Hartwell Family Papers

Dating from 1849 to 1975, these papers span three generations of Baptist mission involvement and pioneer activity. It is also interesting to note the constant westward mobility of the Hartwells - from New England, to the South, the Arkansas frontier, and finally China.

The first series, CORRESPONDENCE: FAMILY, is also the most extensive. This series contains letters exchanged between virtually every member of the immediate Hartwell Family from 1849 to 1972. The contents of the correspondence vary greatly from generation to generation. The letters of Jesse and Margaret Forman Hartwell contain parental advice and local color, while those of their son, J. Boardman Hartwell, concern travel and domestic affairs. Most complete, and perhaps most interesting, are those letters exchanged between Hartwell and his first wife, Eliza Jewett Hartwell during their courtship in America and married life in China. The letters of the third generation are few, but include those written during childhood and adulthood. Correspondence to and from various relatives of the Hartwells is also included in this section.

Frontier life, slavery, the Civil War and Reconstruction are parts of American history documented throughout this section. Correspondence written from China reveals anti-foreign sentiment, mission history, and living conditions.

The second series, CORRESPONDENCE: GENERAL houses letters written both to and from friends and associates of the Hartwell Family. With the exception of letters written by A. Frank Ufford, husband of Lottie Hathaway Hartwell, there is little written by members of the family. Among the most interesting material in this section are two letters written by "J.S. Murrow" to Eliza Jewett Hartwell from "Indian Territories, Creek Nation" in 1857 and 1858.

The third series, WRITINGS, contains a variety of material, the earliest being a group of sermons attributed to Jesse Hartwell, Sr. dated from 1852 to 1858. Two essays are possibly the sole writings of J. Boardman Hartwell. The life and personality of Anna B. Hartwell are reflected in her private "notebooks," which span the years 1889-1944. Inserted in these diary-like writings are correspondence, clippings, and poetry. The writings of A. Frank Ufford include printed articles, notes, possible sermons, addresses by others, and two notebooks kept in Shaoxing (Shaohing), China. Several folders contain reports prepared by Ufford and others, including the annual reports of the East China Baptist Mission. The typed manuscripts of this missionary primarily concern Christianity, Communism, China, travel, and his work in East China. Two lengthy manuscripts are also housed in this section: "The Burning Bridge," a 16 chapter autobiography and interpretation of twentieth century China by A. Frank Ufford, and the 87-page memoir "China in Retrospect" by K.K. Thompson.

PERSONAL ITEMS AND MEMORABILIA, the final series, contains genealogical and biographical information regarding the Hartwells, Chinese leases or deeds which belonged to J. Boardman Hartwell, and a variety of other material.

A. Frank Ufford's collection of "interesting autographs" spans the years 1910-1951. Much of the material bears the letterheads of Baptist organizations or educational institutions, and occasionally letters are addressed to Lottie Hartwell Ufford.

A section of photographs, located at the end of the series, includes photographs of the Hartwells, and their fellow missionary Harry Luce with his young son, Henry. Recent Chinese history is documented by two 1937 photographs depicting the burning of the Chapei section of Shanghai by the Japanese. Leaves from a photograph album show mission work in Shaoxing (Shaohing).