Finding Aid for the Jesse and Carrie Schonheit Raynor Papers, 1907-1925 2003.01.r

Finding aid prepared by Gary Girod '11, Rand Boyd
Frank Mt. Pleasant Library of Special Collections and Archives, Leatherby Libraries
Chapman University
One University Drive
Orange, CA, 92866
(714) 532 - 7711
rboyd@chapman.edu
08/16/2010


Title: Jesse and Carrie Schonheit Raynor Papers
Identifier/Call Number: 2003.01.r
Contributing Institution: Frank Mt. Pleasant Library of Special Collections and Archives, Leatherby Libraries
One University Drive
Orange, CA, 92866
(714) 532 - 7711
rboyd@chapman.edu
Language of Material: The majority of the collection is in English
Physical Description: 6.29 Linear feet (9 boxes)
Date (inclusive): 1907-1925
Location note: Leatherby Libraries
Language of Materials note: Some of the materials are written in Kikuyu.
Abstract: This collection contains four manuscripts, including a dictionary and ethnography of the Kikuyu, hundreds of images and slides, East African missionary pamphlets and various papers relating to the life of Jesse and Carrie Raynor who were missionaries in Kenya with the Moody Bible Institute during the early twentieth century.
creator: Hittson, Ruth Raynor

Scope and Contents note

Photographs, memorabilia and a manuscript ethnography collected by Jesse and Carrie Schonheit Raynor while Moody Bible Institute missionaries in Kenya, Africa.
In addition, Karlsten Yago '09, sent digital files from the archives of the Moody Bible Institute, which are the records of Jesse Raynor. The files includes a class photo of 1907 that includes Jesse Raynor, and the curriculum of the YMCA in Chicago and the catalog from the Moody Bible Institute, 1905.

Arrangement note

This collection is arranged by material type.

Immediate Source of Acquisition note

Gift of Monica and Greg Helzer.

Conditions Governing Access note

This collection is open for research.

Preferred Citation note

Jesse and Carrie Schonheit Raynor Papers (2003.01.r), Frank Mt. Pleasant Library of Special Collections and Archives, Chapman University, CA.

Conditions Governing Use note

There are no restrictions on the use of this material except where previously copyrighted material is concerned. It is the responsibility of the researcher to obtain all permissions.

Subjects and Indexing Terms

Helzer, Monica and Greg
Moody Bible Institute.
Raynor, Jesse and Carrie -- History
Yago, Karlsten, '09
Kenya -- History -- 1895-1963

Box 2, Folder 10

Series 1, Papers, Personal 1916-1986

Language of Material: English
Physical Description: (1 folder)

Scope and Contents note

This series contains a various assortment of papers and letters relating to the Raynors, mainly dating to the early 20th century.
Among the holdings is a folder (10 of 10) entitled "Pop's Writings", an assortment of writings by Jesse E. Raynor from 1917-1924. Included are a brief vocabulary of Kikuyu words, personal journal entries, and statistics and reports relating to the Christian missonaries.
"The Circumcision Ceremony" is an undated typed work detailing the circumcision ceremony among the Kikuyu and the rituals surrounding it.
A series of scans of "From the jungles of Africa to the Canturbury" serve as the memoirs of Ruth Raynor's time in Africa.
There is a note fromThere is a collection of scans detailing the class schedule of the Moody Bible Institute in the beginning of the 20th century. It lists the staff and contains a series of photos therein. an Emma Bassham swearing that she is the mother of Jesse E. Raynor, dated 1916.
There is a collection of scans detailing the class schedule of the Moody Bible Institute in the beginning of the 20th century. It lists the staff and contains a series of photos therein.
A single page entitled "Our First Christmas", undated, details the Raynor's first Christmas in Africa.
A newspaper clipping of the "Daily Breeze", dated Feb. 8, 1986 details the 100th anniversary of the Moody Bible Institute.
There is also an early 20th century photo envelope which conveyed duplicates of Raynor's photos from East Africa.
Contained is a letter from Donnie Wilcox to Mrs. Raynor informing her that she will use two of Raynor's photographs.
Box 2, Folder 11

Subseries 1, Photocopies, Moody Bible Institute School Records Early 20th century

Language of Material: English
Physical Description: (1 folder)

Immediate Source of Acquisition note

Photocopies of Moody Bible Institute lesson plans were donated by Karlston Yago 10/23/09.

Scope and Contents note

This series contains photocopies detailing the class schedule of the Moody Bible Institute in the beginning of the 20th century. It lists the staff and contains a series of photos therein.
Box 3-6

Series 2, Manuscripts Bulk, 1925-1930 1925-1988

Language of Material: English
Physical Description: (4 boxes)
Language of Materials note: Some of the manuscripts are partly written in Kikuyu.

Scope and Contents note

Contains the manuscripts written on the Kikuyu people by Jesse E. Raynor and an additional manuscript by a Paul A. Hittson based on Raynor's works.
"A Vocabulary of the Gikuyu Language" by Jesse E. Raynor, dated 1930, includes a vocabulary of English words from A-F and the Gikuyu equivalent. Despite the spelling difference, it is assumed that 'Gikuyu' and 'Kikuyu' are the same, as words found in "Kikuyu Beliefs and Practices" match words in the aforementioned work.
There are four copies of "The Heart of Africa, Before and After", by Jesse E. Raynor, 1926. This work is an autobiography by Raynor mainly dealing with his work in eastern Africa. It includes statistics on the missionary work and church attendance in the back. Two copies are complete, while two are condensed. All the copies date to 1926, though one of the completed copies is missing a cover, and therefore the date remains uncertain but it is assumed that it is the same.
There are three copies of "Kikuyu Beliefs and Practices" by Jesse E. Raynor, one dates to 1925, another 1926, while the last remains undated. This work lists the native rites and rituals of the Kikuyu people as witnessed and recorded by Raynor. It includes a glossary with Kikuyu words.
"Kenya Beliefs and Customs of the Natives" by Paul A. Hittson, dated 1988. Dedicated to Jesse and Carrie Raynor, this work utilizes Raynor's accounts in order to investigate the culture and beliefs of the Kikuyu people. It includes a map of mid-eastern Africa.
Box  8-9, Folder 1-9, Box 1

Series 3, Photographs and Slides 1987-1989

Language of Material: English
Physical Description: (3 boxes)

Scope and Contents note

126 slides (all African images) 1987-1989.
Scrapbook 1 (mostly African images) 1898-1994, includes a scan of the front page of a 1915 Los Angeles newspaper running a story on the Raynors.
Scrapbook 2, 1913-1989 (various images mostly from the Raynors' life in America). Box of images. Contains roughly 216 designated photos with a list of titles dating 1916-1917, and over other various images.
Included with these pictures are scanned copies of the originals.
Box 2

Series 4, Pamphlets, African Missionary Early 20th Century

Language of Material: English
Physical Description: (1 box)
Language of Materials note: "Rugano Rua Kihurta" is written completely in Kikuyu with no translation.

Scope and Contents note

Contains early 20th century pamphlets printed by the missionaries active in the Kikuyu villages.
"Rules for the Native Church", 1919, sets down a series of rules for missionaries in Africa concerning baptism, marriage, polygamy and circumcision.
"African Girls", 1928, details the life of Kikuyu women, mainly focusing on the specific practices aand workload they are given in Kikuyu villages.
"Greetings! Muri ahoro? Are you with peace?", undated, is a letter detailing the life of a girl in a Kikuyu village. Written by H. Virginia Blakeslee.
"Rugano Rua Kihurta", undated, is a pamphlet written exclusivley in Kikuyu.
Box 7

Series 5, Bible 1904

Language of Material: English
Physical Description: (1 box)

Scope and Contents note

Contains a 1904 Bible owned by Jesse E. Raynor. The first few pages contain a few writings by Raynor but it is otherwise maintained in it's original print condition.