Scope and Contents note
Collection comprises papers of Arthur William and Mabel Spohr Billing, Methodist missionaries to China, connected with the Union High School at Foochow (Fuzhou), Fukien (Fujian) Province, and includes correspondence, Mabel Billing's diary (1939-1943), mission newsletters, minutes and other official records of the Foochow Conference of the Methodist Church, Foochow (Fuzhou) newspapers, Foochow Union High School pamphlets and photograph album, and a thesis by Portia Billings Foster on the high school.
Dates
- 1910-1960
Creator
- Billing, Mabel Spohr, 1880-1968 (Person)
- Billing, Arthur William, 1877-1960 (Person)
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
Arthur and Mabel Billing were longtime Methodist missionaries to China who were connected with the Union High School at Foochow, Fukien Province.
The correspondence in the collection is representative of their last years in China and letters written in retirement. Correspondents include fellow missionaries, former student and the Mission Board of the Methodist Church.
Outspokenly against United States involvement in Aisa, the Billings waged a correspondence campaign with the U.S. government regarding Indochina, beginning as early as 1954 to criticize Eisenhower policies, i.e., the rise of the domino theory. They were also critical of defense spending and nuclear development and testing.
Their dislike for Chiang Kai Shek and his "warlords," whom they accused of amassing wealth amid galloping inflation, led them to regard the change of government on mainland China as desirable and worthwhile for the people. Fellow missioner Congressman Walter Judd, now identified with the AMA and China lobbies, was the recipient of a denouncement of U.S. policy in Asia. His answer is not included.
After returning to the United States, the Billings were instrumental in bringing several former students to the U.S. for university education, in some cases giving financial assistance from their pensions.
Arthur and Mabel Billing are now deceased.
Extent
1 linear feet (2 containers) : 2 manuscript boxes
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
Collection comprises papers of Arthur William and Mabel Spohr Billing, Methodist missionaries to China, connected with the Union High School at Foochow (Fuzhou), Fukien (Fujian) Province, and includes correspondence, Mabel Billing's diary (1939-1943), mission newsletters, minutes and other official records of the Foochow Conference of the Methodist Church, Foochow (Fuzhou) newspapers, Foochow Union High School pamphlets and photograph album, and a thesis by Portia Billings Foster on the high school.
Existence and Location of Copies
Collection is available online in the Papers of American Missionaries to Asia: Missionaries associated with Fujian and Taiwan, 1889-1976 in Gale Primary Resources.
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.
- China -- Foreign relations -- United States Subject Source: Unspecified ingested source
- Correspondence Subject Source: Art & Architecture Thesaurus
- Foster, Portia Billings, 1921-
- Fuzhou Shi (Fujian Sheng, China) Subject Source: Unspecified ingested source
- International Relations Subject Source: Archiveswest
- Methodist Episcopal Church. Foochow Conference
- Missionaries Subject Source: Archiveswest
- Missionaries -- China -- Fuzhou Shi (Fujian Sheng) Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Missions, American -- China -- Fuzhou Shi (Fujian Sheng) Subject Source: Lcnaf
- Photographs Subject Source: Art & Architecture Thesaurus
- Religion Subject Source: Archiveswest
- Union High School (Fuzhou Shi, Fujian Sheng, China)
- United States -- Foreign relations -- China Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Women Subject Source: Archiveswest
- Title
- Guide to the Arthur and Mabel Billing Papers
- Status
- Complete Description
- Author
- Finding aid prepared by processing staff
- 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
