Collection 131
[February 16, 2001]
Bovyer, J. Wesley and Anna Ellmers
Ephemera; 1937-1940
1 Box (DC; .4 cubic feet), Photographs
Restrictions
There are no restrictions on the use of this collection.
Historical Background
Home of the Nazarene Mission was an industrial orphanage founded in November 1908 in Chinkiang, Kiangsu, China. Situated 150 miles west of Shanghai and 50 miles east of Nanking on the banks of the Yangtze River, the orphanage was in dangerous territory following the outbreak of war in the late 1930s. The orphanage was originally opened by Anna Bovyer under the auspices of the China Inland Mission. Christian teaching and guidance were provided in the orphanage which had on its letterhead, evangelical, evangelistic, and interdenominational.
Children in the home were of both sexes. Partial support for the orphans was raised through projects on which the children worked. Girls in the home made embroidered linen cloths. The children came to the home from regions all around and were accepted into the home even if they had a living parent or close relative.
[NOTE: In the Scope & Content description, the notation "folder 2-5" means box 2, folder 5.]
Scope and Content
Materials in this collection include a few photographs, hand embroidery, and prayer letters. The photographs are of the Chinese orphans and the superintendents of the home, Mr. and Mrs. J. Wesley Bovyer. Support for the orphans was raised partially by the selling of the children's handwork, like the samples in the collection.
Prayer letters from the Bovyers (folder 1-2) were written while they were in China and on furlough. The letters describe the school and orphanage; some of the children; conditions in China due to the war; their replacements while on furlough, Mr. and Mrs. F. Blasner, retired missionaries from China Inland Mission; travel conditions back to China; and conditions for foreign missionaries in China during the war.
Provenance
The materials for this collection were received by the Center in May 1980.
Accession 80-65
July 1, 1980
Mary Ann Buffington
S. Kouns
LOCATION RECORD
Accession 80-65
Type of material: Artifacts
The following item has been placed in the FOURTH FLOOR DISPLAY
Embroidery from China Nazarene Orphanage, Chinkiang, China.
LOCATION RECORD
Accession 80-65
Type of material: Photographs
The following items are located in the PHOTO FILE. Request by the boldfaced folder title at the beginning of each entry below.
BOVYER, J. WESLEY AND ANNA ELLMERS. Mr. and Mrs. Bovyer on a visit to Seattle, Washington, alone and with Mrs. Thomas S. Fair; July 11, 1937. 3 b&w.
CHINA NAZARENE ORPHANAGE. Group shot of orphans and workers in Nazarene Orphanage, Chinkiang, China taken in July, 1937, and other photos of the Chinese orphans. 5 b&w.
| CONTAINER LIST | ||
| Box | Folder | Item |
| 1 | 1 | Embroidery from Nazarene Children's Orphanage, China; n.d. |
| 1 | 2 | Prayer Letters; 1938-1940 |