Guide to the McCartee Family Papers

Dr. Divie Bethune McCartee (1820-1900) was appointed by the Board of Foreign Missions as a medical missionary to China in 1843. He arrived in Ningpo in 1844 and was primarily involved in medial and evangelistic work. In 1853, Dr. McCartee married Juana M. Knight, a fellow missionary also serving in Ningpo. Besides his missionary responsibilities, Dr. McCartee performed consular services in China until a regular consulate was established there in 1857, and in 1862 he was appointed vice-consul to Japan.

The McCartees returned to Ningpo in 1865 to resume their missionary work. In 1872, they were transferred to the Shanghai mission but resigned shortly thereafter so that Dr. McCartee could join the Shanghai consular staff as interpreter and assessor to the Mixed Court. Until 1877, Dr. McCartee served as professor in the Imperial University of Tokyo and acted as secretary of the Chinese legation in that city.

In 1885, Dr. McCartee was appointed counselor to the Japanese legation in Washington, D.C. Two years later the McCartees were reappointed by the BFM to the Japan Mission, where they served until D. McCartee's retirement in 1900.

Dr. McCartee was a prolific writer whose published works included treatises on Asian history, linguistics, natural science, medicine, politics and religions.