Madras Christian College Archives and Special Collections
History
Madras Christian College Archives is a repository of rare books and a treasure mine for inquisitive researchers. The idea of archives for the College was conceived by Principal Dr. Chandran D.S. Devanesan in 1960s. Dr. Mithra G. Augustine (1981-88) was instrumental in commissioning and earmarking the Archives as a special unit under the supervision of an archivist when the Miller Memorial Library was shifted to the new premises in 1982. During the tenure of Dr. Alexander Mantramurthi (1999-2005) the documentation of the Books and periodicals in the archival collection was carried out as per international standards as part of preservation programme initiated by then archivist in-charge Dr. Y. Vincent Kumaradoss, Reader, Department of History, MCC. The Project was funded by the National Archives of India and the College in part. Mr. G. Sundar, Director, Roja Muthiah Research Library, Chennai, and a Consultant on archives and libraries was invited to take up the project. A systematic classification and cataloguing of the books and periodicals in the archival collection was made. The catalogue in the printed form was made available in three volumes under following categories – a) Serial Holdings b) Author- Title Catalogue b) Title Catalogue.
Digitizing manuscripts and some rare photographs was done in 2006, funded by the United Board for Christian Higher Education in Asia, by the Archivist-in-Charge Dr. Mrs. Vasanthi Vijayakumar, Associate Professor, Department of History, MCC. In 2016, all the MCC Magazines published since 1883 were digitized. This is a major step towards the process of digitization of books. New archival materials are added up periodically into its collections. In 2017-18, with the help of the funding from the National Archives of India, the MCC Archives, repaired 30 books and also catalogued its collections of nearly 2800 books and journals. Following the demise of Dr. C.J. Nirmal, Former Head Department of History, nearly 300 books of his personal collections has been donated to the MCC archives. Yet another milestone was in the year 2020 when all the paper manuscripts were digitized with the help of the College funding.
Our Collections: The Archives has a collection of approximately 3500 books (including back volumes of journals). The oldest book dates back to 1544. The books are of various foreign and Indian languages viz. Greek, Latin, German, French, Hebrew, Tamil, Sanskrit and others. The most precious collection is the complete set of Madras Christian College Magazine (both hardcopy and digitized copies) which was a monthly review of all the aspects of the “awakening mind of India” and source of information for the compilation of Government district Gazetteers and Manuals during the colonial period. MCC annual Calendars, MCC College Handbooks, admission records, Annual Reports, MCC Alumni Association Bulletins and a few MCC Centenary volumes, journals and books related to the history of Chennai, South India and a wide range of rare books covering history, politics, archaeology, numismatics, education, economics, literature, religion, art and architecture, Christian missions, travelogues and memoirs are also part of the collection. Yet another set of intriguing collections are the manuscripts of Rev. Miller, Prof. Kellet and letters of former Scottish professors dating back to nineteenth century. There are also handwritten mark registers and other registers.
The photographic collection is a unique one and the oldest dates back to as early as the time photography reached India. The Archives has approximately 1000 photographs of different sizes, which include a group of prints of missionaries, early Tamil Christians and officers in Madras taken in the 19th century. In addition, photos of many distinguished alumni such as (to name a few) Dr. S. Radhakrishnan, Mohammad Usman, S. Sathyamurthy, Gemini Ganesan, Gen. Sundarji and Dr. Raja Ramanna and other public figures; and prints of graduating classes nearly every year since 1906, are present in the collection. Photos of visits of important national leaders like C. Rajagopalachari, M.G. Ramachandran, Mahatma Gandhi, V.V. Giri, Rajiv Gandhi are also preserved.
There are some special collections like the nineteenth century Silver Coffee pot, Mechanical calculator, the trunk box of Prof. Bannerman, Remington typewriter etc.
Whom do we serve?
The Archives primarily serves the College community with their research work. MCC Archives played a key role in the writing of the following books: Dr. K. Joshua’s Life and Legacy of Madras Christian College, Dr. Gnanachandran Johnson’s Miller Oru Mamanidhar and Dr. Mithra G. Augustine’s Community in Madras Christian College. Faculty frequently visit the archives for research for writing research articles. The students from the Departments of History, Tamil, English etc. access archives for t
heir academic programmes. Using the resources of the MCC archives, many scholars have produced their M.Phil. and Ph.D. dissertations. Since archival studies is a component of two courses offered by the Department of History, the students are given a hands-on training in MCC Archives. The students of History Vocational course played a vital role in cataloguing and preserving the books. Researchers, Government officials, alumni and faculty from other institutions also avail the services of the MCC Archives. Researchers from across India and abroad, also access the archives either by paying a visit here or by corresponding through mail. Such support was extended to Dr. Darren Duerksen, Associate Professor of Intercultural and Religious Studies, Fresno Pacific University and Dr. Phillip Walter, Emeritus Fellow, Merton College, University of Oxford.
Facilities available: The archives comprise of a stack room and a well-furnished reading room. A desktop is available to access the digitalized documents. A photocopier and a printer is also available to make copies of the document is also available.
Contact Us: archives@mcc.edu.in
Standard Operating Procedure to be followed in MCC Archives
Faculty, Research Scholars, Students of MCC and from outside can access the MCC archives.
Researchers from outside the College have to write to the Principal, Madras Christian College, Tambaram, Chennai, for access to the Archives. Researchers from outside should submit a bonafide certificate for access and an authorization along with bonafide in case of deputing another research scholar.
Researchers from within the College have to write to the Head, Department of History, Madras Christian College, Tambaram, Chennai, for access to the Archives
Once permission is granted, requisitions for the material can be made to the Archive-in-Charge in advance through mail or letter or in person.
Documents should be handled with utmost care. Marked, folding, pinning, stapling or leaning upon the documents should be avoided.
Digitized source materials cannot be copied to any external drive or e-mailed.
Archives-in-Charge reserves the right to deny records that are brittle and confidential
Use of pencils is preferred over pens in the Research Room.
Use of mobile cameras/ digital cameras, scanners, etc. will be strictly prohibited inside Research Room.
Water bottles, beverages and edible items will not be permitted inside the Reading Room.
Access fee and other charges
Access fee is valid for one year.
No access fee for Researchers from MCC
Access fee for researchers outside MCC is Rs. 1000/- and Rs.2000/- for Foreigners. The charges are the same in case the request is through mail.
Fees should be paid through DD or Cheque favouring The Bursar, Madras Christian College, Chennai.
The charges for scanning (Rs 10/- per page), printing (Rs 5/- per page) and photocopying (Rs 2/- per page) are excluded from the access fee and is applicable to all the researchers.
Madras Christian College Archives is a repository of rare books and a treasure mine for inquisitive researchers. The idea of archives for the College was conceived by Principal Dr. Chandran D.S. Devanesan in 1960s. Dr. Mithra G. Augustine (1981-88) was instrumental in commissioning and earmarking the Archives as a special unit under the supervision of an archivist when the Miller Memorial Library was shifted to the new premises in 1982. During the tenure of Dr. Alexander Mantramurthi (1999-2005) the documentation of the Books and periodicals in the archival collection was carried out as per international standards as part of preservation programme initiated by then archivist in-charge Dr. Y. Vincent Kumaradoss, Reader, Department of History, MCC. The Project was funded by the National Archives of India and the College in part. Mr. G. Sundar, Director, Roja Muthiah Research Library, Chennai, and a Consultant on archives and libraries was invited to take up the project. A systematic classification and cataloguing of the books and periodicals in the archival collection was made. The catalogue in the printed form was made available in three volumes under following categories – a) Serial Holdings b) Author- Title Catalogue b) Title Catalogue.
Christian Higher Education in Asia, by the Archivist-in-Charge Dr. Mrs. Vasanthi Vijayakumar, Associate Professor, Department of History, MCC. In 2016, all the MCC Magazines published since 1883 were digitized. This is a major step towards the process of digitization of books. New archival materials are added up periodically into its collections. In 2017-18, with the help of the funding from the National Archives of India, the MCC Archives, repaired 30 books and also catalogued its collections of nearly 2800 books and journals. Following the demise of Dr. C.J. Nirmal, Former Head Department of History, nearly 300 books of his personal collections has been donated to the MCC archives. Yet another milestone was in the year 2020 when all the paper manuscripts were digitized with the help of the College funding.
most precious collection is the complete set of Madras Christian College Magazine (both hardcopy and digitized copies) which was a monthly review of all the aspects of the “awakening mind of India” and source of information for the compilation of Government district Gazetteers and Manuals during the colonial period. MCC annual Calendars, MCC College Handbooks, admission records, Annual Reports, MCC Alumni Association Bulletins and a few MCC Centenary volumes, journals and books related to the history of Chennai, South India and a wide range of rare books covering history, politics, archaeology, numismatics, education, economics, literature, religion, art and architecture, Christian missions, travelogues and memoirs are also part of the collection. Yet another set of intriguing collections are the manuscripts of Rev. Miller, Prof. Kellet and letters of former Scottish professors dating back to nineteenth century. There are also handwritten mark registers and other registers.
reached India. The Archives has approximately 1000 photographs of different sizes, which include a group of prints of missionaries, early Tamil Christians and officers in Madras taken in the 19th century. In addition, photos of many distinguished alumni such as (to name a few) Dr. S. Radhakrishnan, Mohammad Usman, S. Sathyamurthy, Gemini Ganesan, Gen. Sundarji and Dr. Raja Ramanna and other public figures; and prints of graduating classes nearly every year since 1906, are present in the collection. Photos of visits of important national leaders like C. Rajagopalachari, M.G. Ramachandran, Mahatma Gandhi, V.V. Giri, Rajiv Gandhi are also preserved.
There are some special collections like the nineteenth century Silver Coffee pot, Mechanical calculator, the trunk box of Prof. Bannerman, Remington typewriter etc.
Studies, Fres