Welcome!

Welcome to the St Colm's College Archive web log.

In 2003, Scottish Churches World Exchange began cataloguing the archival material of St Colm's College in Edinburgh - the former Women's Missionary Training Institute - which had been left largely untouched since 1909. Its contents includes photographs, original manuscripts relating to the running of the house, college journals, minute books and early publications. The archive has been open to the public for research and viewing at St Colm’s International House since September 2003, when we received a generous grant to purchase storage and cataloguing materials.

St Colm’s International House is a renowned centre for creative and innovative thinking about development and world mission. We opened our doors in 1909 and quickly became the base from which hundreds of women and men trained for mission work at home and abroad. The residential community, with home and overseas missionaries learning together, was part of the remarkable insight of St Colm’s that continues to inspire the residents, staff, visitors and volunteers living and working here today.

Through this blog, we hope to share the contents of this unique resource and continue to preserve the legacy of the College.