Monona Cheney papers , 1918-1932

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Cheney, Monona, 1890-1982
Title
Monona Cheney papers
Dates
1918-1932 (inclusive)
Quantity
2 linear feet, (8 containers)
Collection Number
Ax 275
Summary
Monona Cheney (1890-1982) was a Christian missionary in China between 1918 and 1930. The collection includes correspondence, photographs, sermons, and publications that reflect her life as a missionary in China.
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
Sponsor
Funding for encoding this finding aid was provided through a grant awarded by the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Historical NoteReturn to Top

Monona L Cheney was born in Madison, Wisconsin on December 28, 1890. She was educated at Lawrence College in Appleton, Wisconsin, receiving a B.A. in 1914; she went on to receive an M.A. in education at Teachers' College, Columbia University in 1918. In 1918 she traveled to the newly formed Republic of China to spread the word of her church, serving as a missionary teacher for the Methodist Episcopal sect of the Christian religion. She initially taught at the Keen School in Tientsin until 1920, when she started teaching at the Gamewell School. She taught history, English, and bible studies, and engaged in rural evangelicalism in the Peking area. After a short break in the United States she returned to China and taught at Yenching University from 1926 until 1930. The letters she wrote during her mission were addressed to her family, and she also was fond of taking photographs of Chinese life.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

The collection consists primarily of correspondence. There are 266 letters from Monona Cheney to her family in the United States, spanning the years from 1918 to 1930; there are also a few incoming letters in the collection from her family or friends. The correspondence is arranged chronologically. Also included in the collection are many photographs from her time in Peking, ranging from images of the poverty stricken to the architectural magnificence of the city. There are also a few pictures of family from the period after her mission. Many photographs are unidentified; basic descriptions of the images are provided in the box and folder listing. Finally, there are also a few Christian publications dealing with missionary work.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Methodist women--China
  • Missions, American--China
  • Women Christian educators--China
  • Women evangelists--China
  • Women missionaries--China

Personal Names

  • Cheney, Monona, 1890-1982

Corporate Names

  • Methodist Episcopal Church--Missions--China

Geographical Names

  • Beijing (China)--Photographs

Form or Genre Terms

  • Correspondence
  • Photographs
  • Sermons