John G. Magee Family Papers

This collection documents the life and work of John G. Magee, John G. Magee, Jr. and other family members. Additional documentation related to John G. Magee is held by the Archives of the Episcopal Church in Austin, Texas, including letters written by Magee from Nanking in 1937.

Series I, Family Correspondence, is divided into two subseries, Extended Family and John G. and Faith B. Magee Family. The Extended Family subseries contains personal correspondence between John G. Magee and his mother and siblings. His early years in China are documented in the letters he sent to his mother. He sent many letters to his sister Mary Scaife in 1937 and 1938 documenting the conditions in Nanking during the Japanese invasion. The subseries also includes correspondence between Faith B. Magee and her parents and siblings. Faith B. Magee wrote letters to her parents documenting the courtship between her and John G. Magee and their marriage. The John G. and Faith B. Magee Family subseries includes numerous letters between John and Faith from the time of their courtship throughout their marriage. Letters documenting the conditions of Nanking leading up to the invasion by the Japanese and then the following conditions are detailed in John's letters to his wife during the time period.

Series II, General Correspondence, is comprised of general correspondence with John G. and Faith B. Magee and their children. Included in this series is a significant amount of correspondence with John G. and Faith B. Magee following John G. Magee, Jr.'s death and regarding his poem, "High Flight".

Series III, Writings, is comprised of writings by John G. Magee, Faith B. Magee, John G. Magee, Jr., and F. Hugh Magee. John G. Magee's writings include personal diaries, class notebooks, sermons and articles. The writings by Faith B. Magee include personal writings and poems. John G. Magee Jr.'s writings are comprised of the poems he wrote, including "High Flight". A sermon, article, and book by F. Hugh Magee are also included in this series.

Series IV, Nanking Documentation, contains two main components: material produced and collected by John G. Magee at the time of the Nanking Massacre, and material collected by David B. Magee through his research and work dedicated to remembering the Nanking Massacre and the important role his father played in the support of the people of Nanking. The Nanking Documentation collected by John G. Magee contains correspondence, typescripts of radio broadcasts, publications, films, and photographs arranged chronologically. The Nanking Documentation collected by David B. Magee, and by his brother F. Hugh Magee, contains correspondence, conference information, newspaper clippings, articles, photographs, and films.

Series V, Personal Items and Memorabilia, includes John G. and Faith B. Magee's date books and letter books, personal documents, biographical information, memorabilia, and Magee family newspaper clippings. The John G. Magee, Jr. subseries is comprised of personal documents, memorabilia, and collected material related to his life and his poem, "High Flight". The Henson photocopies were gathered by Ivan Docker-Henson and are comprised primarily of photocopies of material that appears elsewhere in this collection.

Series VI, Photographs and Films, contains photographs of the Magee and Backhouse families spanning the years 1870-1965. Of special interest in this series are the photographs taken of the Magee family in China, as well as photographs of Nanking and their Chinese colleagues, friends, and students. Film footage from during the Nanking Massacre as well as from other periods in Magee's life is available.