Missionary Letters
A Finding Aid for the Missionary Letters, 1816-1900
Descriptive Summary
Repository: Hawaiian Mission Houses Historic Site and Archives
Creator: Hawaiian Mission Houses Historic Site and Archives
Title: Missionary Letters
Dates: 1783-1905
Extent: 33 ft.
Abstract:
Missionary correspondence regarding both business and personal matters, including letters, letter books, and miscellany including telegrams, sermons, fabric samples, invoices, receipts, and more.
Collection ID: MS-024
Location: Hawaiian Mission Houses Historic Site and Archives, Vault, Banks V - III
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.
Scope and Contents of the Papers
This collection includes both personal letters and correspondence relating to mission business. It includes original manuscripts as well as copies in a variety of formats (typescripts, photocopies, both negative and positive, and hand written copies). Materials in this collection were culled from a variety of donations to the archives, spanning decades. Some materials are photocopies of original letters held in other collections in the Hawaiian Mission Houses Historic Site and Archives, some are copies of materials owned by other institutions, and others are photocopies of originals that remain in the hands of private owners but were once loaned to the library for copying. Other original manuscripts were removed from the collections with which they came and interfiled in this one. This practice, though in opposition to the archivist’s primary aim to maintain original order, was done in an attempt to better serve researchers. Though current staff members recognize the flaws in the collection’s development history, we will not attempt to deconstruct the collection and refile the items with the collections to which they originally belonged. Instead, wherever possible we have made notations in italics regarding the origins of the materials in the detailed folder listings for each drawer.
Arrangement of the Papers
Bank V / Drawer A (Alexander to Bailey)
Bank V / Drawer B (Baldwin to Bishop, A.)
Bank V / Drawer C (Bishop, A. to Chamberlain, L.)
Bank V / Drawer D (Chamberlain, L. to Clark, E.W.)
Bank V / Drawer E (Clark, E.W. to Cooke, Amos S.)
Bank IV / Drawer A (Cooke, Amos S. to Goodrich)
Bank IV / Drawer B (Green to Hitchcock)
Bank IV / Drawer C (Holman to Loomis)
Bank IV / Drawer D (Lyman to Parker)
Bank IV / Drawer E (Pogue to Smith)
Bank III / Drawer A (Spaulding to Wilcox)
Restrictions
Restrictions on Access:
Some of the materials in this collection are restricted. The Smith Knapp Collection was donated for the use of descendants only. Other materials, particularly letters that were copied either from holdings at other institutions or private owners, may have copyright restrictions. All researchers should check with the librarian about these restrictions before working with the materials.
Related Material
Researchers desiring materials about related persons, subjects or document types should search the Hawaiian Mission Houses Historic Site and Archives catalog using the index terms shown below.
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
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.
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
Go to the Detailed Folder List
Banner image from Chamberlain, Levi - Missionary Letters - 1783-1818 - from family.