Grace McClurg Carson papers
Collection Organization
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.
Correspondence, 1848-1972, undated
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.
- Extent
- 0.6 Cubic Feet (1 archive box, 3 folders)
Correspondence, 1848-1904 (scattered)
Correspondence, 1909-1911
Correspondence (postcards), 1910-1962, undated (scattered)
Correspondence, 1912-1915, 1917, undated
Correspondence, 1918-1920
Correspondence, 1921-1923
Correspondence, 1924-1925, undated
Correspondence, 1926
Correspondence, 1927-1928
Correspondence, 1929-1930
Correspondence, 1931-1936, 1940-1943 (scattered)
Correspondence, 1944-1949, undated
Correspondence, 1950-1965
Correspondence, 1966-1972, undated
Correspondence (Ruth McClurg), 1917-1922, undated
"Keepers of the Gate" (correspondence), 1947-1965, undated
Literary productions, 1907-1960s, undated
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."
- Extent
- 0.32 Cubic Feet (9 folders)
Diary, 1907-1912
Diary, 1920-1925
Diary, 1958
Essays and inspirational quotes, 1940s-1960s, undated (scattered)
Miscellaneous religious notes, 1940s, undated
Miscellaneous religious notes, 1940s-1950s, undated
Miscellaneous religious notes, 1950s, undated
Stories, 1907, 1912, 1924-1925, 1937, 1955, 1967
"I Was A Harvest Cook", 1966
Subject files, 1899-1969, undated (scattered)
Includes personal papers, family histories, newsclippings, estate correspondence of Grace McClurg Carson, Ruth McClurg (sister) and F. Stanley Carson.
- Extent
- 3 Folders
Grace McClurg Carson file, 1899-1960s, undated (scattered)
Ruth McClurg file, 1968-1969, undated
F. Stanley Carson file, 1960s
Legal documents, 1960
Details of the donation of Chinese artifacts owned by the Carsons with an inventory.
- Extent
- 1 Folders
Deed of Gift, Allen County Historical, 1960
Financial documents, 1924-1926
Includes a ledger book detailing mission expenditures and two financial reports for the Hinghwa City and Primary Day schools.
- Extent
- 1 Folders
Account ledger/financial reports, 1924-1926
Scrapbook materials, 1906-1961, undated
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.
- Extent
- 4 Folders
Scrapbook-Chicago Training School, 1906-1908
Scrapbook-Miscellaneous including China, undated
Scrapbook clippings, items, 1898-1899, 1914, 1948-1952, undated
Scrapbook items-China, 1916, 1923, 1961, undated
Printed materials, 1913-1970, undated
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.
- Extent
- 0.4 Cubic Feet (15 folders)
- 4 Items (4 oversize prints)
Steamship menus, 1918, 1926
Chinese Bible, undated
Chinese Hymnal, undated
Chinese paper dolls, undated
Chinese rice culture booklet - drawings, undated
Chinese daily life activities - drawings, undated
Chinese writing, undated
History of the Hinghwa Women's Foreign Missionary Society, 1871-1925
Margaret Eliza Nast Nursing School literature, undated
Relations of Church to State, undated
Story of the Foochow Foreign Cemeteries, undated
Printed material - Hinghwa Conference, 1919, 1923-1926, undated
Printed material - Foochow Mission, 1897, 1939
Miscellaneous clippings, pamphlets and other Chinese items, 1913, 1948, 1959, 1964, 1969, undated
Christmas cards and clippings, 1945-1952, undated
Rice paper print, undated
Rice paper print, undated
Rice paper print, undated
Rice paper advertisement: "Express," published at Foochow Printing Press, advertising a shoe maker in English and Chinese, January 30, 1918
Audio recordings, undated
CHINESE TAPES undated A "letter" in Chinese from a military student, and a collection of Chinese songs.
- Extent
- 1 Folders
Audio recordings, undated
Photographic materials, circa 1884-1970
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.
- Extent
- 0.46 Cubic Feet (1 legal box)
- 3 Photographic Prints (3 oversize photographs)