University of Oregon Libraries
Special Collections & University Archives
1299 University of Oregon
Eugene, OR 97403-1299 USA
URL: http://libweb.uoregon.edu/speccoll/index.html



Guide to the Arthur and Mabel Billing Papers, 1910-1960


Ax 652





Finding aid prepared by processing staff

Finding aid encoded by Nathan Georgitis, 2007
Funding for encoding this finding aid was provided through a grant awarded by the National Endowment for the Humanities.


Overview of the Collection

 
Repository Name:
 

University of Oregon Libraries
Special Collections & University Archives

1299 University of Oregon
Eugene, OR 97403-1299 USA
URL: http://libweb.uoregon.edu/speccoll/index.html

 
Collection Number:
 

Ax 652

 
Creator:
 

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

 
Languages:
 

Collection materials are in English. 

 
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.

 

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.

Subjects

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.

 
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
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
Missionaries--China--Fuzhou Shi (Fujian Sheng)
Missions, American--China--Fuzhou Shi (Fujian Sheng)
China--Foreign relations--United States
Fuzhou Shi (Fujian Sheng, China)
United States--Foreign relations--China
Photographs
Other Creators :
Foster, Portia Billings, 1921- (contributor)
Methodist Church. Foochow Conference (contributor)
Union High School (Fuzhou Shi (Fujian Sheng), China) (contributor)

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
 


Ayer, Gene (2)
  1947
 


Chandler, Grant (1)
  1949
 


Hsi-Hsuing Chen (1)
  1948
 


Fisher, Conrad (1)
  1959
 


Hsiao, C. M. (9)
  1948-1949
 


Humphrey, Loren R. (4)
  1947-1948
 


Hyam, Emma M. (2)
  1943
 


Lacy, Henry V. (2)
  1943
 


Lin, K.P. (6)
  1944-1947
 


Lin, Y. F. (1)
  1948
 


Ling, Dung Keg (1)
  1947
 


Ho Sieng Main (4)
  1947, 1949
 


Methodist Church. Board of Missions (39)
  1940-1960
 


Methodist Church. Board of World Peace (2)
  1958
 


Ming, Ding Gu (1)
  1947
 


The Advocate Magazine (5)
  1956-1958
 


Noble, Martha (1)
  1949
 


Thelin, Guy A. (3)
  1947, 1948
 


United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration (1)
  1947
 


United States Government (22)
  1951-1955
 


Wiant, Paul P. (12)
  1947-1954
 


Wong, B. C. (1)
  1947
 


Unidentified (4)
 

 
box
1



Mission newsletters, 55 p.

 

 
box
1



Missionary Christmas letters, 1 folder

 

 
box
1



Master's thesis. By Portia Billings Foster

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.
 

 
box
1



Yearbook and official minutes of the Foochow Conference of the Methodist Church, 1945-1949

 

 
box
1



Bylaws. International Cooperative Society of Foochow, 1939

 

 
box
1



Foochow Union High School pamphlets (5)

 

 
box
1



Foochow News, Winter 1939, Autumn 1941

 

 
box
1



Easy Chinese lessons for illiterates

 

 

Addenda

 
Container(s)
Description
Dates
   
Correspondence, outgoing (46)
 
 
box
2


Billing, Arthur (16)
  1927-1947
 


Billing, Mabel (27)
  1910-1947
 


Biling, Arthur and Mabel (3)
  1934-1946
   
Correspondence, incoming (34)
 
 


Adams, Uniola (1)
  1947
 


Billing, Betty (Daughter) (1)
  1927
 


Bissonnette, Stella (1)
  1944
 


Brewster, Dorothy (1)
  1951
 


Cheng, Ko Ling (1)
  1947
 


Hayes, E. Pearce (1)
  1945
 


Hwanan College (2)
  1946
 


Jarvis, Anne and Bruce (1)
  1953
 


Lacy, Jessie (Mrs. Henry V.) (1)
  undated
 


Lau, Iong Hung (1)
  1947
 


Ling, Haiu Lieng and Bo Cio Wong (1)
  1947
 


Ling, Seu Cing (3)
  1947-1950
 


Methodist Church. Board of Missions and Church Extension (1)
  1945
 


Methodist Episcopal Church. Board of Foreign Missions. (2)
  1947-1949
 


National Southwest Associated University Christian Fellowship (1)
  1940
 


Newell, George (2)
  1943-1947
 


Newell, Mary. (Mrs. George) (5)
  1947-1953
 


Newell, George and Mary (1)
  1937
 


Ngung, S. (1)
  1947
 


Thelin, Betty (1)
  1937
 


Thelin, Guy (1)
  undated
 


Topping, Bessie (1)
  1945
 


Ward, Ralph A. (1)
  1949
 


Wiant, Paul P. (2)
  1952
 


Wong, Bo Cio. [See Ling, Haiu Lieng]
 
 


Diary. Mabel Billing. (1)
  1939-1943
 


Photograph album. Union High School, Foochow, Fukien, China (1)
  1947
   
Miscellaneous
  1947
 


Memorandum by Ralph C. Wells on the Christian Middle School situation in China. Mimeographed, 8 p.
  May 7, 1948
 


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.
  June 16, 1949
 


Foochow News, v. 7, no. 1
  November 1933
 


Pamphlets (3)