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Edith Shufeldt papers

 Collection
Identifier: A 208

Scope and Contents note

The Edith Shufeldt Papers bring together disparate documents and sources from Shufeldt's two and a half decades as a missionary in northern China. This collection contains correspondence, reports, newspaper clippings (from Chinese and American newspapers), and photographs. It is difficult to track Shufeldt's experiences in China or as a missionary from these documents; nevertheless, they offer a variety of insights on missionary work during this period. The few letters and associated photographs offer insights on civil war in China during the 'warlord years,' and an account on the 1939 "Bombing of Chungking."

The reports and newspaper clippings in the Shufeldt Papers are on disparate topics but reflect the breadth of missionary involvement. The reports consist of the 1922 findings of the Peking meeting of Christian students (who advocated for an end of racism and war); the 1924-1925 Social Hygiene Department's Annual Report; the 1924-1930 Farmer's Union Report on China; and the 1949 special report on China from the Foreign Missions' Conference. Shufeldt retained copies of a 1947 newspaper series on current changes in China from the Minneapolis Tribune. Other newspaper clippings report on politics and missionary activities in China.

For more information on missionary women who resided in China during the same period as Shufeldt, see the Myra Snow Correspondence (A 186), the Myra Jaquet Papers (A 180), and the Elizabeth Wright Papers (A 301) all of whom lived in Tientsin (Tianjin); or the Elsie Reik Letters from Foochow (Fuzhou), China (A 166) and the Edith Simister Letters from China (A183) who lived in Foochow (Fuzhou); or the Clara Dyer Letters from Ch'iangli, China (A 198) who lived in Ch'iangli. All of these collections are housed in Special Collections & University Archives at the University of Oregon Libraries.

Dates

  • Creation: 1922-1967

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

Edith Shufeldt entered Methodist missionary service in 1922 and was sent to Tientsin (Tianjin) in northern China. Shufeldt served as a teacher at one of the missionary schools in Tianjin (probably Gamewell School or the Keen School); she also spent some time in Peking (Beijing). She appears to have remained in China until the late 1940s, when communist political victories forced most foreign missionaries from the country. The collection is unclear about Shufeldt's activities during World War II.

Extent

0.5 linear feet (2 containers)

Language of Materials

English

Abstract

Edith Shufeldt was a Methodist missionary in Tientsin (Tianjin) in northern China from the 1920s through the 1940s. The collection includes correspondence, reports, newspaper clippings, and photographs.

Arrangement note

Collection is organized into the following series: CorrespondenceReportsPrinted material and newspaper clippingsPhotographs

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 52); Primary Source Microfilm, 12 Lunar Dr., Woodbridge, Conn. 06525.

Processing Information

Collection processed by staff.

This finding aid may be updated periodically to account for new acquisitions to the collection and/or revisions in arrangement and description.

Title
Guide to the Edith Shufeldt papers
Status
Complete Description
Author
Finding aid prepared by Veta Schlimgen, Manuscripts Processor
Date
2006
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Language of description note
Finding aid is 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

Contact:
1299 University of Oregon
Eugene OR 97403-1299 USA