This collection consists of materials from three generations of the family of Massachusetts doctor and Marshall/Caroline Islands medical missionary Edmund Morris Pease (1828-1906) and his wife Harriet A. Sturtevant Pease (born 1877), dating from 1816 to 1974 (bulk 1870-1930), and consisting chiefly of family correspondence.

Edmund Morris Pease (1828-1906) was born on December 6, 1828, in Granby, Hampshire County, Massachusetts, to Asa and Abigail Pease. Early in his life, E.M. Pease desired to become a medical missionary. In his pursuit, Pease graduated from Union Seminary, New York City, and the College of Physicians and Surgeons at Columbia University. However, before pursuing his call as a medical missionary, Pease was called into the army as an assistant surgeon in the 16th Connecticut regiment during the Civil War in 1863. He was later transferred to the 9th regiment of the colored troops where he would complete his service in the army. Pease went on to practice medicine in New York City and Springfield, Massachusetts for several years. Pease was called and accepted by the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions as a medical missionary and was ordained and commissioned for work in the Micronesian Islands where he served as a medical missionary for 17 years. As a medical missionary, Pease taught at a seminary school and practiced medicine. His missionary work included compiling a dictionary of the native language, translating and creating a hymn and tune book in the Marshall Island dialect, and creating small educational books for the island natives. One of his greatest achievements was translating the entire New Testament into the island dialect and bringing it back to the United States for printing. Pease returned to the United States and took residence in Claremont, California where he worked on translating the Old Testament into the island language.

1,535 pieces in 16 boxes, 3 books and 2 oversize items

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