Archives West Finding Aid
Table of Contents
Eliza Anne Hughes Davis papers , 1895-1920
Overview of the Collection
- Creator
- Davis, Eliza Anne Hughes
- Title
- Eliza Anne Hughes Davis papers
- Dates
- 1895-1920 (inclusive)18951920
- Quantity
- 0.25 linear feet, (1 container)
- Collection Number
- A 285
- Summary
- Eliza Anne Hughes Davis was an American Methodist who corresponded with women missionaries in China. The papers contain Mrs. Davis' incoming correspondence, including letters from Jennie V. Hughes that mention Ms. Hughes' work with the Women's Foreign Missionary Service in Kiukiang, China. In her capacity as Principal of the Knowles Bible Training School, Ms. Hughes directed an organization run exclusively by and for women, using the tenets of Methodism as a basis for training Chinese women in literacy and hygiene. The letters provide a glimpse into the reflections and responsiblilities of a female missionary and document the cultural and political conditionss in China following the Boxer Rebellion, including the Nanchang massacre in 1906.
- Repository
-
University of Oregon Libraries, Special Collections and University Archives
UO Libraries--SCUA
1299 University of Oregon
Eugene OR
97403-1299
Telephone: 5413463068
spcarref@uoregon.edu - Access Restrictions
-
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.
- Additional Reference Guides
-
See the Current Collection Guide for detailed description and requesting options.
- Languages
- English
Historical NoteReturn to Top
Eliza Hughes Davis devoted her life to her family and her work in the Methodist Church. The daughter of Reverend George and Mrs. Abby T. Hughes of Newark, New Jersey, Hughes married Reverend Mayhew W. Davis in 1896, then moved with him from New Jersey, to Pasadena, California. The couple had a total of five children, but their youngest child died soon after his birth, and the other children apparently endured significant health problems in their early years. Although Mrs. Davis also suffered repeatedly for most of her adult life from illnesses that eluded clear diagnosis and treatments, she worked steadily as a homemaker and enjoyed a brief stint in the winter of 1915-16 as a writer for the Home Page of the Pasadena Daily News. Following her father's death in 1900, Mrs. Abby T. Hughes joined her daughter and son-in-law in Pasadena, which she felt was the best compromise for proximity to her children in both the U.S. and abroad.
Mrs. Davis' siblings also followed their father in the work of the church. Mamie, her oldest sister, married a Methodist missionary to India, although she died young under unknown circumstances, while her next-youngest sister Anne worked with a church relief organization in New York City. Mrs. Davis' brother George joined the Methodist Episcopal ministry and established his own church in Corydon, Iowa, while her youngest sister, Jennie V. Hughes, enlisted in 1906 with the Women's Foreign Missionary Service in China, serving for a number of years as Principal of the Knowles Bible Training School, Kiukiang, in affiliation with the Danforth Memorial Hospital.
Content DescriptionReturn to Top
The collection contains Mrs. Davis' incoming correspondence which are divided into two series. The first series consists almost exclusively of letters written by family members to Mrs. Davis in Pasadena, and it comprises the bulk of the collection. Particularly remarkable here are the letters from her sister Jennie V. Hughes, along with those from other family members which mention Ms. Hughes' work with the Women's Foreign Missionary Service in Kiukiang, China. In her capacity as Principal of the Knowles Bible Training School, Ms. Hughes was responsible for directing an organization run exclusively by and for women, using the tenets of Methodism as a basis for training Chinese women in literacy and hygiene. Along with providing a glimpse into the circumstances of the daily reflections and responsiblilities of a female missionary, Ms. Hughes' letters also illuminate much about the cultural and political circumstances of China following the troubles of the Boxer Rebellion.
Series I: Incoming Correspondence is organized according to two criteria. Since the majority of Mrs. Davis' letters are from members of her immediate family, they are first divided into five sections according to addresser, then arranged chronologically within each section.
Series II: Miscellaneous is a very small series containing a funeral announcement, two placecards, two envelopes from incoming correspondence, and a published version of a letter by Ms. Hughes which details the Nanchang massacre in 1906.
Administrative InformationReturn to Top
Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top
| Description |
|---|
| Guide to the Eliza Anne Hughes Davis papers |
Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Subject Terms
- Missionaries--China
Personal Names
- Davis, Eliza Anne Hughes
- Hughes, George
- Hughes, Jennie V.
Corporate Names
- Methodist Church (U.S.) Missions China
Geographical Names
- China--History--Boxer Rebellion, 1899-1901
Form or Genre Terms
- Correspondence
Finding aid prepared by University of Oregon Libraries, Archivists' Toolkit Project Team
2010
