Scope and Contents note
The collection contains a variety of materials ranging from travel diaries and itineraries to correspondences and photocopied photographs. These items, culled by her sister Eleanore Roberts, highlight rather than detail Weddell’s long and productive career.
The collection is divided into four series. The first series “Travels Abroad” reflects Weddell’s work for the Christian Church and her humanitarian work generally. This series consists of diaries, itineraries, correspondence, and photocopied photographs in chronological order from 1938 to 1948.
The second series titled “Humanitarian Work, 1945-1961,” consists of material relating to her work conducted in the United States, where she lived. This series contains the same range of materials as the first but reflects her work for different organizations.
The third series “Miscellaneous” holds miscellaneous papers and documents, from her college diploma to obituaries. This material, arranged chronologically, covers the years 1916 through 1961.
The fourth series, "Photographs," consists of 93 images, primarily snapshots of Weddell's travels and documentation of meetings. The bulk date from the 1930s-1950s.
Dates
- 1916-1978
Creator
Conditions Governing Access note
Collection is open to the public. Collection must be used in Special Collections and University Archives Reading Room. Collection or parts of collection may be stored offsite. Please contact Special Collections and University Archives in advance of your visit to allow for transportation time.
Conditions Governing Use note
Property rights reside with Special Collections and University Archives, University of Oregon Libraries. Copyright resides with the creators of the documents or their heirs. All requests for permission to publish collection materials must be submitted to Special Collections and University Archives. The reader must also obtain permission of the copyright holder.
Biographical/Historical note
Suzanne “Sue” Emma Weddell (1884-1978) dedicated her life to the missionary educational movement abroad and to the enhancement of the rights of women. The daughter of a Baptist clergyman, Weddell was born in Chicago and graduated from Bucknell University in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania. From 1919 to 1926, she served as secretary of the Younger Girls Department of the Young Men’s Christian Association in New York, and later was a general secretary of the Women’s Board of Foreign Missions of the Reformed Church of America.
In 1938, Weddell was selected to be one of the 10 women delegates from North America to attend a conference of the International Missionary Council of India, which brought together Christian leaders of 69 countries in Madras. This trip had a profound impact on Weddell, who was not only inspired by such a great and multinational gathering of missionaries, but also fascinated by India.
In 1945, Weddell plunged with zest into the atmosphere of international cooperation that swirled around the San Francisco Conference, at which the United Nations charter was drawn. Weddell went to San Francisco to represent the National Council of Churches as a consultant to the United States delegation.
Weddell wrote several books on education and religion while performing her executive duties with the Reformed Church; she also traveled extensively around the world to lecture and teach.
Sue Weddell died quietly in her sleep at Ocean Grove, New Jersey in 1978. She was 94 years old.
Extent
1.75 linear feet (3 containers)
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
Suzanne E. Weddell (1884-February 26, 1978) was a Christian Missionary, based in the United States but traveled abroad to India, England, Holland, Switzerland, and France. The collection includes correspondence, essays written by Sue Weddell, photographs, and various other papers that reflect her humanitarian work from 1916-1961.
Arrangement note
Collection is organized into the following series: Series I: Travels Abroad, 1938-1948; Series II: Humanitarian Work, 1945-1961; Series III: Miscellaneous, 1916-1978; Series IV: Photographs, 1916-1978
Immediate Source of Acquisition note
Gift of Eleanore Weddell Roberts in 1979.
Existence and Location of Copies note
Available in microfilm as part of: Women's lives. Series 3, American women missionaries and pioneers collection (MICROFILM BV3703 .W66 2006, reel 59-60); Primary Source Microfilm, 12 Lunar Dr., Woodbridge, Conn. 06525.
Processing Information note
Photographs processed by Megan Dazey.
This finding aid may be updated periodically to account for new acquisitions to the collection and/or revisions in arrangement and description.
- Diaries Subject Source: Archiveswest
- Europe -- Description and travel Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Humanitarianism -- Religious aspects -- Christianity Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- India -- Description and travel Subject Source: Unspecified ingested source
- Missionaries Subject Source: Archiveswest
- National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America
- Photographic prints Subject Source: Art & Architecture Thesaurus
- Photographs -- Reproductions Subject Source: TGM II, Genre and physical characteristic terms
- Reformed Church in the United States
- Religion Subject Source: Archiveswest
- United Nations Conference on International Organization (1945 : San Francisco, Calif.)
- Weddell, Suzanne E. (Suzanne Emma), 1885-1978
- Weddell, Suzanne E. (Suzanne Emma), 1885-1978
- Weddell, Suzanne E. (Suzanne Emma), 1885-1978
- Women Subject Source: Archiveswest
- Women missionaries -- Europe Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Women missionaries -- India Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Title
- Guide to the Suzanne E. Weddell papers
- Status
- Complete Description
- Author
- Finding aid prepared by Paz Mendez
- Date
- 2007
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
- Language of description note
- Finding aid written in English.
- Sponsor
- Funding for encoding this finding aid was provided through a grant awarded by the National Endowment for the Humanities.
Repository Details
Part of the University of Oregon Libraries, Special Collections and University Archives Repository
