where they were held under the Seminary closed and moved to Prague in 1994.
The present format took its rise in 2003 with the decision to tidy up and record files and papers from the Karl-Heinz Walter era, though some files from the Wumpelman era still required attention, and to build on the pattern laid down in the Goulding and Claas eras as far as was practicable.
As the work progressed it soon became clear that new patterns were needed. One reason was that Chief Executives and their staff developed their own ways of keeping files and the pattern was not always obvious to an outsider. Another was that with the radical changes in Europe c1990 the work of the EBF changed considerably, including the development of a considerable Aid Programme (BR-E). A third factor was the volume of material that emerged with the move from Rüschlikon to Prague, followed by the depositing of personal files, notably those of Keith Parker and Wiard Popkes.
Since the major work was to clarify what papers and documents were available time for evaluation was limited, which has resulted in little more than a somewhat modest sorting, classification and (hopefully) consistent listing and labelling. Errors are likely to emerge as the material is used, not least because much earlier material came to light when the Archive was nearing completion requiring considerable revision of labels and lists.
To allow for independent growth it seemed wise to create a variety of Archives covering different aspects of the work within EBF, but it should be understood that such Archives relate to the work within EBF and not to the overall organisation which such titles may suggest. For example, the BWA Archive is not a BWA archive but rather an Archive of EBF material relating to the BWA. Similarly with Rüschlikon.
Permission to Examine
The archives are open to inspection by bona fide European Baptists and other research students, subject to the time limitations imposed on certain sections of the archive as stated and by prior arrangement with the Custodian.
The IBTS/EBF archive draws together a major collection of material about the work of the EBF and of IBTS. This archive has been developed to the current high standard by the Revd Alec Gilmore MA BD
