Alice R. Appenzeller correspondence , 1909-1940

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Appenzeller, Alice R., 1885-1950
Title
Alice R. Appenzeller correspondence
Dates
1909-1940 (inclusive)
Quantity
0.1 linear feet, (1 container)  :  1 folder
Collection Number
Coll 389
Summary
Alice R. Appenzeller (1885-1946), born in Korea to pioneer Methodist missionary parents, also became a missionary and president of Ewha Woman's College in Korea. The collection (1909-1940) contains correspondence by Appenzeller, including letters sent from Korea.
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 production of this finding aid was provided through a grant awarded by the National Historical Publications and Records Commission (NHPRC).

Historical NoteReturn to Top

Henry and Ella Appenzeller were pioneer Methodist missionaries to Korea, landing in 1885, and their daughter, Alice Rebecca Appenzeller was born during their first year in Korea. Alice Appenzeller is reported to be the first American baby born in Korea. Ella Appenzeller worked with Mary F. Scranton, who established a women's school, Ewha Haktang, in 1886; it became a college that Alice Appenzeller would later become the president of.

Alice Appenzeller stayed in Korea with her parents until 1900. She was first tutored by her mother, and later graduated from Shippen School (now Lancaster Country Day School) in 1905. She received her B.A. from Wellesley College in 1909, and an M.A. from Teachers College at Columbia University. She taught at the Shippen School until 1914, and then was "commissioned a missionary of the Women's Foreign Missionary Society of the Methodist Church," and assigned to Ewha Haktang (Kroehler).

Dr. Alice R. Appenzeller became the president of Ewha Haktang's in 1922 (later Ewha University), and also became Ewha College's first dean after she successfully persuaded the Japanese authorities to formally accredit Ewha as a women's college in 1925. She retired in 1939. (Ewha website)

After all missionaries were expelled from Korea in 1940, Appenzeller "served as professor and Dean of Women at Scarritt College. Then in 1943, she went to Hawaii to serve as pastor. She returned to Korea in 1946, and served until her death in 1950 as Honorary President at Ewha. She was stricken with a cerebral hemorrhage as she spoke at 11:00am chapel. She died later that day (Kroehler)."

[Sources: Ewha Women's University website, www.ewha.ac.kr.

Kroehler, Kent E. "A Century After: The Legacy of the Appenzellers, Pioneer Missionaries to Korea." Journal of the Historical Society of the EPA Conference. 2005. Historic St. Georges United Methodist Church website.]

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

Correspondence is organized by date, and includes both handwritten and typed letters. Some letters are written on long-style stationary. The letters are full of news from Korea, information about Appenzeller's work, and other events.

Appenzeller often signs her name Zella, and refers to herself (and her friends) as "Peddies." She sometimes signs her name as Zella Peddie or Peddie Zella. It was confusing enough that upon initial receipt, this collection was thought to be correspondence between Appenzeller and someone named Zella or Peddie.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Americans--Korea (South)--Seoul--Correspondence
  • Educators--Korea (South)--Seoul--Correspondence
  • Educators--United States--Correspondence
  • Methodist Church--Missions--Korea (South)--Seoul
  • Missionaries--Korea (South)--Seoul--Correspondence
  • Women Christian educators--Korea (South)--Seoul--Correspondence
  • Women educators--United States--Correspondence
  • Women missionaries--Korea (South)--Seoul--Correspondence

Corporate Names

  • Ihwa Haktang
  • Ihwa Yŏja Chŏnmun Hakkyo
  • Shippen School for Girls

Geographical Names

  • Korea
  • Korea--History--Japanese occupation, 1910-1945

Form or Genre Terms

  • Correspondence