Archives West Finding Aid

The Alzo John Fisher Papers contain letters, reports, articles, manuscripts, publications, and other information produced or collected by Fisher, all of which pertain to his missionary service in China. Because he held an administrative role in the church, there is a wealth of dry, bureaucratic information. The collection also contains many histories of Chinese Christian missions, which relate many of the historical, political, and social events in China.

Series I, Correspondence consists of outgoing and incoming letters of Fisher and a few other individuals. Subseries A contains outgoing letters of Fisher, most of which are formal letters detailing current events and matters of mission business. The letter of March 1932 relates rising political conflict between China and Japan, which preceded the Second Sino-Japanese War. Subseries B contains his incoming letters. These letters maintain a business focus, and relate the reports of missions. Subseries C contains more administrative correspondence with some reports on the development of the Communist revolution.

Series II, Reports/Minutes contains the reports of several missionary organizations. Subseries A contains a 1946 report of the Board of Foreign Missions of the Presbyterian Church to China. Subseries B contains a report concerning the union of the Union Theological College and Lignan University. Subseries C contains miscellaneous reports and minutes of mission organizations affiliated with the Church of Christ, including three annual reports of the Canton mission from 1895, 1896 and 1905.

Series III, Periodicals contains various magazines and newsletters of Christian and missionary groups, typically focusing on the Chinese front. Some of these are very specific to Fisher's sphere of influence and others have a broader scope.

Series IV, Publications and Ephemera contains papers affiliated with specific organizations, miscellaneous papers, a book on mission history and papers in Chinese. Subseries A contains administrative publications of various Chinese missionary organizations. Subseries B contains various publications, predominately in the form of religious or informational pamphlets. There is a map of China and a handful of memoirs in this section. Subseries C contains the History of the South China Mission by Harriet Noyes. This book notes some historical events and references Fisher's work. Subseries D contains of variety of materials with Chinese text. There are some interesting items in this section, including educational primers, pictures with text, school yearbooks, and a war oriented picture book.

Series V, Literary Manuscripts, contains a book length manuscript by Fisher, shorter manuscripts, drafts, and notes. Subseries A contains the lengthy manuscript for Building a Christian Church in China. Along with church history, this manuscript contains brief mention of historical events from 1922-1942. Subseries B contains a second version of this manuscript and has a helpful table of contents. Subseries C contains fragments, notes, appendices and indices for this manuscript. Subseries D contains a history of the Presbyterian mission in China. At its conclusion there is an outline of historical events of the corresponding time period. Some details of the Second Sino-Japanese War are related on page 35. Subseries E contains fragments of this manuscript. Subseries F contains a chapter of a book, and details the histories of many Presbyterian synods with some attention to historical events. Subseries G is a biography of Leung Ah Faat, the first ordained minister of the Protestant church in China. Ah Faat was a unique figure and this manuscript contains many interesting stories from the 19th century, including a description of the Taiping Rebellion.

Series VI, Literary Manuscript by W. H. Dobson, contains a book length manuscript, History of South China Mission. This book presents a chronological history with great attention to social and political events like the Taiping rebellion, the Boxer rebellion, the Linchow massacre, the National revolution, Communist uprisings, and the Second Sino-Japanese War. There is also some interesting cultural commentary, provided with a Christian slant.

Series VII, Miscellaneous Writings contains writings by Fisher, Dobson, and other authors, along with histories and some biographical information. Subseries A contains typed manuscripts and articles by Fisher, addressing general Chinese topics. Subseries B contains similar writings by Dobson. Subseries C contains predominately administrative articles from various authors. Subseries D contains various mission histories, including some which focus on schools. Subseries E contains biographical information of Fisher and includes two chronologies and a brief story.

Series VIII, Photographs consists of photographs, postcards and newsprint pictures. This section contains an image of Fisher, several pictures of Chinese Christian students and adults, and postcards of Shanghai.

Series IX, News Clippings contains typed manuscripts, religious pamphlets, newspaper clippings and articles from religious periodicals. Several articles describe Japanese bombings of China during the Sino-Japanese War. An article from the Fullerton News-Tribune contains an interview with Fisher and his prediction that the "Chinese will overcome communism."

Series X, Oversize contains publications, unidentified Chinese texts and a map of China. The publications contain articles focusing on Chinese subjects.