Missionary Letters Collection

Descriptive Summary

Reference Code: MsL-HHMC-US
Repository: Hawaiian Mission Houses Historic Site and Archives. 553 S King St, Honolulu, HI, 96813. (808) 447-3919.

Title: Missionary Letters Collection

Dates of Creation: 1783-1905

Extent: 33 linear feet

Creators: Missionaries from the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions

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Biographical Note

This collection includes the correspondence of 149 missionaries and missionary wives to and from family, friends, and business partners. These missionaries were sent to the Hawaiian Islands by the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions (ABCFM) in companies, beginning in 1819 with the departure of the “Pioneer Company” from Boston on the “Thaddeus” and ending in 1848 with the arrival of the twelfth company in Honolulu. While many missionaries returned to the mainland after their release from ABCFM, others chose to remain in Hawaii. Regardless of their decision, these people, ordained ministers, teachers, doctors, printers, farmers, and even bookbinders, greatly affected the course of Hawai‘i’s history with their dissemination of Christianity and the development of a written Hawaiian alphabet.

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Scope and Content of the Papers

The Missionary Letters Collection spans the years 1783 to 1905, capturing both personal and professional correspondence of missionaries from the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions (ABCFM). This collection is a blend of original manuscripts and reproductions in various formats, including typescripts, photocopies, both negative and positive, and handwritten transcriptions.

The collection documents the extensive communication between missionaries and their families, friends, and business associates, providing insights into both their personal lives and mission work. Significant subjects within these letters include the missionaries’ adaptation to Hawaiian culture, the promotion of Christianity, and the development of a written Hawaiian language. Notably, the correspondence reflects the impact of missionary activities on the Hawaiian Kingdom, including interactions with Hawaiian royalty and influential figures, the establishment of educational institutions, and the broader societal transformations that took place as a result of mission efforts.

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System of Arrangement

The records are arranged in 11 series. The contents of each series are arranged alphabetically. The series arrangement is as follows:

• Series 1: Alexander to Bailey

• Series 2: Baldwin to Bishop, A.

• Series 3: Bishop, A. to Chamberlain, L.

• Series 4: Chamberlain, L. to Clark, E.W.

• Series 5: Clark, E.W. to Cooke, Amos S.

• Series 6: Cooke, Amos S. to Goodrich

• Series 7: Green to Hitchcock

• Series 8: Holman to Loomis

• Series 9: Lyman to Parker

• Series 10 Pogue to Smith

• Series 11: Spaulding to Wilcox

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Index Terms

Personal Names

Baldwin, Dwight, 1798-1886

Bingham, Hiram, 1789-1869

Chamberlain, Levi

Corporate Names

American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions

Subjects

Missions--Hawaii.

Document Types

copy prints

correspondence

microfilms

typescripts

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Administrative Information

Preferred Citation

Item, Folder title, Missionary Letters (1816-1900) Collection, Collections of the Hawaiian Mission Children's Society Library, Hawaiian Mission Houses Historic Site and Archives.

Acquisition Information

As mentioned, the materials in this collection were given by a variety of donors throughout the 20th century. Details can be found in italics in the folder level lists.

Processing Information:

This collection was processed by staff at the Hawaiian Mission Houses Historic Site and Archives.

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Detailed Description of the Collection

The following section contains a detailed listing of the materials in the collection.

Bank V / Drawer A (Alexander to Bailey) ~ 1804-1897

Autographs 

(Autographs – Signatures of Missionaries) ~ Various

1 folder

Alexander

Alexander, William Patterson ~ 1805-1884                                                                

17 folders

Alexander, Mary Ann McKinney (Mrs. William Patterson) ~ 1810-1888                                                                        

1 folder

Alexander, Mary Dean Rose Depew (Mother of William Patterson) ~ 1819-[?]                                                                

1 folder

Andrews

Andrews, Claudius Buchanan ~ 1844-1875                                                                                                          

3 folders 

Andrews, Anne Seward Gilson (Mrs. Claudius Buchanan, 1st wife) ~ 1856                                                                  

1 folder

Andrews, Samantha Washburn Gilson (Mrs. Claudius Buchanan, 2nd wife) ~ 1865-1880                                              

2 folders

Andrews, Lorrin ~ 1828-1864                                                                                                                              

12 folders

Andrews, Mary Ann Wilson (Mrs. Lorrin) ~ 1873-1877                                                                                              

1 folder

Andrews, Seth Lathrop ~ 1837-1850                                                                                                                        

8 folders

Andrews, Parnelly Pierce (Mrs. Seth Lathrop, 1st wife) ~ 1837-1846                                                                        

2 folders

Armstrong 

Armstrong, Richard ~ 1829-1855                                                                                                                          

14 folders

Armstrong, Clarissa Chapman (Mrs. Richard) ~ 1831-1890                                                                                        

3 folders

Bailey

Bailey, Edward ~ 1835-1897                                                                                                                              

15 folders

Bailey, Caroline Hubbard (Mrs. Edward) ~ 1837-1894                                                                                                

1 folder

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Bank V / Drawer B (Baldwin to Bishop, A.) ~ 1819-1885

Baldwin

Baldwin, Dwight ~ 1826-1885                                                                                                                                

36 folders

Baldwin, Charlotte Fowler (Mrs. Dwight) ~ 1830-1850                                                                                                

3 folders

Baldwin, William Otis ~ 1858-1860                                                                                                                            

1 folder

Bean 

Bean, Joel ~ n.d.                                                                                                                                     

1 folder

Bingham 

Bingham, Hiram, I ~ 1819-1866                                                                                                                          

22 folders

Bingham, Sybil Moseley (Mrs. Hiram I, 1st wife) 1819-1847                                                                                      

5 folders 

Bishop

Bishop, Artemas ~ 1819-1872                                                                                                                            

21 folders 

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Bank V / Drawer C (Bishop, A. to Chamberlain, L.) ~ 1783-1892

CONTINUED Bishop, Artemas ~ 1822-1872                                                                                                        

6 folders                           

Bishop, Elizabeth Edwards (Mrs. Artemas, 1st wife) ~ 1813-1828                                                                            

7 folders

Bishop, Delia Stone (Mrs. Artemas, 2nd wife) ~ 1824-1866                                                                                    

3 folders

Blatchley

Blatchley, Jemima Marvin (Mrs. Abraham, 1st wife) ~ 1824-1828                                                                              

1 folder

Bliss

Bliss, Isaac ~ 1835-1842                                                                                                                              

6 folders    

Bliss, Emily Curtis (Mrs. Isaac, 2nd wife) ~ 1836-1841                                                                                        

1 folder

Bond

Bond, Elias ~ 1841-1892                                                                                                                              

21 folders

Bond, Ellen Mariner Howell (Mrs. Elias) ~ 1838-1848                                                                                          

1 folder

Brown

Brown, Miss Lydia ~ 1835-1848                                                                                                                    

3 folders

Castle

Castle, Samuel Northrup ~ 1837-1886                                                                                                                  

15 folders

Castle, Angeline Tenney (Mrs. Samuel Northrup, 1st wife) ~ 1839                                                                        

1 folder

Castle, Mary Tenney (Mrs. Samuel Northrup, 2nd wife) ~ 1819-1823                                                                      

1 folder   

Chamberlain 

Chamberlain, Daniel ~ 1819-1823                                                                                                                        

2 folders

Chamberlain, Levi ~ 1783-1848                                                                                                                      

16 folders

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Bank V / Drawer D (Chamberlain, L. to Clark, E.W.) ~ 1814-1880

CONTINUED Chamberlain, Levi ~ 1814-1851                                                                                                

32 folders 

Chamberlain, Maria Patton (Mrs. Levi) ~ 1822-1880                                                                                        

23 folders 

Chapin

Chapin, Alonzo ~ 1832-1876                                                                                                                          

2 folders

Clark 

Clark, Ephraim Weston ~ 1823-1878                                                                                                            

20 folders

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Bank V / Drawer E (Clark, E.W. to Cooke, Amos S.) ~ 1823-1884 

Clark, Mary Kittredge (Mrs. Ephraim Weston, 1st wife) ~ 1823-1856                                                                      

4 folders

Clark, Sarah Helen Richards Hall (Mrs. Ephraim Weston, 2nd wife) ~ 1865-1884                                                

1 folder

Coan

Coan, Titus ~ 1825-1882                                                                                                                              

23 folders

Coan, Fidelia Church ( Mrs. Titus, 1st wife) ~ 1836-1871                                                                                      

3 folders

Conde

Conde, Daniel Toll ~ 1838-1858                                                                                                                          

7 folders

Conde, Andelucia Lee (Mrs. Daniel Toll, 1st wife) ~ 1838-1846                                                                                

1 folder

Cooke

Cooke, Amos Starr ~ 1834-1864                                                                                                                    

18 folders

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Bank IV / Drawer A (Cooke, Amos S. to Goodrich) ~ 1813-1896

CONTINUED Cooke, Amos Starr ~ 1835-1868                                                                                                    

15 folders

Cooke, Juliette Montague (Mrs. Amos Starr) ~ 1813-1896                                                                                        

3 folders

Damon

Damon, Samuel Chenery ~ 1815-1882                                                                                                              

2 folders

Dibble

Dibble, Sheldon ~ 1832-1844                                                                                                                         

6 folders

Dibble, Maria M. Tomlinson (Mrs. Sheldon, 1st wife) ~ 1833-1837                                                                          

1 folder

Dibble, Antoinette Tomlinson (Mrs. Sheldon, 2nd wife) ~ 1842-1848                                                                        

1 folder         

Diell

Diell, John ~ [1830]-1840                                                                                                                                        

1 folder

Diell, Caroline A. Platt (Mrs. John) ~ 1838-1845                                                                                                          

1 folder

Diamond

Dimond, Henry ~ 1837-1850                                                                                                                                    

1 folder

Dimond, Ann Maria Anner (Mrs. Henry) ~ 1836-1846                                                                                            

1 folder

Dole

Dole, Daniel ~ 1841-1877                                                                                                                                    

6 folders

Dole, Emily Hoyt Ballard (Mrs. Daniel, 1st wife) ~ 1841-1844                                                                                  

2 folders

Dole, Charlotte Close Knapp (Mrs. Daniel, 2nd wife) ~ 1846-1864                                                                          

1 folder

Dwight

Dwight, Samuel Gelston ~ 1847-1862                                                                                                              

2 folders

Ellis

Ellis, William ~ 1822-1867                                                                                                                              

2 folders

Ely, James ~ 1823-1828                                                                                                                                  

2 folders

Ely, Louisa Everest (Mrs. James, 1st wife) ~ 1823-1824                                                                                      

1 folder

Emerson

Emerson, John S. ~ 1832-1866                                                                                                                    

14 folders

Emerson, Ursula Sophia Newell (Mrs. John S.) ~ 1836-1888                                                                            

2 folders

Forbes

Forbes, Cochran 1832-1880                                                                                                                                

9 folders

Forbes, Rebecca Duncan Smith (Mrs. Cochran) ~ [1832]-1880                                                                          

3 folders

Goodrich

Goodrich, Joseph ~ 1824-1835                                                                                                                      

6 folders

Goodrich, Martha Barnes (Mrs. Joseph, 1st wife) ~ 1822-1835                                                                          

5 folders

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Bank IV / Drawer B (Green to Hitchcock) ~ 1827-1892

Green 

Green, Jonathan Smith ~ 1828-1869                                                                                                              

22 folders

Green, Theodotia Arnold (Mrs. Jonathan Smith, 1st wife) ~ 1828-1838                                                                

1 folder

Green, Asenath Cargill Spring (Mrs. Jonathan Smith, 2nd wife) ~ 1863-1892                                                          

3 folders

Gulick

Gulick, Peter Johnson ~ 1828-1867                                                                                                                  

12 folders

Gulick, Fanny Hinckley Thomas (Mrs. Peter Johnson) ~ 1827-1879                                                                      

4 folders

Hall

Hall, Edwin Oscar ~ 1836-1879                                                                                                                              

3 folders

Hitchcock

Hitchcock, Harvey Rexford ~ 1830-1854                                                                                                                

14 folders

Hitchcock, Rebecca Howard (Mrs. Harvey Rexford) ~ 1831-1882                                                                          

5 folders

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Bank IV / Drawer C (Holman to Loomis) ~ 1813-1905

Holman 

Holman, Thomas ~ 1819-1822                                                                                                                                

2 folders

Holman, Lucia Ruggles (Mrs. Thomas) ~ 1813-1819                                                                                            

1 folder

Hunt

Hunt, Timothy Dwight ~ 1844-1855                                                                                                                        

3 folders

Hunt, Mary Halsted Hedges (Mrs. Timothy Dwight, 1st wife) ~ 1845-1846                                                                 

1 folder

Hyde

Hyde, Charles McEwen ~ 1877                                                                                                                              

1 folder

Hyde, Mary T. Knight (Mrs. Charles McEwen) ~ [1908]                                                                                            

1 folder

Ives

Ives, Mark ~ 1837-1853                                                                                                                                    

6 folders

Ives, Mary Ann Brainerd (Mrs. Mark) ~ 1834-1853                                                                                                

3 folders

Johnson 

Johnson, Edward ~ 1837-1867                                                                                                                          

7 folders

Johnson, Lois S. Hoyt (Mrs. Edward) ~ 1837-1883                                                                                              

1 folder

Johnstone

Johnstone, Andrews ~ 1833-1840                                                                                                                      

1 folder

Judd

Judd, Gerrit Parmele ~ 1826-1870                                                                                                                        

10 folders

Judd, Laura Fish (Mrs. Gerrit Parmele) ~ 1828-1859                                                                                                

2 folders

Kinney

Kinney, Henry ~ 1847-1854                                                                                                                                    

4 folders

Kinney, Maria Louisa Walsworth (Mrs. Henry) ~ 1847-1858                                                                                        

2 folders

Knapp

Knapp, Horton Owen ~ 1836-1845                                                                                                                          

2 folders

Knapp, Charlotte Close (Mrs. Horton Owen) ~ 1837-1846                                                                                    

1 folder

Lafon

Lafon, Thomas ~ 1837-1845                                                                                                                                    

3 folders

Lafon, Sophia Louisa Parker (Mrs. Thomas, 1st wife) ~ 1837-1843                                                                          

1 folder

Leadingham

Leadingham, John & Leadingham, Anna Mayo Rich (Mrs. John) ~ 1897-1905                                                              

1 folder

Locke

Locke, Edwin ~ 1837-1843                                                                                                                                    

4 folders

Locke, Martha Laurens Rowell (Mrs. Edwin) ~ 1836-1842                                                                                        

1 folder

Loomis

Loomis, Elisha ~ 1816-1835                                                                                                                                

12 folders

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Bank IV / Drawer D (Lyman to Parker) ~ 1813-1892 

Lyman 

Lyman, David Belden ~ 1832-1883                                                                                                                        

19 folders

Lyman, Sarah Joiner (Mrs. David Belden) ~ 1832-1885                                                                                              

9 folders

Lyons

Lyons, Lorenzo ~ 1813-1884                                                                                                                                  

10 folders

Lyons, Betsey Curtis (Mrs. Lorenzo, 1st wife) ~ 1831-1836                                                                                        

3 folders

Lyons, Lucia Garratt Smith (Mrs. Lorenzo, 2nd wife) ~ 1837-1866                                                                            

2 folders

McDonald

McDonald, Charles ~ 1837-1839                                                                                                                            

2 folders

McDonald, Harriet Treadwell Halstead (Mrs. Charles) ~ 1839                                                                              

1 folder

Munn

Munn, Bethuel ~ 1838-1841                                                                                                                                    

1 folder

Munn, Louisa Clark (Mrs. Bethuel, 1st wife) ~ n.d.                                                                                                    

1 folder

Ogden 

Ogden, Miss Maria ~ 1827-1872                                                                                                                          

4 folders

Paris

Paris, John Davis ~ 1841-1892                                                                                                                                

4 folders

Paris, Mary Grant (Mrs. John Davis, 1st wife) ~ 1841                                                                                          

1 folder

Paris, Mary Carpenter (Mrs. John Davis, 2nd wife) ~ 1851-1879                                                                            

2 folders

Parker

Parker, Benjamin Wyman ~ 1834-1875                                                                                                                

8 folders

Parker, Mary Elizabeth Barker (Mrs. Benjamin) ~ 1832-1886                                                                                

4 folders

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Bank IV / Drawer E (Pogue to Smith) ~ 1820-1904

Pogue

Pogue, John Fawcet ~ 1844-1866                                                                                                                  

3 folders

Rice

Rice, William Harrison ~ 1841-1904                                                                                                                  

5 folders

Richards

Richards, William ~ 1823-1851                                                                                                                            

16 folders

Richards, Clarissa Lyman (Mrs. William) ~ 1821-1856                                                                                          

3 folders

Rogers

Rogers, Edmund Horton ~ 1832-1853                                                                                                                    

2 folders

Rogers, Elizabeth Hitchcock (Mrs. Edmund Horton, 2nd wife) ~ 1854                                                                      

1 folder

Rowell

Rowell, George Berkeley ~ 1842-1850                                                                                                                    

5 folders

Ruggles

Ruggles, Samuel ~ 1820-1850                                                                                                                                

2 folders

Ruggles, Nancy Wells (Mrs. Samuel) ~ 1820-1833                                                                                            

2 folders

Shepard

Shepard, Stephen ~ 1829-1833                                                                                                                              

1 folder

Shipman

Shipman, William Cornelius ~ 1855                                                                                                                        

1 folder

Smith 

Smith, Asa Bowen ~ 1842-1846                                                                                                                        

4 folders

Smith, Sarah Gilbert White (Mrs. Asa Bowen, 1st wife) n.d.                                                                                      

1 folder

Smith, James William ~ 1842-1887                                                                                                                      

10 folders

Smith, Melicent Knapp (Mrs. James William) ~ 1841-1865                                                                                  

3 folders

Smith, Lowell ~ 1833-1891                                                                                                                                

5 folders

Smith, Abigail Willis Tenney (Mrs. Lowell) ~ 1849-1884                                                                                        

2 folders

Smith, Miss Marcia Maria 1837-1855                                                                                                                        

5 folders

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Bank III / Drawer A (Spaulding to Wilcox) ~ 1818-1887 

Spaulding

Spaulding, Ephraim ~ 1832-1839                                                                                                                    

4 folders

Spaulding, Julia Brooks (Mrs. Ephraim) ~ 1832-1838                                                                                            

1 folder

Stewart

Stewart, Charles Samuel ~ 1823-1836                                                                                                            

2 folders

Stewart, Harriet Bradford Tiffany (Mrs. Charles Samuel, 1st wife) ~ 1825                                                                  

1 folder

Stockton

Stockton, Miss Betsey ~ 1822-1824                                                                                                                      

1 folder

Taylor

Taylor, Townsend Elijah ~ 1848-1858                                                                                                                

1 folder

Thurston 

Thurston, Asa ~ 1819-1857                                                                                                                            

4 folders

Thurston, Lucy Goodale (Mrs. Asa) ~ 1819-1876                                                                                              

4 folders

Tinker

Tinker, Reuben ~ 1818-1851                                                                                                                              

7 folders

Van Duzee

Van Duzee, William Sanford ~ 1837-1839                                                                                                        

1 folder

Van Duzee, Oral Hobart (Mrs. William Sanford) ~ 1838                                                                                        

1 folder

Ward

Ward, Mary ~ [1828]-1833                                                                                                                            

1 folder

Wetmore

Wetmore, Charles Hinckley ~ 1849-1870                                                                                                              

2 folders

Wetmore, Lucy Sheldon Taylor (Mrs. Charles Hinckley) ~ 1849-1867                                                                    

2 folders

Whitney

Whitney, Samuel ~ 1819-1845                                                                                                                        

20 folders

Whitney, Mercy Partridge (Mrs. Samuel) ~ 1819-1872                                                                                        

10 folders

Whittlesey

Whittlesey, Eliphalet ~ 1844-1887                                                                                                                        

2 folders

Whittlesey, Elizabeth Keene Baldwin (Mrs. Eliphalet) ~ 1846-1887                                                                            

1 folder

Wilcox

Wilcox, Abner ~ 1837-1869                                                                                                                            

6 folders

Wilcox, Lucy Eliza Hart (Mrs. Abner) ~ 1838-1845                                                                                                

2 folders

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Banner image from Chamberlain, Levi - Missionary Letters - 1783-1818 - from family.