Worley Family Papers

File

Identifier: RG-1561

Staff Only

Content Description

The Lewis and Elizabeth Worley Series concerns the years the couple spent on the mission field in China, 10 boxes of material. Included are correspondence from Shurtleff classmates from 1899 to 1915, correspondence with the American Baptist Missionary Union, correspondence with Montgomery Ward, newsletters to the United States, the Student Volunteer Movement and Baptist Youth Organization, financial and annual reports from mission stations, an ordination certificate, Chinese language study texts, sermon notes and preparation, sermon texts, receipts from various tradesmen in China, pamphlets and calling cards.

The Prudence and Robert Edwin Series contains correspondence, books, Chinese language pamphlets and materials, well indentified and documented photographs and photograph albums and Robert Edwin's bible.

Dates

Existence: 1899-1951

Creator

Worley, Prudence (Prudence O. Campbell) (Person)
Worley, Robert Edwin (Person)
Worley, Elizabeth C. Haynes, 1876- (Person)
Worley, Lewis Evans, 1874- (Person)

Language of Materials

Materials in the collection are in English and in Chinese.

Conditions Governing Access

The collection is open for research. Unpublished manuscripts are protected by copyright. Permission to publish, quote, or reproduce must be secured from the repository and copyright holder. Staff may refuse copying of fragile or at-risk materials.

Materials may be accessed by request at the American Baptist Historical Society. For more information on accessing collections or obtaining copies, visit http://abhsarchives.org.

Biographical / Historical

Lewis Evans Worley was born in Panola, Illinois, September 3, 1874 while his wife Elizabeth Haynes was born April 1, 1876 in El Paso, Illinois. Lewis is the brother of Rev. Dr. Robert Edwin Worley, M.D., missionary to Swatow, China from 1903-1907, when he drowned in a boating accident in that country. His wife Prudence is one of the family members with whom Lewis Worley had correspondence during his missionary service. Prudence stayed in China after her husband's death, serving many more years. Her series includes photographs, books and correspondence. Robert Edwin's heavily annotated bible is also part of the collection.

Extent

6.1 Linear Feet (Series 1 10 boxes; Series 2 4 boxes)

Additional Description

Arrangement

The Worley Family Papers are arranged in two series. Series 1 is for Lewis and Elizabeth Worley. Series 2 is for Prudence and Robert Edwin Worley.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Gifts of Parker Worley 2010, 2012, David Worley 2012, 2013, 2019 and Kathleen Worley, 2017.

Related Materials

See also American Baptist Foreign Mission Society: Missionary Correspondence under Lewis Worley and Robert Edwin Worley

Condition Description

Good, but photograph albums and rolled photographs are fragile.

General

The Worley Family Papers were combined in 2019. There had been separate collections for Lewis and Elizabeth, and for Prudence and Robert Edwin. Materials in the collections heavily relate to each other, so for best use by researchers, the collections were combined. It should be noted that Prudence has included extensive notations for photogprahs in the albums and elsewhere, including geographical notes, a rarity in archival materials.