Rev. Charles J. Boppell Papers, 1883-1960

Overview of the Collection

Title
Rev. Charles J. Boppell Papers
Dates
1883-1960 (inclusive)
Quantity
0.5 cu. ft.
Collection Number
MISS.1
Summary
The papers of Rev. Boppell were collected by his daughter Dr. Mary Boppell Johnston (Whitworth Professor 1942-?) The collection consists of some original documents and photographs from the family, some printed copies from family history books and copies of letters from the collection of the Presbyterian Historical Society. (note: Whitworth purchased online access to these documents through GALE Archives Unbound). About a third of the collection deal with the mission in Africa, the remainder of the collection deals with Rev. Boppell's schooling pre-1898 and ministry in West Virginia, Washington and Idaho from 1900 - 1960.
Repository
Whitworth University Archives and Special Collections
Whitworth University Archives and Special Collections
300 W. Hawthorne Road
Spokane, WA 99251
Telephone: 5097774481
archives@whitworth.edu
Access Restrictions

Rights Transferred: All

Languages

Biographical NoteReturn to Top

Charles Jacob Boppell was born April 2, 1871 in Philadelphia and died on July 1, 1960 in Seattle. He attended William and Lee College, Yale Divinity and Princeton Seminary graduating in 1898. Within weeks he married his first wife Sadie McCorkle the daughter of the Mayor of Lexington, VA. Together they traveled to West Africa arriving at Baraka, Gaboon in early September of 1898. They journeyed inland to the Angom station of the Gaboon and Corisco Mission. By November Sadie had succumbed to Malaria with complications of Pregnancy. Charles was weakened by Sunstroke and by September of 1899 he requested a return to the U.S. for health reasons. He took up a ministry in Belington & Philippi West Virginia. In 1905, he married Zilpha Rinehart Wilson M.D. and they requested to resume work in Africa. Rev. Boppell's health though improved was not sufficient for the trying climate of Africa so they were denied. Turning their sights westward to domestic mission fields they moved to Okanagon Washington where they ministered at the Okanogan Reservation and founded a Presbyterian church. He served there from 1906-07. Moving to Spokane, St. Maries, Idaho, Omak, WA, Waterville, WA and finally Seattle where he retired the first time in 1942. He was known for his program of "Bible Mastery" which was adopted by the Synod in the 1930's. He received an Honorary Doctorate from Whitworth College in 1952.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

Records tracing the life of Charles J. Boppell, Missionary in Africa, Sunday School Missionary in the Pacific Northwest and Pastor.

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

Restrictions on Use

No restrictions on use

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Acquisition Information

Dr. Mary B. Johnston, 30 E. Humbolt Drive, Spokane, WA 99218-1517, 509-465-5529

Processing Note

Initial Accession Date: Sept. 2005. Date Last Update: Sep. 12, 2005. Reprocessed 2022.

Related Materials

N-3-J, Mary B. Johnston

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
1/1 Introduction and Inventory
1/2 Biographical
1/3 Photographs
1/4 Philadelphia Childhood Years circa 1883
1/5 Florida 1887-1889
1/6 College Years - William and Lee 1890-1895
1/7 Seminary Years - Princeton University Seminary 1896-1898
1/8 Marriage to Sadie McCorkle 1898
1/9 Trip to Africa 1898
1/10 Correspondence from Rev. Boppell from Africa 1898-1899
1/11 Correspondence to Rev. Boppell 1898-1900
1/12 Boppell Correspondence ( Copies from Originals)
1/13 Correspondence of Sadie Boppell 1898
1/14 Photographs of artifacts from Africa
1/15 General Correspondence to Mission from Board (Copies) 1898-1900
1/16 General Correspondence from Mission to Board (Copies) 1898-1900
1/17 Historical Sketches of Missions, Africa 1897
1/18 Mission Board Reports 1898-1906
1/19 Postcards of Missions in Africa 1907-1923
1/20 Correspondence regarding returning to Africa 1905
1/21 West Virginia - Belington-Philippi Presbyterian Church 1900-1902
1/22 Marriage to Zilpha Rinehart Wilson 1905
1/23 Okanagan, WA - Okanagan Presbyterian Church 1906-1907
1/24 Spokane, WA - Monroe Park Presbyterian Church 1908-1916
1/25 St. Maries, ID - St. Maries Presbyterian Church 1916-1918
1/26 Omak, WA - Omak Presbyterian Church 1918-1921
1/27 Waterville, WA - Waterville Presbyterian Church 1922-1924
1/28 Seattle, WA - Westside Presbyterian Church 1924-1942
1/29 Retirement 1942-1959
1/30 Travels 1958-1959
1/31 Honorary Degree from Whitworth College May 26, 1952
1/32 "Bible Mastery Month" 1926-1956
1/33 Death and Memories 1960
1/34 Last Will and Testament February 21, 1957
1/35 Miscellaneous writings and poetry
1/36 West Side Presbyterian Church "Diamond Reflections" 1911-1986
1/37 Miscellaneous Items regarding Africa maps etc.
1/38 Background for Africa; Anna M. Lehman "Days of Our Years"

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Personal Names

  • Boppell, Charles J.
  • Wilson, Zilpha Rinehart

Corporate Names

  • West Side Presbyterian Church--Seattle, Washington

Geographical Names

  • Africa
  • Cameroon
  • Gabon
  • Okanogan (Wash.)
  • Omak (Wash.)
  • Seattle (Wash.)
  • Spokane (Wash.)
  • St. Maries (Idaho)
  • Waterville (Wash.)