Scope and Contents
The Yerkes papers document the work of the Presbyterian Church in the Shandong (Shantung) Province of China from 1869-1874 when Helen Yerkes' parents were stationed in Chefoo and from 1904-1950. Although they left China in 1925, Yerkes stayed in contact with his missionary and Chinese friends. Yerkes was involved with evangelical work as well as the administrative tasks of running the station. Among his duties, he served on the China Council and acted as treasurer of the station. From 1923 until his departure from China, he worked with the American Consulate, R.P. Tenney, to secure the release of foreign captives after the wreck of the "Blue Express" on May 6, 1923 and continued to supply information about the bandit situation in his area.
Dates
- 1869-1971
Creator
Conditions Governing Access
The materials are open for research.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Gift of Elizabeth Y. Kline.
Arrangement
- I. Correspondence, 1870-1950
- II. Collected Material, 1904-1941, n.d.
- III. Personal Items and Memorabilia, 1904-1971
- IV. Photographs, ca.1870-1954
Extent
1.5 Linear Feet (3 boxes)
Language of Materials
English
Catalog Record
A record for this collection is available in Orbis, the Yale University Library catalog
Persistent URL
Overview
Letters and collected material document the work of the Presbyterian Church in Shandong (Shantung) Province, China from 1869 to the 1940s. Carroll and Helen Yerkes were American Presbyterian missionaries in Shandong (Shantung) Province from 1904 to 1925. The parents of Helen Nevius Eckard Yerkes were Presbyterian missionaries stationed in Chefoo from 1869 to 1874.
Biographical / Historical
- 1876 August 18
- Born in Fox Chase, Philadelphia, PA
- 1895-1896
- Attended International Conventions of Christian Endeavor at which he heard Dwight L. Moody, Robert E. Speer, Amos R. Wells and others who influenced his life.
- 1901
- A.B. degree, Lafayette College
- 1903
- Worked with settlers on the prairie of No. Dakota
- 1904
- A.M. degree, Princeton Theological Seminary
- 1904 July 12
- Married Helen Nevius Eckard (1876-1967)
- 1904 September 12
- Arrived in Shanghai as missionary for the Presbyterian Board of Foreign Missions
- 1905
- Opened station at Yixian, Shandong (Yihsien, Shantung Province)
- 1912
- Furlough
- 1921
- Honorary D.D., Lafayette
- 1925
- Returned to U.S. because of Helen Yerkes' health
- 1925-1957
- Served as pastor of various churches in New Jersey and Pennsylvania
- 1971 April 19
- Died in Seattle, Washington
Processing Information
Place names were modernized in the description, with the name originally used in the collection material or in an older version of the finding aid in parenthesis: e.g. “Beijing (Peking)” or “Benin (Dahomey)”.
- Title
- Guide to the Carroll and Helen Yerkes Papers
- Author
- Compiled by Shari Laist
- Date
- 1998
- Description rules
- Finding Aid Prepared According To Local Divinity Library Descriptive Practices
- Language of description note
- Finding aid written in English.
Part of the Yale Divinity Library Repository