Guide to the Nichol Family Papers

Descriptive Summary

Title

Nichol Family Papers

Inclusive Dates

1890-1984

Call Number

RG 306

Creator(s)

Nichol family.

Quantity

0.50 cubic feet

Restrictions on Access

Collection open for research

Digital Content

To browse this collection's digital content visit Pearl.

Materials marked "Digital" in the Collection Inventory may not be available on Pearl or in their entirety.

Repository

Presbyterian Historical Society, 425 Lombard Street, Philadelphia, PA 19147-1516 USA

Biographical Note / Administrative History

Biographical Note

The Reverend William M. Nichol was born in 1864. He applied to the Board of Foreign Missions (UPCNA) in 1889 and was sent to Egypt, accompanied by his bride Laura Herget. She died in childbirth a year after their arrival. Nichol subsequently married Amanda Evaline Jamieson, a Sunday-school teacher in the Egypt Mission. In 1899 the Nichols retired from service, returning to America. Their daughter Ruth was born in Brooklyn.

Ruth Nichol applied to the Women's General Missionary Society (UPCNA) in 1933. She had hoped to serve in Egypt, but a need arose for a teacher in the Ethiopia Mission and Nichol accepted the offer. Upon arrival in Addis Ababa, she took charge of the American Girls' School, which had opened in 1923 as the first girls' school in the country. During World War II Nichol was transferred to the Sialkot Mission, returning to Ethiopia after peace was declared. She continued to teach in the Ethiopian Mission until her retirement in 1973.

Collection Overview

Record Group 306 contains diaries, correspondence and photographs of the Nichols. William and Amanda Nichol are represented by their diaries, one home letter, and one photograph of "single lady missionaries" of the Egypt Mission. Ruth Nichol's papers constitute the bulk of the record group. They consist of her letters home, mainly written to her sister Lucille, and a few general letters to her friends. There are also some articles and photographs and some other miscellaneous correspondence. Of particular interest are two photographs of Nichol with His Majesty Haile Selassie of Ethiopia.

Organization and Arrangement

The collection is arranged as follows:

SERIES 1: WILLIAM M. NICHOL, Sr, 1890-91, 1938

SERIES 2: AMANDA EVALINE JAMIESON NICHOL, 1893-97

SERIES 3: RUTH M. NICHOL, 1933-84

Alternative Formats

To browse this collection's digitized content visit Pearl.

Materials marked "Digital" in the Collection Inventory may not have been digitized in their entirety.

Administrative Information

Processing Information

Collection processed and finding aid prepared: September 1992
Stephanie Muntone, Processing Archivist

Catalog Headings

The following headings have been used to index the description of this collection in the society’s electronic catalog.

Personal Name Subject

Nichol, William M. (William Montgomery), 1864-1938.

Nichol, Amanda Evaline Jamieson.

Nichol, Ruth M.

Haile Selassie I, Emperor of Ethiopia, 1892-1975.

Corporate Subject

American Girls School (Addis Ababa, Ethiopia)

United Presbyterian Church of North America. Sialkot Mission.

Topical Subject

Missionaries--Egypt.

Women missionaries--Ethiopia.

Women missionaries--Pakistan.

Presbyterian Church--Missions--Egypt.

Presbyterian Church--Missions--Ethiopia--Educational work.

Personal Added Name

Nichol, William M. (William Montgomery), 1864-1938.

Nichol, Amanda Evaline Jamieson.

Nichol, Ruth M.

Collection Inventory

Box	Folder	Description	Alternative Formats

1	1	Finding Aid to Record Group 306

		SERIES 1: WILLIAM M. NICHOL, Sr, 1890-91, 1938

1	2	Diary, Loose Diary Pages, 1890-91
1	2	Memorial to Wm. Nichol (by G. Robinson), 1938

		SERIES 2: AMANDA EVALINE JAMIESON NICHOL, 1893-97

1	3	Diaries, 1893-94
1	4	Home Letter, 1897; Diary, undated
1	5	Photograph, 1893

		SERIES 3: RUTH M. NICHOL, 1933-84

1	6	Articles/Stories, 1947, 1977, undated
1	7	"On Trek in the Sialkot Mission," 1942

		Correspondence:
1	8-9	Outgoing, 1954-55
1	10	1956, 1958-59
1	11	1962-64
1	12-17	1965-70
1	18	1971-72, 1984
1	19	Biographical/Mission Historical Letters, 1966, 1974
1	20	"Dear Friends" Letters, 1954-84
1	21	Incoming, 1965-74
1	22	"Dear Friends" Letters--other missionaries, 1970-78
1	23	Miscellaneous, 1954-77

1	24	Maps--Addis Ababa and surrounding Sim Church area	Digital
1	25	Mission Records--Christmas program of American Girls' School, 1948
1	25	Mission Records--Mission letter to Haile Selassie, 1960
1	25	Mission Records--COEMAR (UPCUSA) letter/report, 1961
1	25	Mission Records-- Personnel evaluations of Ruth Nichol, 1969-73
1	25	Mission Records--Mission statement of concern, undated
1	26	Photographs, 1933-60, undated	Digital

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Guide to the Nichol Family Papers

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