MS 243 - Grace McClurg Carson Collection

Title	MS 243 - Grace McClurg Carson Collection
Introduction	The Grace McClurg Carson papers document the history of the McClurg family from 1848, and, specifically, the life of a Methodist Missionary who served in China from 1910 to 1926. The collection consists of 2.5 linear feet of correspondence, photographs, and albums, newsclippings, financial records, religious tracts, Chinese artifacts, and scrapbooks. These papers were donated to the Center for Archival Collections in May 1982 through the cooperation of Dorothy M. Clark, Executrix of the Grace McClurg Carson Estate, and Jill Gates Smith, Field Specialist for the Women's Studies Archives Project. No restrictions exist on the use of this collection and duplication is permitted for the purposes of preservation and scholarly research. The register was prepared by Sandra Davies, graduate assistant in history, in August 1982.
Biographical Sketch	Grace McClurg was born on April 26, 1884, in Lima, Ohio. She was the daughter of Joseph and Eliza (Brown) McClurg. She graduated from high school in 1902 and attended the local normal school for one year. She then taught for three years; one year in a country school and two years in the fourth grade at the Lincoln Building in Lima. From 1906-1908, she attended the Chicago Training School for City, Home and Foreign Missions, and then continued her studies at Northwestern University, graduating in 1912. Upon graduation, she was assigned as a foreign missionary by the Methodist Church to Hinghwa, China. The Hinghwa Mission Province in Fukien, China, was started in 1890 by Reverend Dr. Harold Brewster and his wife under the direction of the Methodist Board of Missions. It stayed in operation until all such facilities were closed by the Chinese Communists after 1948. Grace served at Hinghwa as teacher and supervisor of the girls' boarding school from 1912 to 1926, returning to the United States for one two-year furlough from 1918-1920. Upon her return in 1926, she began teaching social studies at the Lima High School, continuing until her retirement in 1948. While serving in China, she became friends with Reverend F. Stanley Carson and his wife, Grace. The Carsons were assigned to the same province and served there from 1905 to 1941. They kept in touch with Ms. McClurg over the years after returning to the United States. Carson's first wife died in 1956 after a lengthy illness. On a trip from California to Kentucky, he stopped in Lima to visit Ms. McClurg. Eventually, the two former missionaries were married and resided in Lima until their deaths.
Scope and Content	The papers of Grace McClurg Carson document the experiences of an unmarried woman missionary in China from 1912 to 1926. As such, they shed light on the role of women in a working situation as educators. In addition, the researcher can gain insight into the concerns of women who do not see themselves as mere appendages of men but as individuals in their own right. The correspondence in the collection (1848-1970) is extensive. It includes two Civil War letters written between a brother and sister--McClurg ancestors. The bulk consists of letters to and from China, supplemented by later correspondence to family and friends after Grace McClurg married F. Stanley Carson (ca. 1957). In addition, the folder entitled "Keepers of the Gate" (1947-1965) consists of religious or inspirational letters to close friends and relatives. The diaries kept by Grace McClurg in college reveal the extent of her religious commitments. They also can be utilized for research into the educational development of women in America at the turn of the century. Unfortunately, her diary entries written while in China are brief and sporadic. Grace McClurg also related her experiences in the form of stories and essays which she submitted to various publications, including Reader's Digest. Included are pieces on a summer spent in the Western United States ("I Was a Harvest Cook") as well as several untitled drafts on people and places in china. In a similar vein, the collection includes essays and inspirational quotations, possibly compiled by F. Stanley Carson, which might have been used to teach religious classes. The scrapbooks and scrapbook clippings in the collection are valuable for information on the Chicago Training School and the Hinghwa Mission. They include newspaper articles, menus, programs, Chinese artwork, and photographs. Printed material consists of pamphlets, biographical information, and general religious literature. This is highlighted by Chinese printed material that includes a foreign language Bible and hymnal, paper dolls, a rice culture booklet, and instructions on writing Chinese characters for missionaries in training. Photographs in the collection (ca. 1884-1970) represent an extensive documentation of the McClurg family and pre-revolutionary China. In addition, one can use this material to illustrate the social history of women in early colleges and as missionaries. A list appears at the end of the box inventory which attempts to identify each photograph by subject, individual, or location. Dates have been included when possible.
Series Description	CORRESPONDENCE CORRESPONDENCE 1848-1972. Arranged chronologically Includes correspondence largely pertaining to Grace McClurg's college experiences and missionary experiences in China. Also includes some correspondence of F. Stanley Carson and letters to and from friends and family. Postcards are also included and arranged in a separate folder. "KEEPERS OF THE GATE." 1947-1965, n.d. Arranged chronologically Contains correspondence having religious or inspirational themes. SUBJECT FILES PERSONAL FILES 1899-1969, n.d. (Scattered) Arranged by name and within, chronologically. Includes personal papers, family histories, newsclippings, estate correspondence of Grace McClurg Carson, Ruth McClurg (sister) and F. Stanley Carson. LITERARY PRODUCTIONS DIARIES 1907-1912, 1920-1925, 1958 Arranged chronologically Covers primarily the years when Grace McClurg was attending college and her experiences in China. ESSAYS AND INSPIRATIONAL QUOTES 1940s-1960s, n.d. Arranged chronologically Includes poems, essays, quotations, and sermons of missionary, George Hollister. MISCELLANEOUS RELIGIOUS NOTES 1940s-1950s, n.d. Arranged as removed from loose leaf binders. Includes religious notations mostly of F. Stanley Carson. WRITINGS OF GRACE MCCLURG 1907, 1912, 1924-1925, 1937, 1955, 1967 Arranged chronologically Tales from China, essays written for Garden Club and an unpublished manuscript entitled, "I was a Harvest Cook." LEGAL DOCUMENTS DEED OF GIFT, ALLEN COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY 1960. Details of the donation of Chinese artifacts owned by the Carsons with an inventory. FINANCIAL DOCUMENTS ACCOUNT LEDGER/FINANCIAL REPORTS 1924-1926. Arranged chronologically Includes a ledger book detailing mission expenditures and two financial reports for the Hinghwa City and Primary Day schools. SCRAPBOOK AND SCRAPBOOK MATERIAL SCRAPBOOKS 1906-1908, n.d. Arranged chronologically Pictures and clippings from the Chicago Training School and the Hinghwa Mission. MISCELLANEOUS CHINESE SCRAPBOOK ITEMS 1916, 1923, 1961, n.d. Includes Chinese writing and artwork, a menu, clippings. PRINTED MATERIAL STEAMSHIP MENUS 1918, 1926. Arranged chronologically (scattered). Menus from the S. S. Shinyo Maru, Dollar Steamship Line. ALLEN COUNTY REPORTER 1963, 1970. Arranged chronologically Issues for members of the Allen County Historical Society. BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION ON F. STANLEY CARSON 1956, 1970, n.d. Arranged chronologically Includes a biographical sketch of Rev. Carson and an obituary of his first wife, Grace Darling. BORROWED TIME CLUB 1934, 1938. Arranged chronologically Booklets published for members with rosters. CHINESE PRINTED MATERIAL n.d. Includes Chinese language Bible, a hymnal, paper dolls, Chinese rice culture booklet, writing instructions for missionaries, and stencils of Chinese life. "RELATION OF CHURCH TO STATE" n.d. Draft of a sermon, probably owned by F. Stanley Carson. "THE STORY OF FOOCHOW FOREIGN CEMETERIES" n.d. A historical pamphlet probably printed before 1926 with information on the foreign community. CLIPPINGS AND MISCELLANEOUS PAMPHLETS 1913, 1945-1952, 1959, 1961, 1964, n.d. Arranged chronologically Includes Christmas cards, magazine articles, and general religious literature. AUDIO RECORDINGS CHINESE TAPES n.d. A "letter" in Chinese from a military student, and a collection of Chinese songs. PHOTOGRAPHIC MATERIALS PHOTOGRAPHS AND PHOTOGRAPH ALBUMS ca. 1884-1970. Arranged by subject and chronologically when possible. Extensive collection of photographs documenting the McClurg family, pre-revolutionary China, and American women at the turn of the century. A subject list is included with the box inventory at the end of the register. POSTCARDS n.d. Arranged by geographical subject. Postcards depicting scenes of Japan, China, and miscellaneous subjects.
Inventory	Envelope 1 Group picture--Grace and Stanley in the center Three photographs (mounted on cardboard) of women , ca. 1900 Grace McClurg with unidentified child, ca. 1911 Man--possibly John Smith, an old flame, 1912 Picnic scene, ca. 1910 Unidentified group picture in yard, ca. 1910 House with two people on porch, n.d. Variation of above photo, n.d. Five women in front of Camp Wesleyan banner, ca. 1910 Envelope 2 Portrait of graduating class including Grace McClurg, ca. 1913 Envelope 3 Unidentified boy, ca. 1900 Portrait of three women in Syracuse, New York, 1922 Portrait of three men, ca. 1910 Envelope 4 Stanley Carson, ca. 1940 Grace McClurg, ca. 1948 Man with five children, probably Stanley, ca. 1920 Woman, ca. 1910 Two women at Camp Wesleyan, one of them is Grace, ca. 1910 Family in front of car, ca. 1910 Four children, ca. 1910 "All Ohio Girls" ca. 1900 Grace McClurg and six men, ca. 1914 Envelope 5 Four boys, ca. 1920 Envelope 6 Alice Hill, 1910 Two children, n.d. Tennis players, ca. 1910 Grace and friends, 1905 Ruth McClurg, ca. 1910 Boy with dog, ca. 1905 Man and boy in wagon, ca. 1905 Envelope 7 Three children (nieces and nephews of Grace), 1912 A party group (identified on back) ca. 1913 Man and woman, ca. 1905 Unidentified man, ca. 1905 Old couple, possibly Grace's parents, ca. 1910 Three children in Sunday clothes, ca. 1905 Boy in wagon, ca. 1911 Mary, a niece of Grace, ca. 1920 Picnic group, ca. 1905 Envelope 8 Child, ca. 1920 Fern, ca. 1905 Family, ca. 1910 Woman, ca. 1910 Two women, ca. 1905 Man, ca. 1920 Group picture, 1961 Envelope 9 Baby (tintype), n.d. Baby with mother (tintype), n.d. Tintype--two women, n.d. "Deaconess in Chicago Where Grace Trained,"ca. 1911 Boy with top, ca. 1890 Woman, ca. 1900 "Our Family" ca. 1910 Couple on steps, ca. 1920 Couple with child, ca. 1910 People on porch, ca. 1910 Grace McClurg, ca. 1911 Boy with dog, n.d. Envelope 10 Phillip, n.d. Gertrude Leberman, n.d. Two children, n.d. Group picture, ca. 1915 Couple in woods, ca. 1915 Couple with two children, ca. 1910 Grace McClurg Carson, ca. 1960 Two children, ca. 1900 Boy, ca. 1910 Mrs. H. C. Hubbell, n.d. Group picture, ca. 1910 Glenn, 1910 Woman, ca. 1910 Woman on horse, ca. 1910 Woman on porch, ca. 1910 Envelope 11 "Mamma and Billie," ca 1910 Stanley Carson, 1951 Douglas Scott Davis, 1963 Five children, ca. 1963 Geh-Ing's African violets, 1965 Girl, 1962 Larry Rothermel, age 9, n.d. Carolyn, age 9, 1965 Carolyn, age 7, 1963 Christ Rothermel, age 16, n.d. Dorothy, age 8, ca. 1965 David, 18 months, and Doug 6 months (Davis?) n.d. Dennis, age 7, 1965 Lynn Rothermel, age 10, n.d. Envelope 12 Group with Grace and Stanley, 1965 Geh-Ing at the World's Fair, 1965 Percy and Florence Critz, 1964 Geh-Ing, 1962 Group picture with Stanley and Grace, 1965 Group picture with Stanley and Grace, 1965 Geh-Ing at World's Fair, 1965 Stanley Carson, ca. 1965 Tea party, ca. 1960 Tea party, ca. 1960 Stanley Carson, ca. 1970 Stanley and Grace with boy and girl, ca. 1970 Group picture, ca. 1960 Group picture at 602 Metcalf Street Carolyn, ca. 1966 Group picture, 1961 Woman (graduation picture), ca. 1965 Four men, ca. 1965 Group picture, ca. 1961 Envelope 13 Grace McClurg, ca. 1920 Couple on porch, 1921 People with car, ca. 1921 Woman with babies, ca. 1900 Graduation portrait (Oberlin), 1916 Grace McClurg, ca. 1913 Man, ca. 1920 Baby, 1910 "Off for School" ca. 1905 "Raimsey,"ca. 1910 Grace with dog, ca. 1950 Austin and Lorraine on pony, ca. 1920 Lucile Wolfe, ca. 1910 Glen Edward Newland (son of Bertha McGuire), 1914 Swimmers, ca. 1910 Swimmers, ca. 1910 Two women (Grace on left), ca. 1915 Woman wading, ca. 1910 Woman, ca. 1905 Mildraid Bier, ca. 1905 Aunt Jaur, ca. 1900 Boy posed on chair, ca. 1905 Men next to derrick, ca. 1915 Women with children, ca. 1917 Two women ca. 1918 Swimmers, ca. 1910 Two children, ca. 1940 Group picture, ca. 1940 Three women (Grace on left), ca. 1940 Group, includes Stanley and possibly his first wife, ca. 1940 Stanley, Grace and others, 1965 Dorothy Perry, 1965 Girl, ca. 1967 Group shot in front of 602 Metcalf, Stanley and Grace in back, 1961 People in diner, ca. 1961 Stanley and three others, ca. 1970 Stanley and Grace with boy and girl, 1970 Stanley and woman, 1971 Stanley with two men (his sons?) 1971 Envelope 14 Three boys, 1912 Farm machinery, ca. 1913 Hay wagon, ca. 1913 Farm equipment, ca. 1913 View of a lake, ca. 1910 Sea of Galilee, 1967 Sea of Galilee, 1967 Sea of Galilee, 1967 Grace's lilacs, ca. 1969 Large residence, ca. 1920 Royal Gorge, ca. 1915 Tulips, 1969 A ranch, ca. 1913 Four men and hay, ca. 1913 Burros, ca. 1913 Flood scene, Putnam Street Bridge (Ohio?) ca. 1913 Flood scene, another view, ca. 1913 Flood scene near Masonic Temple (Ohio?), ca. 1913 Royal Gorge, ca. 1913 Royal Gorge, ca. 1913 Royal Gorge, ca. 1913 Farm scene, ca. 1913 Farm scene, ca. 1913 Farm scene, ca. 1913 Sheep, ca. 1913 Chickens, ca. 1913 Plow and horses, ca. 1913 Farm hands, horses, hay, 1913 Farm horses and wagon, ca. 1913 Farm machinery, ca. 1913 Envelope 15 Virginia City, Nevada, 1954 Yard with dog, 1954 Coastline, 1954 Grace, Stanley, and two women, ca. 1960 Man with dog, ca. 1930 Man with dog, ca. 1930 Grace with group, 1954 Family at Christmas, ca. 1955 Man with baby flanked by old couple, 1946 Four at "Hawley House," 1964 Man, ca. 1925 Three old women, 1962 Group of women, ca. 1965 Group of old people, ca. 1961 Group of old people, ca. 1961 Stanley and Grace at dinner with guests, ca. 1965 Stanley, ca. 1965 Stanley and Grace with group, ca. 1965 Men doing dishes, 1964 Group of people, 1963 Another group, 1965 Stanley and Grace, ca. 1965 A group, ca. 1961 Group of men, ca. 1961 Another shot of men in kitchen, 1964 Group at a banquet, ca. 1960 Stanley and Grace with group, ca. 1961 Stanley and Grace lying out, 1963 Church on Cape Cod where Stanley served as student pastor, ca. 1910 Envelope 16 Stanley and Grace showing artifacts, ca. 1960 Envelope 17: Photographs from China Miss Westcott, Elizabeth V., "Bible Woman" 1902 Grace McClurg with boy, ca. 1917 Planting rice, n.d. View of street, ca. 1917 Marble carvings, ca. 1917 Open courtyard in a Chinese house, ca. 1917 Chinese musicians, ca. 1917 Theater district, ca. 1917 Children, ca. 1920 Envelope 18 Grace with a girl's group, ca. 1920 Envelope 19 Bound-foot woman, ca. 1914-1928 Close-up of foot, ca. 1920 Dr. Beton-Singiu, M.E. Hospital, ca. 1920 Two women in Chinese hospital beds, ca. 1920 Grace McClurg, ca. 1920 Hinghwa City, China, ca. 1904 Chinese davenport, n.d. Village fishing boats, n.d. Close-up of a fishing boat, n.d. Villages with "idol paper," ca. 1920 Envelope 20 Group of young girls in formal attire, ca. 1920 "Old Time Chinese School", ca. 1920 Children at missionary school, n.d. Chinese dwellings on hillside, n.d. White children with Chinese nanny, ca. 1920 Envelope 21 Group picture of missionary school children, ca. 1920 Chinese girl about 6 years old, ca. 1920 Chinese girls about 8 years old, ca. 1920 Another view of above group, ca. 1920 Another view of above group, ca. 1920 Chinese group, ca. 1920 Building, n.d. Kindergarten children, c a. 1920 Child, ca. 1926 Group of older students, ca. 1926 Envelope 22 Chinese Temple, ca. 1925 Priest, ca. 1925 Bible Woman's Training School, 1926 Girls fixing their hair, ca. 1926 Chinese coiffures (close-up), ca. 1926 Another view of Chinese coiffures, ca. 1926 Two women at spinning wheel, ca. 1926 Doing laundry, ca. 1926 Washing put out to dry, 1909 Chinese women and girls, ca. 1926 Chinese girls with hanging clothes, ca. 1909 Geh-Ing, 1964 Envelope 23 Kuo H. Chung, ca. 1920 Grace and woman on Chinese cart, ca. 1926 Mode of transportation in Talieu region, 1910 Rickshaw, 1910 The Memphis carrying Charles Lindberg, 1927 The two Esthers, ca. 1920 Chinese man carrying children in a basket, ca. 1926 Missionary bathers, ca. 1925 Chinese fishermen, ca. 1910 Grace and child in fishing boat, ca. 1920 Chinese woman holding sign, ca. 1926 Grace and another woman, ca. 1925 Grace in rickshaw, ca. 1925 Coolies ready for evangelistic trip, ca. 1910 Pagoda, n.d. Bamboo products, n.d. Furniture, n.d. Envelope 24 Transplanting rice, n.d. Selling kindling wood, n.d. Street scene--drying noodles, n.d. Threshing rice, n.d. Flour mill, n.d. Home flour mill, n.d. Harrowing on terraced hillside, n.d. Review of treadmill, n.d. Tanning mill, n.d. Coolies eating lunch, n.d. Plowing a field, n.d. Irrigation by swinging bucket, n.d. Making vermicelli, n.d. Envelope 25 Woman crossing a river, n.d. Village pier, n.d. Pagoda, n.d. Old Chinese couple, ca. 1925 Two women in Kuliang Foochow, 1919 Dennio, Leslie Diana and Valerie (no surnames) ca. 1960 Farm machinery, ca. 1910 Farm machinery, ca. 1910 Envelope 26 View of ruins, Pompeii, Italy, n.d. View of ruins, Pompeii, Italy, n.d. View of ruins, Pompeii, Italy, n.d. View of ruins, Pompeii, Italy, n.d. Envelope 27 Mother Stephens Mother Stephens Mother Stephens Mother Stephens Envelope 28 Mother Stephens Group of women, including McClurg Chinese leper woman Oversize Photographs Grace McClurg and family, ca. 1900 Unidentified, n.d. Mission photograph--families, children, etc., n.d. Oversize Documents Woodcut print (?) Woodcut print (?) Drawing on red paper Express, published at Foochow Printing Press, January 30, 1918, advertising a shoe maker in English and Chinese