Center for Archival Collections

Introduction | Biographical Sketch | Scope and Content | Series Description | Inventory | Photograph Inventory

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

Box 1

Folders

1. Correspondence, 1848-1904 (scattered)
2. Correspondence, 1909-1911
3. Correspondence (postcards), 1910-1962, n.d. (scattered)
4. Correspondence, 1912-1915, 1917, n.d.
5. Correspondence, 1918-1920
6. Correspondence, 1921-1923
7. Correspondence, 1924-1925, n.d.
8. Correspondence, 1926
9. Correspondence, 1927-1928
10. Correspondence, 1929-1930
11. Correspondence, 1931-1936, 1940-1943 (scattered)
12. Correspondence, 1944-1949, n.d.
13. Correspondence, 1950-1965

Box 2

Folders

1. Correspondence, 1966-1972, n.d.
2. Correspondence (Ruth McClurg), 1917-1922, n.d.
3. "Keepers of the Gate" (correspondence), 1947-1965, n.d.
4. Diary, 1907-1912
5. Diary, 1920-1925
6. Diary, 1958
7. Essays and inspirational quotes, 1940s-1960s, n.d. (scattered)
8. Miscellaneous religious notes, 1940s, n.d.
9. Miscellaneous religious notes, 1940s-1950s, n.d.
10. Miscellaneous religious notes, 1950s, n.d.
11. Stories, 1907, 1912, 1924-1925, 1937, 1955, 1967
12. "I Was a Harvest Cook" 1966

Box 3

Folders

1. Grace McClurg Carson file, 1899-1960s, n.d. (scattered)
2. Ruth McClurg file, 1968-1969, n.d.
3. F. Stanley Carson file, 1960s
4. Deed of gift--Allen County Historical Society, 1960
5. Account ledger/financial reports, 1924-1926
6. Scrapbook--Chicago Training School, 1906-1908
7. Scrapbook--Miscellaneous including China, n.d.
8. Scrapbook clippings, items, 1898-1899, 1914, 1948-1952, n.d.
9. Scrapbook items--China, 1916, 1923, 1961, n.d.

Box 4

Folders

1. Steamship menus, 1918, 1926
2. Chinese Bible, n.d.
3. Chinese Hymnal, n.d.
4. Chinese paper dolls, n.d.
5. Chinese rice culture booklet--drawings, n.d.
6. Chinese daily life activities--drawings, n.d.
7. Chinese writing, n.d.
8. "History of the Hinghwa Women's Foreign Missionary Society,"1871-1925
9. Margaret Eliza Nast Nursing School literature, n.d.
10. "Relations of Church to State,"n.d.
11. "Story of the Foochow Foreign Cemeteries," n.d.
12. Printed material--Hinghwa Conference, 1919, 1923-1926, n.d.
13. Miscellaneous clippings, pamphlets and other Chinese items, 1913, 1948, 1959, 1964, 1969, n.d.
14. Christmas cards and clippings, 1945-1952, n.d.
15. Audio recordings, n.d.

Box 5

Folders

1. Photo album, ca. 1890-1910
2. McClurg family photographs (seven--unidentified), n.d.
3. Two group photographs, Hinghwa Mission, n.d.
4. Photo album (see list), ca. 1910
5. Postcards--Japan
6. Postcards--China
7. Postcards--Miscellaneous

Photograph Inventory

Envelope 1

1. Group picture--Grace and Stanley in the center
2. Three photographs (mounted on cardboard) of women , ca. 1900
3. Grace McClurg with unidentified child, ca. 1911
4. Man--possibly John Smith, an old flame, 1912
5. Picnic scene, ca. 1910
6. Unidentified group picture in yard, ca. 1910
7. House with two people on porch, n.d.
8. Variation of above photo, n.d.
9. Five women in front of Camp Wesleyan banner, ca. 1910

Envelope 2

1. Portrait of graduating class including Grace McClurg, ca. 1913

Envelope 3

1. Unidentified boy, ca. 1900
2. Portrait of three women in Syracuse, New York, 1922
3. Portrait of three men, ca. 1910

Envelope 4

1. Stanley Carson, ca. 1940
2. Grace McClurg, ca. 1948
3. Man with five children, probably Stanley, ca. 1920
4. Woman, ca. 1910
5. Two women at Camp Wesleyan, one of them is Grace, ca. 1910
6. Family in front of car, ca. 1910
7. Four children, ca. 1910
8. "All Ohio Girls" ca. 1900
9. Grace McClurg and six men, ca. 1914

Envelope 5

1. Four boys, ca. 1920

Envelope 6

1. Alice Hill, 1910
2. Two children, n.d.
3. Tennis players, ca. 1910
4. Grace and friends, 1905
5. Ruth McClurg, ca. 1910
6. Boy with dog, ca. 1905
7. Man and boy in wagon, ca. 1905

Envelope 7

1. Three children (nieces and nephews of Grace), 1912
2. A party group (identified on back) ca. 1913
3. Man and woman, ca. 1905
4. Unidentified man, ca. 1905
5. Old couple, possibly Grace's parents, ca. 1910
6. Three children in Sunday clothes, ca. 1905
7. Boy in wagon, ca. 1911
8. Mary, a niece of Grace, ca. 1920
9. Picnic group, ca. 1905

Envelope 8

1. Child, ca. 1920
2. Fern, ca. 1905
3. Family, ca. 1910
4. Woman, ca. 1910
5. Two women, ca. 1905
6. Man, ca. 1920
7. Group picture, 1961

Envelope 9

1. Baby (tintype), n.d.
2. Baby with mother (tintype), n.d.
3. Tintype--two women, n.d.
4. "Deaconess in Chicago Where Grace Trained,"ca. 1911
5. Boy with top, ca. 1890
6. Woman, ca. 1900
7. "Our Family" ca. 1910
8. Couple on steps, ca. 1920
9. Couple with child, ca. 1910
10. People on porch, ca. 1910
11. Grace McClurg, ca. 1911
12. Boy with dog, n.d.

Envelope 10

1. Phillip, n.d.
2. Gertrude Leberman, n.d.
3. Two children, n.d.
4. Group picture, ca. 1915
5. Couple in woods, ca. 1915
6. Couple with two children, ca. 1910
7. Grace McClurg Carson, ca. 1960
8. Two children, ca. 1900
9. Boy, ca. 1910
10. Mrs. H. C. Hubbell, n.d.
11. Group picture, ca. 1910
12. Glenn, 1910
13. Woman, ca. 1910
14. Woman on horse, ca. 1910
15. Woman on porch, ca. 1910

Envelope 11

1. "Mamma and Billie," ca 1910
2. Stanley Carson, 1951
3. Douglas Scott Davis, 1963
4. Five children, ca. 1963
5. Geh-Ing's African violets, 1965
6. Girl, 1962
7. Larry Rothermel, age 9, n.d.
8. Carolyn, age 9, 1965
9. Carolyn, age 7, 1963
10. Christ Rothermel, age 16, n.d.
11. Dorothy, age 8, ca. 1965
12. David, 18 months, and Doug 6 months (Davis?) n.d.
13. Dennis, age 7, 1965
14. Lynn Rothermel, age 10, n.d.

Envelope 12

1. Group with Grace and Stanley, 1965
2. Geh-Ing at the World's Fair, 1965
3. Percy and Florence Critz, 1964
4. Geh-Ing, 1962
5. Group picture with Stanley and Grace, 1965
6. Group picture with Stanley and Grace, 1965
7. Geh-Ing at World's Fair, 1965
8. Stanley Carson, ca. 1965
9. Tea party, ca. 1960
10. Tea party, ca. 1960
11. Stanley Carson, ca. 1970
12. Stanley and Grace with boy and girl, ca. 1970
13. Group picture, ca. 1960
14. Group picture at 602 Metcalf Street
15. Carolyn, ca. 1966
16. Group picture, 1961
17. Woman (graduation picture), ca. 1965
18. Four men, ca. 1965
19. Group picture, ca. 1961

Envelope 13

1. Grace McClurg, ca. 1920
2. Couple on porch, 1921
3. People with car, ca. 1921
4. Woman with babies, ca. 1900
5. Graduation portrait (Oberlin), 1916
6. Grace McClurg, ca. 1913
7. Man, ca. 1920
8. Baby, 1910
9. "Off for School" ca. 1905
10. "Raimsey,"ca. 1910
11. Grace with dog, ca. 1950
12. Austin and Lorraine on pony, ca. 1920
13. Lucile Wolfe, ca. 1910
14. Glen Edward Newland (son of Bertha McGuire), 1914
15. Swimmers, ca. 1910
16. Swimmers, ca. 1910
17. Two women (Grace on left), ca. 1915
18. Woman wading, ca. 1910
19. Woman, ca. 1905
20. Mildraid Bier, ca. 1905
21. Aunt Jaur, ca. 1900
22. Boy posed on chair, ca. 1905
23. Men next to derrick, ca. 1915
24. Women with children, ca. 1917
25. Two women ca. 1918
26. Swimmers, ca. 1910
27. Two children, ca. 1940
28. Group picture, ca. 1940
29. Three women (Grace on left), ca. 1940
30. Group, includes Stanley and possibly his first wife, ca. 1940
31. Stanley, Grace and others, 1965
32. Dorothy Perry, 1965
33. Girl, ca. 1967
34. Group shot in front of 602 Metcalf, Stanley and Grace in back, 1961
35. People in diner, ca. 1961
36. Stanley and three others, ca. 1970
37. Stanley and Grace with boy and girl, 1970
38. Stanley and woman, 1971
39. Stanley with two men (his sons?) 1971

Envelope 14

1. Three boys, 1912
2. Farm machinery, ca. 1913
3. Hay wagon, ca. 1913
4. Farm equipment, ca. 1913
5. View of a lake, ca. 1910
6. Sea of Galilee, 1967
7. Sea of Galilee, 1967
8. Sea of Galilee, 1967
9. Grace's lilacs, ca. 1969
10. Large residence, ca. 1920
11. Royal Gorge, ca. 1915
12. Tulips, 1969
13. A ranch, ca. 1913
14. Four men and hay, ca. 1913
15. Burros, ca. 1913
16. Flood scene, Putnam Street Bridge (Ohio?) ca. 1913
17. Flood scene, another view, ca. 1913
18. Flood scene near Masonic Temple (Ohio?), ca. 1913
19. Royal Gorge, ca. 1913
20. Royal Gorge, ca. 1913
21. Royal Gorge, ca. 1913
22. Farm scene, ca. 1913
23. Farm scene, ca. 1913
24. Farm scene, ca. 1913
25. Sheep, ca. 1913
26. Chickens, ca. 1913
27. Plow and horses, ca. 1913
28. Farm hands, horses, hay, 1913
29. Farm horses and wagon, ca. 1913
30. Farm machinery, ca. 1913

1. Virginia City, Nevada, 1954
2. Yard with dog, 1954
3. Coastline, 1954
4. Grace, Stanley, and two women, ca. 1960
5. Man with dog, ca. 1930
6. Man with dog, ca. 1930
7. Grace with group, 1954
8. Family at Christmas, ca. 1955
9. Man with baby flanked by old couple, 1946
10. Four at "Hawley House," 1964
11. Man, ca. 1925
12. Three old women, 1962
13. Group of women, ca. 1965
14. Group of old people, ca. 1961
15. Group of old people, ca. 1961
16. Stanley and Grace at dinner with guests, ca. 1965
17. Stanley, ca. 1965
18. Stanley and Grace with group, ca. 1965
19. Men doing dishes, 1964
20. Group of people, 1963
21. Another group, 1965
22. Stanley and Grace, ca. 1965
23. A group, ca. 1961
24. Group of men, ca. 1961
25. Another shot of men in kitchen, 1964
26. Group at a banquet, ca. 1960
27. Stanley and Grace with group, ca. 1961
28. Stanley and Grace lying out, 1963
29. Church on Cape Cod where Stanley served as student pastor, ca. 1910

Envelope 16

1. Stanley and Grace showing artifacts, ca. 1960

Envelope 17: Photographs from China

1. Miss Westcott, Elizabeth V., "Bible Woman" 1902
2. Grace McClurg with boy, ca. 1917
3. Planting rice, n.d.
4. View of street, ca. 1917
5. Marble carvings, ca. 1917
6. Open courtyard in a Chinese house, ca. 1917
7. Chinese musicians, ca. 1917
8. Theater district, ca. 1917
9. Children, ca. 1920

Envelope 18

1. Grace with a girl's group, ca. 1920

Envelope 19

1. Bound-foot woman, ca. 1914-1928
2. Close-up of foot, ca. 1920
3. Dr. Beton-Singiu, M.E. Hospital, ca. 1920
4. Two women in Chinese hospital beds, ca. 1920
5. Grace McClurg, ca. 1920
6. Hinghwa City, China, ca. 1904
7. Chinese davenport, n.d.
8. Village fishing boats, n.d.
9. Close-up of a fishing boat, n.d.
10. Villages with "idol paper," ca. 1920

Envelope 20

1. Group of young girls in formal attire, ca. 1920
2. "Old Time Chinese School", ca. 1920
3. Children at missionary school, n.d.
4. Chinese dwellings on hillside, n.d.
5. White children with Chinese nanny, ca. 1920

Envelope 21

1. Group picture of missionary school children, ca. 1920
2. Chinese girl about 6 years old, ca. 1920
3. Chinese girls about 8 years old, ca. 1920
4. Another view of above group, ca. 1920
5. Another view of above group, ca. 1920
6. Chinese group, ca. 1920
7. Building, n.d.
8. Kindergarten children, c a. 1920
9. Child, ca. 1926
10. Group of older students, ca. 1926

Envelope 22

1. Chinese Temple, ca. 1925
2. Priest, ca. 1925
3. Bible Woman's Training School, 1926
4. Girls fixing their hair, ca. 1926
5. Chinese coiffures (close-up), ca. 1926
6. Another view of Chinese coiffures, ca. 1926
7. Two women at spinning wheel, ca. 1926
8. Doing laundry, ca. 1926
9. Washing put out to dry, 1909
10. Chinese women and girls, ca. 1926
11. Chinese girls with hanging clothes, ca. 1909
12. Geh-Ing, 1964

Envelope 23

1. Kuo H. Chung, ca. 1920
2. Grace and woman on Chinese cart, ca. 1926
3. Mode of transportation in Talieu region, 1910
4. Rickshaw, 1910
5. The Memphis carrying Charles Lindberg, 1927
6. The two Esthers, ca. 1920
7. Chinese man carrying children in a basket, ca. 1926
8. Missionary bathers, ca. 1925
9. Chinese fishermen, ca. 1910
10. Grace and child in fishing boat, ca. 1920
11. Chinese woman holding sign, ca. 1926
12. Grace and another woman, ca. 1925
13. Grace in rickshaw, ca. 1925
14. Coolies ready for evangelistic trip, ca. 1910
15. Pagoda, n.d.
16. Bamboo products, n.d.
17. Furniture, n.d.

Envelope 24

1. Transplanting rice, n.d.
2. Selling kindling wood, n.d.
3. Street scene--drying noodles, n.d.
4. Threshing rice, n.d.
5. Flour mill, n.d.
6. Home flour mill, n.d.
7. Harrowing on terraced hillside, n.d.
8. Review of treadmill, n.d.
9. Tanning mill, n.d.
10. Coolies eating lunch, n.d.
11. Plowing a field, n.d.
12. Irrigation by swinging bucket, n.d.
13. Making vermicelli, n.d.

Envelope 25

1. Woman crossing a river, n.d.
2. Village pier, n.d.
3. Pagoda, n.d.
4. Old Chinese couple, ca. 1925
5. Two women in Kuliang Foochow, 1919
6. Dennio, Leslie Diana and Valerie (no surnames) ca. 1960
7. Farm machinery, ca. 1910
8. Farm machinery, ca. 1910

Envelope 26

1. View of ruins, Pompeii, Italy, n.d.
2. View of ruins, Pompeii, Italy, n.d.
3. View of ruins, Pompeii, Italy, n.d.
4. View of ruins, Pompeii, Italy, n.d.

Envelope 27

1. Mother Stephens
2. Mother Stephens
3. Mother Stephens
4. Mother Stephens

Envelope 28

1. Mother Stephens
2. Group of women, including McClurg
3. Chinese leper woman

Oversize Photographs

1. Grace McClurg and family, ca. 1900
2. Unidentified, n.d.
3. Mission photograph--families, children, etc., n.d.

Oversize Documents

1. Woodcut print (?)
2. Woodcut print (?)
3. Drawing on red paper
4. Express, published at Foochow Printing Press, January 30, 1918, advertising a shoe maker in English and Chinese

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