Descriptive Summary
Creator(s)
Biographical Note / Administrative History
Presbyterian work in China commenced when the first missionaries arrived in Ningpo in 1844. Within a year a church had been established there. During the 19th and early 20th centuries, eight distinct missions were established throughout China. These included:
the Central China and the Kiangan Missions (1906)
the South China Mission (1845)
the Hainan Mission (1893)
the Shantung Mission (1862)
the North China Mission (1863)
the Hunan Mission (1899)
the Yunnan Mission (1923)
The stations of the Central China Mission predate the mission's formal establishment in 1906. Ningpo became the first permanent station to be occupied in 1844, followed by stations at Shanghai (1850), Soochow (1871), and Hangchow (1895). The stations of the Kiangan Mission also preceded the mission's formal organization and consisted of Nanking (1876), Hwaiyuan (1901), Nanhsuchow (1912) and Showchow (1919).
The station at Canton, opened in 1845, initially remained the only one in south China; because of its distance from the other stations, it was constituted as a separate mission. Stations were later opened at Yeungkon (1886), Linchow (1890), Kochow (1912) and Sheklung (1915). Hainan, originally an outgrowth of the Canton Mission, was formally recognized as a separate mission in 1893 and included the stations at Noda and Kuingchow (1884-1885) and Kachek (1902).
Missionary work in the north centered around Chefoo, which was opened in 1862. The Shantung Mission, destined to become the largest mission in China, later included the stations at Tsinan (1872), Weihsien (1882), Ichow (1891), Tsining (1892), Tsengtao (1898), Yihsien (1905) and Tenghsien (1913). Work in Peking commenced in 1863, with stations later opened at Paoting (1893) and Shunteh (1903). These three stations were later encorporated as the North China Mission in 1905.
The opening of Siangtan in 1899 signaled the beginning of missionary work in the interior province of Hunan. The advent of the Boxer Rebellion disrupted work until 1902, when the station at Hengchow was organized. Subsequent stations were opened at Chenchow (1904), Changteh (1906) and Changsha (1913). The Yunnan Mission, formerly part of the Siam Mission until 1923, consisted of the stations at Chiengrung and Yuankiang. In 1933, the former was returned to the Siam Mission and the remaining missionaries and churches were transferred to the German Vandsburger Mission.
The Church's ministry in China was primarily educational, medical and evangelical. Elementary, secondary, university and technical institutions presented western ideas that challenged the
traditional concept of a classic Chinese education. Medical facilities like the McCartee Hospital, the J.G. Kerr Hospital for the Insane and the Ming Sum School for the Blind exemplified the Church's concern for the physical well-being of the Chinese people. In toto, over 92 hospitals and dispensaries were established throughout China.
Evangelization, an integral part of the educational and medical work of the mission, was largely entrusted to the Church of Christ in China, established in 1927 and consisting of over 15 different European and American denominations plus several independent churches.
Collection Overview
Record Group 129 includes minutes, reports, correspondence and historical material on the various stations. The bulk of the material dates from 1956-1967, although there are some older records. The collection documents the Church's ministry to the Chinese people as well as the Chinese reaction to western influences. Also evidenced are the upheavals that engulfed China, including the effects of both revolution, civil and world war. Notable also are the effects of the 1949 takeover by the Communists and its impact upon the Church, the peasants and Chinese society generally.
Organization and Arrangement
The collection is roughly in chronological order; the materials were left in their original filing order and no attempt was made to establish a series level arrangement.
Administrative Information
Collection processed and finding aid prepared: 1977
Jane Ramsay, Records Researcher
Notes to finding aid added: 1983
Frederick J. Heuser, Jr, Archivist
Catalog Headings
Collection Inventory
| Box | Folder | Description | |
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1 | 1 | Finding Aid to Record Group 129 | |
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1 | 2 | Historical Material | |
1 | 3 | Experience under Communists, 1948 | |
1 | 4 | "US Gunboats on the Yangtze: History and Political Aspects 1842-1922" (by E.M. Tate) | |
1 | 5 | Central China--"Shanghai Station History, 1895-1936" (by G. Partch); Central China Mission Rules, 1934; Associated Mission Treasurers' Agreement, 1921 | |
1 | 6 | East China--Historical Material, Mission Rules | |
1 | 7 | Hainan--Historical Material, Rules, First Annual Report, 1893 | |
1 | 8 | Kiangan Mission--Survey, General Rules | |
| 1 | 9 | North China--Historical Material, Mission Rules | |
1 | 10 | Shantung--Historical Material | |
1 | 11 | Mission Rules | |
1 | 12 | South China--Historical Material, Constitution, Manual of Rules | |
1 | 13 | West China--Yunnan: Constitution, Terms of Service | |
1 | 14 | China Committee--Informal Minutes 1959 | |
1 | 15 | China Council--Constitution, Handbook | |
1 | 16 | China Situation--Reports and Statements 1925-52 | |
1 | 17 | Communism in China | |
1 | 18 | Confidential Reports of Missionaries | |
1 | 19 | Nanking Theological Seminary--Minutes, Correspondence and Reports, 1959-63 | |
1 | 20 | Property Matters--Shanghai Real Estate (Gift to BFM) | |
1 | 21 | Restoration Fund, 1948 | |
1 | 22 | Report re Events in Linhsien, 1949-55 (by H. Bradshaw) | |
1 | 23 | Notes on World War II Losses (Data Used in War Claims, 1960s) | |
1 | 24 | Hong Kong--Reports, Background Information 1960-64 | |
1 | 25 | Taiwan--Bulletin re 1965 Centennial, 1962; Statistical Reports, 1964 | |
1 | 26 | List of Medical Schools in China, 1966 | |
1 | 27 | Language Study Regulations | |
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| 1956 | |
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1 | 28 | Appropriations and Estimates | |
1 | 29 | China Churches--Church of Christ in China, Reports and Correspondence | |
1 | 30 | Executive Correspondence | |
1 | 31 | General | |
1 | 32 | Institutions | |
1 | 33 | Chung Chi College and Nanking Theological Seminary | |
1 | 34 | Minutes and Reports | |
1 | 35 | Property Matters | |
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| 1957--see Box 3 Folders 29-38 | |
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| 1958 | |
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1 | 36 | Appropriations and Estimates | |
1 | 37 | Church of Christ in China--Bulletins and Audit Report | |
1 | 38 | Executive Correspondence | |
1 | 39 | General | |
1 | 40 | Institutions | |
1 | 41 | Nanking Theological Seminary | |
1 | 42 | Minutes and Reports | |
1 | 43 | Treasurer's Correspondence | |
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| 1959 | |
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2 | 1 | Appropriations and Estimates | |
2 | 2 | Church of Christ in China, Presbyterian Church of Formosa | |
2 | 3 | Executive Correspondence | |
2 | 4 | General | |
2 | 5 | Chung Chi College, Nanking Seminary, Tainan Theological College, Tunghai University | |
2 | 6 | Minutes | |
2 | 7 | Property Matters | |
2 | 8 | Reports | |
2 | 9 | Treasurer | |
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| 1960 | |
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2 | 10 | Appropriations and Estimates | |
2 | 11 | Audiovisual | |
2 | 12 | Church of Christ in China, Presbyterian Church of Formosa | |
2 | 13 | Executive Correspondence | |
2 | 14 | General | |
2 | 15 | Hong Kong Christian Council | |
2 | 16 | Interboard Committee | |
2 | 17 | Institutions--Pu Ying Middle School, others | |
2 | 18 | Minutes | |
2 | 19 | Treasurer | |
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| 1961 | |
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2 | 20 | Appropriations and Estimates | |
2 | 21 | Audiovisual | |
2 | 22 | Church of Christ in China, Presbyterian Church of Formosa | |
2 | 23 | Executive Correspondence and Reports | |
2 | 24 | General | |
2 | 25 | Hong Kong Interboard Committee Minutes, Hong Kong Christian Council | |
2 | 26 | Institutions--Nanking Seminary, Pu Ying School, others | |
2 | 27 | Property Matters | |
2 | 28 | Reports--general and personal | |
2 | 29 | Treasurer's and Executive Correspondence | |
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| 1962 | |
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2 | 30 | Appropriations and Estimates | |
2 | 31 | Church of Christ in China, Presbyterian Church of Formosa | |
2 | 32 | Executive Correspondence | |
2 | 35 | Institutions | |
2 | 36 | Minutes, Property Matters, Reports | |
2 | 37 | Treasurer's and Executive Correspondence | |
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| 1963 | |
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3 | 1 | Appropriations and Estimates, Budget | |
3 | 2 | Churches: Correspondence, Bulletins, Reports, Financial Statements | |
3 | 3 | Executive Correspondence | |
3 | 4 | General | |
3 | 5 | Hong Kong--Christian Council; Interboard Committee | |
3 | 6 | Institutions | |
3 | 7 | Property Reports | |
3 | 8 | Treasurer's and Executive Correspondence | |
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| 1964 | |
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3 | 9 | Appropriations and Estimates, Budget | |
3 | 10 | Churches | |
3 | 11 | Executive Correspondence | |
3 | 12 | General | |
3 | 13 | Hong Kong: Christian Council; Interboard Committee | |
3 | 14 | Institutions | |
3 | 15 | Proposed United Protestant Hospital | |
3 | 16 | Property Matters and Reports | |
3 | 17 | Treasurer and Executive | |
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| 1965 | |
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3 | 18 | Appropriations and Estimates, Budget | |
3 | 19 | Churches | |
3 | 20 | East Asia Office | |
3 | 21 | Executive Correspondence | |
3 | 22 | Reports--General | |
3 | 23 | Treasurer and Executive | |
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| 1966 | |
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3 | 24 | East Asia Office | |
3 | 25 | Minutes | |
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| 1967 | |
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3 | 26 | General | |
3 | 27 | Institutions | |
3 | 28 | Reports--General | |
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| 1957 | |
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3 | 29 | Minutes, North Formosa Presbyterian Mission Council | |
3 | 30 | Board General Letter (#132), Appropriations/estimates | |
3 | 31 | Nanking Seminary--Correspondence | |
3 | 32 | Reports | |
3 | 33 | Miscellaneous items re institutions | |
3 | 34 | re churches in China | |
3 | 35 | Miscellaneous items | |
3 | 36 | Report, Hong Kong, Formosa, China | |
| 3 | 37-38 | Executive correspondence |