Billing, Arthur William, 1877-1960Billing, Mabel Spohr, 1880-1968
Title:
Arthur and Mabel Billing Papers
Dates:
1910-1960 ( inclusive )
Quantity:
1 linear feet (2 containers)
Collection Number:
Ax 652
Summary:
Collection comprises papers of Arthur William and Mabel Spohr Billing, Methodist missionaries to China, connected with the Union High School at Foochow (Fuzhou), Fukien (Fujian) Province, and includes correspondence, Mabel Billing's diary (1939-1943), mission newsletters, minutes and other official records of the Foochow Conference of the Methodist Church, Foochow (Fuzhou) newspapers, Foochow Union High School pamphlets and photograph album, and a thesis by Portia Billings Foster on the high school.
Repository:
University of Oregon Libraries
Special Collections & University Archives
Funding for encoding this finding
aid was provided through a grant awarded by the National Endowment for the
Humanities.
Biographical Note
Arthur and Mabel Billing were longtime Methodist missionaries to China who were connected with the Union High School at Foochow, Fukien Province.
The correspondence in the collection is representative of their last years in China and letters written in retirement. Correspondents include fellow missionaries, former student and the Mission Board of the Methodist Church.
Outspokenly against United States involvement in Aisa, the Billings waged a correspondence campaign with the U.S. government regarding Indochina, beginning as early as 1954 to criticize Eisenhower policies, i.e., the rise of the domino theory. They were also critical of defense spending and nuclear development and testing.
Their dislike for Chiang Kai Shek and his "warlords," whom they accused of amassing wealth amid galloping inflation, led them to regard the change of government on mainland China as desirable and worthwhile for the people. Fellow missioner Congressman Walter Judd, now identified with the AMA and China lobbies, was the recipient of a denouncement of U.S. policy in Asia. His answer is not included.
After returning to the United States, the Billings were instrumental in bringing several former students to the U.S. for university education, in some cases giving financial assistance from their pensions.
Arthur and Mabel Billing are now deceased.
Content Description
Collection comprises papers of Arthur William and Mabel Spohr Billing, Methodist missionaries to China, connected with the Union High School at Foochow (Fuzhou), Fukien (Fujian) Province, and includes correspondence, Mabel Billing's diary (1939-1943), mission newsletters, minutes and other official records of the Foochow Conference of the Methodist Church, Foochow (Fuzhou) newspapers, Foochow Union High School pamphlets and photograph album, and a thesis by Portia Billings Foster on the high school.
Use of the Collection
Restrictions on Access :
Collection is open to the public.
Collection must be used in Special Collections & University Archives Reading Room.
Restrictions on Use :
Property rights reside with Special Collections & University Archives, University of Oregon Libraries.
Copyright resides with the creators of the documents or their heirs.
All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted to the
Manuscripts Librarian in Special Collections & University Archives. The
reader must also obtain permission of the copyright holder.
Preferred Citation :
[Identification of item], Arthur and Mabel Billing Papers, Ax 652, Special Collections & University Archives, University of Oregon Libraries, Eugene, Oregon.
Administrative Information
Detailed Description of the Collection
The following section contains a detailed listing of the materials in
the collection.
Correspondence
Container(s)
Description
Dates
Box
1
Outgoing (226)
1935-1939
Incoming (134)
1940-1960
Box
1
Ayer, Gene (2)
1947
1
Chandler, Grant (1)
1949
1
Hsi-Hsuing Chen (1)
1948
1
Fisher, Conrad (1)
1959
1
Hsiao, C. M. (9)
1948-1949
1
Humphrey, Loren R. (4)
1947-1948
1
Hyam, Emma M. (2)
1943
1
Lacy, Henry V. (2)
1943
1
Lin, K.P. (6)
1944-1947
1
Lin, Y. F. (1)
1948
1
Ling, Dung Keg (1)
1947
1
Ho Sieng Main (4)
1947, 1949
1
Methodist Church. Board of Missions (39)
1940-1960
1
Methodist Church. Board of World Peace (2)
1958
1
Ming, Ding Gu (1)
1947
1
The Advocate Magazine (5)
1956-1958
1
Noble, Martha (1)
1949
1
Thelin, Guy A. (3)
1947, 1948
1
United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration (1)
A preview by a prospective teacher in a Chinese rural high school of the potential relationship of its activities with the family and community life. A study of the Union High School, Fukien Province, China. Carbon. 65 p.
Methodist Church. Board of Missions and Church Extension (1)
1945
2
Methodist Episcopal Church. Board of Foreign Missions. (2)
1947-1949
2
National Southwest Associated University Christian Fellowship (1)
1940
2
Newell, George (2)
1943-1947
2
Newell, Mary. (Mrs. George) (5)
1947-1953
2
Newell, George and Mary (1)
1937
2
Ngung, S. (1)
1947
2
Thelin, Betty (1)
1937
2
Thelin, Guy (1)
undated
2
Topping, Bessie (1)
1945
2
Ward, Ralph A. (1)
1949
2
Wiant, Paul P. (2)
1952
2
Wong, Bo Cio. [See Ling, Haiu Lieng]
Box
2
Diary. Mabel Billing. (1)
1939-1943
2
Photograph album. Union High School, Foochow, Fukien, China (1)
1947
Miscellaneous
1947
Box
2
Memorandum by Ralph C. Wells on the Christian Middle School situation in China. Mimeographed, 8 p.
May 7, 1948
2
Statement by Frank T. Cartwright, Associate Secretary of the Board of Missions and Church Extensions of the Methodist Church, on the present status of Christian work in China. Mimeographed, 4 p.
This collection is indexed under the following headings in the online
catalog. Researchers desiring materials about related topics, persons, or
places should search the catalog using these headings.
Personal Names :
Billing, Arthur William, 1877-1960.
Billing, Arthur William, 1877-1960--Correspondence
Billing, Mabel Spohr, 1880-1968
Billing, Mabel Spohr, 1880-1968--Correspondence
Billing, Mabel Spohr, 1880-1968--Diaries
Corporate Names :
Methodist Church (U.S.)--Missions--China--Fuzhou Shi (Fujian Sheng)
Methodist Church. Foochow Conference--Records and correspondence
Union High School (Fuzhou Shi (Fujian Sheng), China)--Records and correspondence
Subject Terms :
Missionaries--China--Fuzhou Shi (Fujian Sheng)
Missions, American--China--Fuzhou Shi (Fujian Sheng)
