Hazel Chamberlain was a Christian missionary stationed in Paraguay in the 1920s. The collection includes correspondence, an essay, and photographs that reflect Chamberlain's life as a missionary.
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
Hazel Chamberlain served as a missionary in Paraguay in the early 1920s. A native of New Jersey, Chamberlain immigrated to Villarrica, Paraguay, in May 1922. Chamberlain served as an educator and evangelist in this town and the surrounding countryside for the next two years. Paraguay grappled with internal violence and revolution during Chamberlain's first year of residency and she discusses how this impacted her, her missionary work, and the lives of locals. At some point during the 1920s, Chamberlain married fellow missionary W. J. Anderson, a Canadian, and she may have moved to Toronto. Little else is known about Chamberlain since the collection consists of only three years of letters.
Content Description
The Hazel Chamberlain Papers consist of several of Chamberlain's outgoing letters, some photographs, and an essay written about the Chamberlain Papers by E. G. Kirkpatrick. This collection offers a brief glimpse into the first years of an American missionary's experiences in central South America.
Chamberlain's letters are appropriately filled with information on evangelical activities--either through the mission's school or visits to nearby villages or hospitals. Chamberlain appears to have been part of a mission that tried to convert Guarani Indians. Her letters discusses the missionaries' successes (primarily through the counting of converts or students) and some of the challenges they encountered (as when neighbors banished converts from their village). Moreover, this collection gives some indication of the impact Protestant missionary work had on central Paraguay; for example, Chamberlain observed that children in their schools had to pass a government exam--one administered by Catholics who were, according to Chamberlain, "very much opposed to the Gospel." Chamberlain offered observations on her students, local politics, and the 1922 revolution that disrupted her life (despite persistent claims to the contrary).
The novelty of Paraguayan life to Chamberlain is evident in her letters. Initially, she tried to describe everything--including houses, food, and furnishings as well as the poverty of local residents and Guarani Indians. Subsequent letters focus on day-to-day living. Aside from missionary work, Chamberlain described the weather, insects, domestic and wild animals, local markets, and her finances. The six photographs shelved with this collection contain images of Chamberlain's acquaintances, a group of Guarani school children, and landscape photos. Other photos associated with this collection are stored separately with the Missionary Photographs under call number PH229_2.
The Kirkpatrick paper features excerpts from Chamberlain's letters on specific topics (such as "supplies" or "civics"). It includes several photographs.
Use of the Collection
Alternative Forms Available :
Available in microfilm as part of: Women's lives. Series 3, American women missionaries and pioneers collection (MICROFILM BV3703 .W66 2006, reel 74); Primary Source Microfilm, 12 Lunar Dr., Woodbridge, Conn. 06525.
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. 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], Hazel Chamberlain Papers, A 195, Special Collections & University Archives, University of Oregon, Eugene, Oregon.
Administrative Information
Arrangement :
Collection is organized into the following series:
Series I: Correspondence
Series II: Essay
Series III: Photographs
Series IV: Photographs (PH229_2)
Separated Materials :
Photographs in Series IV of this collection are stored separately under call number PH230
Photographs are stored separately under call number PH229_2.
Photographs include prints and negatives.
Container(s)
Description
Dates
Box
1
PH229_2_01: A bunch of us on a breakfast hike at the estancia of the couple standing in the center
Description: Five women and one man standing in open field, women are wearing dresses.Location: Paraguay.By: Unknown.
1922-1925
1
PH229_2_01n: A bunch of us on a breakfast hike at the estancia of the couple standing in the center
Description: Five women and one man standing in open field, women are wearing dresses.Location: Paraguay.By: Unknown.
1922-1925
1
PH229_2_02: Buddy and Bobby Allen taken just outside our fence
Description: Two young children with building in background.Location: Unknown.By: Unknown.
1922-1925
1
PH229_2_03: [Several boats in harbor]
Location: Unknown.By: Unknown.
1922-1925
1
PH229_2_03n: [Several boats in harbor]
Location: Unknown.By: Unknown.
1922-1925
1
PH229_2_04: [Large boat and small boat on water, shoreline in background]
Location: Unknown.By: Unknown.
1922-1925
1
PH229_2_05: [Hills on shoreline]
Location: Unknown.By: Unknown.
1922-1925
1
PH229_2_05n: [Hills on shoreline]
Location: Unknown.By: Unknown.
1922-1925
1
PH229_206: [Eight women in dresses or skirts standing next to railing of ship]
Location: Unknown.By: Unknown.
1922-1925
1
PH229_206n: [Eight women in dresses or skirts standing next to railing of ship]
Location: Unknown.By: Unknown.
1922-1925
1
PH229_2_07: [Trees standing in water]
Location: Unknown.By: Unknown.
1922-1925
1
PH229_2_07n: [Trees standing in water]
Location: Unknown.By: Unknown.
1922-1925
1
PH229_2_08: [Trees standing in water with a boat between them]
Location: Unknown.By: Unknown.
1922-1925
1
PH229_2_08n: [Trees standing in water with a boat between them]
Location: Unknown.By: Unknown.
1922-1925
1
PH229_2_09: [Three women standing near each other, two are wearing Western style dresses, tall palm tree in the background]
Location: Paraguay.By: Unknown.
1922-1925
1
PH229_2_09n: [Three women standing near each other, two are wearing Western style dresses, tall palm tree in the background]
Location: Paraguay.By: Unknown.
1922-1925
1
PH229_2_10: [Five women standing in front of doorway, the tallest woman has her arms on the shoulders of two of the other women]
Location: Paraguay.By: Unknown.
1922-1925
1
PH229_2_10n: [Five women standing in front of doorway, the tallest woman has her arms on the shoulders of two of the other women]
Location: Paraguay.By: Unknown.
1922-1925
1
PH229_2_11: [Five women standing in front of doorway, the tallest woman has her arms on the shoulders of two of the other women]
Location: Paraguay.By: Unknown.
1922-1925
1
PH229_2_11n: [Five women standing in front of doorway, the tallest woman has her arms on the shoulders of two of the other women]
Location: Paraguay.By: Unknown.
1922-1925
1
PH229_2_12: [Man and two women in separate lounge chairs on deck of ship, all are wearing long heavy coats and hats]
Location: Paraguay.By: Unknown.
1922-1925
1
PH229_2_12n: [Man and two women in separate lounge chairs on deck of ship, all are wearing long heavy coats and hats]
Location: Paraguay.By: Unknown.
1922-1925
1
PH229_2_13: [Woman standing behind 10 children with dark clothes and dark hair, except one of the boys who is blonde and wearing light colored clothing]
Location: Paraguay.By: Unknown.
1922-1925
1
PH229_2_13n: [Woman standing behind 10 children with dark clothes and dark hair, except one of the boys who is blonde and wearing light colored clothing]
Location: Paraguay.By: Unknown.
1922-1925
1
PH229_2_14: Our happy family in Sillarrica
Man standing between four women, all are behind three women sitting on ground, all are wearing light colored clothing, standing on cut grass with building and fence in background.Location: Paraguay.By: Unknown.
1922-1925
1
PH229_2_15: Some market women, they come in for miles with great loads on their heads. Sell their stuff and walk back again in the heat
Two women walking down dirt road with baskets on heads, younger female child walking with them.Location: Paraguay.By: Unknown.
1922-1925
1
PH229_2_15n: Some market women, they come in for miles with great loads on their heads. Sell their stuff and walk back again in the heat
Description: Two women walking down dirt road with baskets on heads, younger female child walking with them.Location: Unknown.By: Unknown.
1922-1925
1
PH229_2_16: This isn't three little maids home from school, but three little maids from markets, with enough fruit and vegetables to last over the week end for nine hungry missionaries. We had chicken every Sunday. We can get one for $8 (11 cents U.S.)
Location: Paraguay.By: Unknown.
1922-1925
1
PH229_2_17: A bunch of us at B.A.
Description: 11 women stand on paved area in Buenos Aires, with sailors and other men in background.Location: Argentina.By: Unknown.
1922-1925
1
PH229_2_18: Harbor at Buenos Aires
Description: Three-masted ship in harbor, shoreline with piers and buildings in background.Location: Argentina.By: Unknown.
1922-1925
1
PH229_2_19: Edith, Margaret, Hazel, Hazel, Ethel, Alma, Marie
Description: Seven women standing in a line together on deck of ship.Location: Unknown.By: Unknown.
1922-1925
1
PH229_2_20: Harbor at Rio
Description: Harbor with ships, piers and buildings on shoreline.Location: Rio de Janiero, Brazil.By: Unknown.
1922-1925
1
PH229_2_21: Ycua Pyta Villarrica
Description: Large stone fountain with woman holding child and young boy with pail near base, fence and trees in background.Location: Paraguay.By: Unknown.
1922-1925
1
PH229_2_22: Rancho Campestre
Description: Two men and woman with four children standing in front of thatched roof buildings with trees and chickens in background.Location: Paraguay.By: Unknown.
1922-1925
1
PH229_2_23: The bunch on board ship
Description: Eight women and three men on ship deck, railings in background.Location: Unknown.By: Unknown.
1922-1925
1
PH229_2_24: The bunch again
Description: Several men and women in wooden lounge chairs on deck of ship.Location: Unknown.By: Unknown.
1922-1925
1
PH229_2_25: [Hills on shoreline]
Location: Unknown.By: Unknown.
1922-1925
1
PH229_2_26: [Three women standing outside home, with horse partially visible next to them]
Location: Unknown.By: Unknown.
1922-1925
1
PH229_2_27: [Illegible]
.Location: Unknown.By: Unknown.
1922-1925
1
PH229_2_28: Rapid transit on the boulevards of Paraguay
Description: Man on cart being pulled by oxen, in brushy area.Location: Paraguay.By: Unknown.
1922-1925
1
PH229_2_29: A woman washing in a water hole. This is the place when we had out picnic, notice the mts in the background
Description: Woman standing in water mostly covered by leaves, under a tree, open area in background.Location: Paraguay.By: Unknown.
1922-1925
1
PH229_2_30: Some Paraguayan homes
Description: Two small homes with thatched roofing, trees behind them, open cut grass area in foreground.Location: Paraguay.By: Unknown.
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 :
Chamberlain, Hazel--Correspondence
Subject Terms :
Evangelistic work--Paraguay--Villarrica
Guarani Indians--Missions--Paraguay--Villarrica
Guarani Indians--Paraguay--Villarrica
Missions, American--Paraguay
Teachers--Paraguay--Cillarrica--Correspondence
Women Christian educators--Paraguay--Villarrica--Correspondence
Women evangelists--Paraguay--Villarrica--Correspondence
Women missionaries--Paraguay--Villarrica--Correspondence
