Charles and Joy Sheffey Papers

Collection

Call Number: RG 219

Scope and Contents

Letters, journals, and writings of Charles and Joy Sheffey document their medical work and record their reactions to the culture and environment they encountered in Africa. Circular letters and writings provide substantive documentation of their life and work in the Belgian Congo between 1922 and 1944. Letters to and from their children Grace and Nancy provide detail about the life of missionary children in Africa. Of particular note are the records that Charles Sheffey kept to describe operations performed at the Wembo Nyama hospital and surrounding area. Collected material includes documentation of the Methodist Mission, school books in African languages used in its schools. Photographs document the Sheffey family and their mission in Wembo Nyama

The collection contains a notable number of diverse artifacts. These include African musical instruments, a "witch doctor's magic gourd", jewelry, metal implements, and textiles.

Dates

1913-1985
Majority of material found within 1922 - 1943

Creator

Sheffey, Charles

Conditions Governing Access

The materials are open for research.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Gift of Grace Sheffey Webb, 2009

Arrangement

I. Correspondence
II. Writings
III. Notes and Diaries
IV. Biographical Documentation
V. Collected Material
VI. Photographs
VII. Artifacts

Extent

10 Linear Feet (17 boxes)

Language of Materials

English

Catalog Record

A record for this collection is available in Orbis, the Yale University Library catalog

Persistent URL

https://hdl.handle.net/10079/fa/divinity.219

Additional Description

Overview

Charles and Joy Sheffey were American Methodist medical missionaries who served in Wembo Nyama, Belgian Congo (now Democratic Republic of the Congo) between 1922 and 1944. Letters, journals, and writings of Charles and Joy Sheffey document their medical work and record their reactions to the culture and environment they encountered in Africa.

Biographical / Historical

1894 June 19: Charles Phillips Mahood Sheffey born in Lynchburg, VA, son of Edward Fleming Sheffey and Mattie Mahood Sheffey
1907 May 26: Mae Joy Burch (Sheffey) born in Danville, VA, daughter of Nannie Towsey Burch and Rev. William G. Burch, a Methodist minister in the Virginia Conference
1911-1915: CPMS attended Randolph Macon College, receiving A.B. and M.A. degrees
1921: CPMS graduated from School of Medicine of Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, followed by additional training at New York Postgraduate Medical School ; he also served as an intern at Norfolk Protestant Hospital
1922-1926: CPMS served as medical missionary in Wembo Nyama, Belgian Congo (now Democratic Republic of the Congo) under the Methodist Board of Missions
1920s: JBS attended Longwood College and Lynchburg College, continuing her nursing training in Richmond, VA and Philadelphia, PA
1930: CPMS and JBS married while CPMS was on extended stay in U.S. due to illness of his father
1931: CPMS and JBS sailed for Africa, spending some months at École de Medécine Tropicale in Belgium en route; arrived in Congo in July
1931-1944: CPMS and JBS ran a medical training center in Wembo Nyama and provided surgical services to a region that spanned a 500-mile radius.
1931: Daughter Grace born; she later attended the Central School for missionary children in Lubondai
1935: Daughter Nancy born
1945: Sheffey family returned to Lynchburg, VA where CPMS practiced medicine until his retirement in1969
1957: CPMS received honorary LL.D. degree from Randolph Macon College
1985 March 8: CPMS died