Scope and Contents
The Gilbert papers provide valuable documentation of religious and political conditions in North China from 1929 to 1941, and document Lewis' work at Yali, 1925-1926. The original handwritten or typed letters of Series I are primarily from Lewis and Lois Gilbert in China to their families in the U.S. The bound letter copybooks of Series II contain primarily letters from Lewis Gilbert to family members. A few of the earlier volumes also include listings of headlines from Chinese newspapers. The bound volumes of correspondence of Series III were edited and compiled by Josephine Cowin Gilbert and have photographic illustrations interspersed.
Dates
- 1925-1980
Creator
Conditions Governing Access
The materials are open for research.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Gift of Josephine Cowin Gilbert.
Arrangement
- I. Original Letters, 1925-1941
- II. Letter Copybooks, 1937-1941
- III. Compiled Volumes, 1925-1980
- IV. Biographical Documentation, 1925-1926, n.d.
- V. Addendum: 2010, 1925-1946, n.d.
Extent
2.5 Linear Feet (6 boxes)
Language of Materials
English
Catalog Record
A record for this collection is available in Orbis, the Yale University Library catalog
Persistent URL
Abstract
Letters and photographs provide documentation of religious and political conditions in North China from 1929 to 1941 and document Lewis Gilbert's work at Yali 1925-1926. Lewis and Lois Gilbert were missionaries in North China from 1929 to 1941 serving under the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions. Lewis Gilbert was also an instructor at Yali, Yale-in-China, Changsha from 1925 to 1926.
Biographical / Historical
- 1898
- Lewis Loder Gilbert born in New Haven, CT
- 1920
- Graduated from Wesleyan University
- 1923
- B.D., Yale Divinity School
- 1924
- Married Lois Chandler
- 1925
- Went to China as instructor in Religion at Yali, Yale-in-China, Changsha, Hunan Province
- 1927-1929
- Enforced home visit
- 1929
- Returned to China, attending language school in Beijing (Peking), and then serving the ABCFM in Linqing (Lintsing) and Tehchow
- 1935-1936
- Furlough
- 1936-1941
- Work in Dezhou (Tehchow), Tianjin (Tientsin), Tongzhou (T'ungchow)
- 1946
- Plans to return to China as professor of New Testament at Cheeloo University were abandoned because of health problem. Gilbert was involved in UCC work in Ohio, Vermont and Massachusetts until his retirement.
- 1969
- Lois Chandler Gilbert died
- 1970
- Married Josephine Cowin
- 1978
- Died in Oberlin, Ohio
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 Lewis and Lois Gilbert Papers>
- Author
- Compiled by Martha Lund Smalley
- Date
- 1998, 2010
- 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