Inventory to the James B. Webster papers

Finding aid prepared by Jennifer Leather

Hoover Institution Library and Archives

434 Galvez Mall

Stanford University

Stanford, CA 94305-6003

hoover-library-archives@stanford.edu

URL: http://www.hoover.org/library-and-archives

Title: James B. Webster papers

Date (inclusive): 1894-2003

Collection Number: 70027

Contributing Institution: Hoover Institution Library and Archives

Language of Material: English

Physical Description: 43 manuscript boxes, 1 card file box, 4 oversize boxes, 1 oversize folder, 1 envelope, slides (22.3 Linear Feet)

Abstract: The papers relate to theology, and to missionary activities and Christian education in China. They are comprised of diaries, correspondence, notebooks, writings, printed matter, photographs, and memorabilia.

Creator: Webster, James B. (James Benjamin), 1879-1929

Physical Location: Hoover Institution Library & Archives

Access

The collection is open for research; materials must be requested in advance via our reservation system. If there are audiovisual or digital media material in the collection, they must be reformatted before providing access.

Use

For copyright status, please contact the Hoover Institution Library & Archives.

Acquisition Information

Acquired by the Hoover Institution Library & Archives in 1970.

Preferred Citation

[Identification of item], James B. Webster papers, [Box no., Folder no. or title], Hoover Institution Library & Archives.

Biographical Note

September 29, 1879	Born, Passumpsic, Vermont
1908-1912	Educational missionary in China
1912 September 25	Married Alta Newby in Chinkiang [Zhenjiang], China
1912-1915	Director of pastoral work and lecturer in Chinese and English, Shanghai Baptist College and Seminary
1915-1917	Attended Hartford Seminary Foundation where he received his PhD in Religious Education
1917-1925	Head of Department of Education and professor of Education, Shanghai College
1924	Acting dean, Shanghai College
1926-1928	Associate professor of Education, College of the Pacific, Stockton, California
1928	Completed research study on adolescent interests of Chinese youths
1929 December 8	Died, Stockton, California

Scope and Content of Collection

The collection documents J. B. Webster's work and life as a Christian missionary in China. The collection includes day books, correspondence, newspaper articles, writings, and other printed material from Webster's daily life. Webster lived in China for many years as a teacher and an administrator at Shanghai College. As a missionary and as an employee at the college, Webster worked to improve the Christian religious education movement, particularly in China, which included completing sociological studies of Chinese adolescents and writing on effective religious education techniques. The collection contains many examples of coursework and lesson plans for various classes at Shanghai colleges and other schools. Webster was interested in examining how sociological factors in the community and culture affected the acceptance and incorporation of religious education. The professional correspondence in the collection contains letters with fellow missionaries, superiors, coworkers at the Shanghai college, and students.

Apart from the documents and materials from Webster's professional life, the collection contains material from Webster's own education and personal life, such as documents from his time at seminary and family correspondence. The collection includes letters, writings, photographs, and biographical material of Alta Newby Webster, James B. Webster's wife, as well as family receipts from China, which reveal the day to day existence of the Webster family in China. Additionally, Webster kept diaries that describe his life and travels in China. A;though Webster died in the United States in 1929, and there is material in the collection that was created after his death, including correspondence and memorial materials.

The collection includes a significant number of photographs depicting the Webster family and other missionary families in China, students and instructors at Shanghai College, and scenery from Webster's travels around the country. Also included are black-and-white photographs taken by Webster that depict revolutionary troops attacking Qing Imperial forces. Webster had access to the battlefront on land and at sea.

Subjects and Indexing Terms

Missions -- China

Missionaries

Education -- China

box 1, folder 1

Biographical material and photographs

Diaries

box 1

1908

box 1

1911

box 1

1912

box 1

1913

box 1

1914

box 1

1915

box 1

1916 (2 diaries)

box 1

1918

box 1

1919

box 1

1920 (2 diaries)

box 1

1921

box 1

1922

box 1

1923

box 1

1924

box 1

1925

box 2

1908

box 2

"A Journal for Occasional Impressions" diary 1908-1915

box 2

Diary of trip to Canton and Hankow 1910

box 2

1926 (2 diaries)

box 2

1927 (2 diaries)

box 2

1929 (3 diaries)

Datebooks

box 2

1917

box 2

1928

box 2

1931

box 2

Shanghai College handbook (3 items) 1924-1925

Passports and Chinese visas

box 2

James Benjamin Webster (3 items) 1919, 1924-1925

box 2

Alta Newby Webster 1924

box 2

Notebooks (3 items) 1931, undated

box 2, folder 1

Printed material undated

Correspondence

box 3, folder 1

Anderson, Elam 1921-1926

box 3, folder 2

Apperson, Mell 1927-1928

box 3, folder 3

American University in Cairo 1928-1929

box 3, folder 4

A 1919

box 3, folder 5

Bromley, Charled and Jane 1915-1925

box 3, folder 6

Barker, Charlotte 1918-1927

box 3, folder 7-8

B 1912-1928

box 3, folder 9

College of the Pacific 1926-1928

box 3, folder 10

Chambers, China Baptist Publication Society 1910-1915

box 3, folder 11

Crocker 1909-1927

box 3, folder 12

Calvary Baptist Church 1908-1914

box 3, folder 13-15

C 1911-1928

box 4, folder 1

C 1923-1928

box 4, folder 2

College Executive Committee minutes 1923-1925

box 4, folder 3

College Executive Committee minutes and materials 1917-1921

box 4, folder 4

Dennoyer-Geppert Co. 1928

box 4, folder 5

E. P. Dutton & Co. 1922-1927

box 4, folder 6

D 1919-1928

box 4, folder 7

E 1916-1928

box 4, folder 8

F 1913-1925

box 4, folder 9

Ginn and Co. 1920-1928

box 4, folder 10

G 1912-1928

box 5, folder 1

Galt 1920-1929

Scope and Contents note

Regarding American University of Cairo

box 5, folder 2-4

H 1912-1928

box 5, folder 5

Hipps 1919-1927

box 5, folder 6

Hobart 1908-1922

box 5, folder 7

Institute for Social and Economic Research undated

box 5, folder 8

Institute of Social and Religious Research 1925-1929

box 5, folder 9

I 1921-1929

box 5, folder 10

J 1916-1925

box 5, folder 11

K 1920-1928

box 5, folder 12-13

Love, J. F. 1916-1926

box 6, folder 1

L 1913-1923

box 6, folder 2

Love conferences, notes and papers 1919

box 6, folder 3

Cooperation on the Foreign Mission Field 1913-1919

box 6, folder 4

Mitchell, S. C. 1913-1919

box 6, folder 5

M 1913-1919

box 6, folder 6

National Council for Prevention of War 1925-1928

box 6, folder 7

N 1910-1927

box 6, folder 8

O 1926

box 6, folder 9

Publishers 1910-1928

box 6, folder 10

P 1910-1928

box 6, folder 11

Runyan, Walter 1925-1926

box 6, folder 12-13

Ray, T. B. 1914-1926

box 7, folder 1

R 1914-1926

box 7, folder 2-3

Rawlinson 1910-1928

box 7, folder 4

University of Richmond 1923-1928

box 7, folder 5-8

Sheldon 1908-1928

box 8, folder 1

Southern Baptist Convention, Foreign Mission Board 1906-1926

box 8, folder 2-3

S 1914-1927

box 8, folder 4

Tewkbury 1912-1924

box 8, folder 5

T 1912-1924

box 8, folder 6-9

W 1915-1929

box 8, folder 10

Y 1919-1925

box 8, folder 10

Z 1918

box 9, folder 1

Assorted correspondece 1926-1927

box 9, folder 2

Assorted correspondece 1928-1929

box 9, folder 3

Assorted correspondece 1929

Scope and Contents note

Contains photographs

box 9, folder 4

Assorted correspondece: Medical 1922-1928

Notebooks

box 9

"Senior History," undated

box 9

"Greek Notes on St. John," 1907-1908

box 9

"Old Testament Interpretation," 1907-1908

box 9

"Church History Notes," 1907-1908

box 9

"Dr. Hobart, Christian Ethics," 1907-1908

box 9

"Dr. Hobart, Church and Civil Law," 1907-1908

box 9

"Criticisms of New Testament and Old Testament," 1907-1908

box 10, folder 1-2

Poetical books, Alta Newby lecture notes undated

box 10

"Pastoral Theology," 1907-1908

Examinations

box 10

"History of Education," 1910 May

box 10

"History of Education," 1916 March

box 10

"Fundamental Principles," 1916 March

box 10

"Fundamental Principles #20," 1916 March

box 10

"General Method," 1916 March 9

box 10

"General Method," 1916 April 13

Notebooks

box 10

"Notes on New Testament and Old Testament," 1910

box 10

"Analysis of Herbarium Plants," 1897

box 10

"Chemistry," undated

box 10

"Harmony of the Gospels," 1903

box 10

"Compositions," undated

box 10

"Studies in the Epistles of John," 1913

box 10

"Studies in John's Gospels from Ch. 11:16," 1913

box 10

"Studies in John's Gospels to Ch. 11:16," 1913

box 10

"History of the Apolstolic Church," 1913

box 10

"Sewing notes and Diary," 1905

box 11

"Crozer Theological Seminary," undated

box 11

"Notes from Teacher on Mateer's Lessons," undated

box 11

"Old Testament Interpretation," 1907-1908

box 11

"Lesson and Lecture Notes," undated

box 11

"Biology," 1906

box 11

"Crozer Theological Seminary," 1906

box 11

"Prophecy, Biblical Theology," 1906

box 11

"Assorted topics," 1906

box 11

"Bibliography in Systematic Theology, Church History," 1908

box 11

"Class Notes in Church History," undated

box 11

"Isaiah, Dr. Taylor," 1907-1908

box 11

"Notes on Church History from September 1900 to June 1901," undated

box 11

"Lesson and Lecture Notes," undated

box 12

"Lesson and Lecture Notes," undated

box 12

"Crozer Theological Seminary, Volunteer band notes" 1907-1908

box 12

"Set of Physical Culture Examples" 1904-1905

box 12

"Speech Notes" undated

box 12

"Dr. Evans, Religions" undated

box 12

"Dr. Pollard, Homiletics" 1906-1908

box 12

"Sermons, Activities" 1894

box 12

"Compositions" undated

box 47

"Compositions" undated

box 12

"Assorted classwork," (2 items) 1906

box 12

"History," (2 items) 1903-1905

box 12

Memo book 1897

box 47

"French and Carpenter Work in Hartford Night School" 1916-1917

box 47

Student notebook

box 47

"Study, think, progress" exercise book

box 12

Cash book (account ledgers) 1902

Cash book (account ledgers) 1912-1913

box 12, folder 1

Bible readings 1902

box 12, folder 2

Lecture notes 1902

box 13, folder 1-2

Religious education in school and church 1924

box 13, folder 3

Notes on Education 104 1916-1924

box 13, folder 4

Chinese correspondence 1919-1924

box 13, folder 5

South Dakota deeds 1897-1899

box 13, folder 6-9

Lesson plans 1920

Notebooks

box 14

Education 1922

box 14

"Preschool Age, Infancy Years," undated

box 14

"Preschool Age, Kindergarten Years," undated

box 14

"Comprehensive Program of Religious Education in the Local Church," undated

box 14, folder 1

Data regarding development of summer schools 1918-1919

box 14, folder 2-6

Printed materials on Chinese education 1915-1917

box 15, folder 1

Printed material on Chinese education (Contd.)

Subject file

box 15, folder 2

Esthetic undated

box 15, folder 3

Moral judgements, approval and disapproval undated

box 15, folder 4

Altruistic attitudes undated

Religious attitudes

box 15, folder 5

Belief in God undated

box 15, folder 6

Judgement of God's control of human affairs undated

box 15, folder 7

Attitude toward God, reasons undated

box 15, folder 8

Idea of prayer undated

box 15, folder 9

Judgement of value of prayer, reasons undated

Social interests

box 15, folder 10

Friendships undated

box 15, folder 11

Group activities undated

box 15, folder 12

Topics of conversation undated

box 15, folder 13

Sex interests, marriage undated

box 15, folder 14

Intellectual interests, Favorite reading material undated

box 15, folder 14

Study summary undated

box 15, folder 16

Readings and articles from Alta Newby Webster 1915

box 15, folder 17

"Little Bennie Cowboy Stories," undated

box 16, folder 1

Working notes for manuscript 1924-1928

box 16, folder 2

China Christian Education Association 1917-1925

box 16, folder 3

Writings for sermons and lessons undated

box 16, folder 4

Printed material undated

box 16, folder 5

Collected writings undated

A Survey of Chinese Adolescent Interests

box 16, folder 6

Method undated

box 16, folder 7

Background, economic and religious undated

box 16, folder 8

Activities undated

box 16, folder 9

Play undated

box 16, folder 10

Definite abilities undated

box 17, folder 1

Vocation undated

box 17, folder 2

Property undated

box 17, folder 3

Animals undated

box 17, folder 4

Persons, heroes and aversions undated

box 17, folder 5

Introduction undated

box 17, folder 6

Fears undated

box 17, folder 7

Church history, foreign missions, and history of Methodism undated

box 17, folder 8

Pentateuch and historical books undated

box 17, folder 9

Church history notes 1906-1907

box 17, folder 10

Shanghai College, Education department notes and data 1923-1925

box 17, folder 11

James B. Webster Memorial Fund 1931

box 17, folder 12

Condoldences regarding death of James B. Webster 1929-1930

box 18, folder 1

Department of Education, College Curriculum Committee 1918-1919

box 18, folder 2

Problems of Oriental education, notes 1927

box 18, folder 3

Oriental civilization material 1927-1928

box 18, folder 4

Oriental civilization, clippings and images 1927-1928

box 18, folder 5

Printed material 1926-1928

box 18

Psychology notes and education binder 1926-1928

box 19, folder 1

Visual education in religion 1922-1923

box 19, folder 2-3

Notes on planning education in China 1919-1920

box 19, folder 4

Education Department potential courses 1921

box 19, folder 5

Data on development of education debt at colleges 1918

box 19, folder 6

Theological education notes 1918-1920

box 19, folder 7

College community cultivation 1919-1920

box 19, folder 8-11

History of religious education movement in China undated

Scope and Contents note

Folder 10 includes photographs

box 20, folder 1-2

Christian Education and the National Consciousness in China, manuscript 1922

box 20, folder 3

Notes and manuscripts on Mohtse 1927

box 20, folder 4-5

Motives, ideals and values in Christian education in China 1917-1920

box 20, folder 6-7

Religious Education Committee materials 1919-1920

box 20, folder 8

"Tabulation of Interest" records-Girls 1919-1925

box 20, folder 9

"Tabulation of Interest" records-Boys 1919-1925

box 20, folder 10

Correspondence regarding adolescent interest survey 1925

box 21, folder 1

Printed material for Appendix 1929

box 21, folder 2

Biographical file 1908-1929

box 21, folder 3

Pi Gamma Mu, social science magazine 1927-1928

box 21, folder 4

Pacific Coast Oriental contacts 1926

box 21, folder 5

Presbyterian Ministers' Fund 1916-1928

box 21, folder 6

James B. Webster writings and lectures 1918-1924

box 21, folder 7-8

Psychology course materials 1926-1927

box 21, folder 9

Problems of Oriental Education, research materials 1922-1926

box 21, folder 10

Interrace studies and international education, plans and memoranda 1923-1926

box 21, folder 11

Forms used in the Human Genetics Division, John Hopkins University undated

box 21, folder 12

Articles in Preparation 1916-1926

box 22, folder 1-4

A Survey of Chinese Adolescent Interests 1925-1926

box 22, folder 5

Education in China, printed material 1921-1922

box 22, folder 6

Popular material, Psychology education 1920-1925

box 22, folder 7

Clippings on education and social condition in Japan 1919

box 22, folder 8

Clippings on education in China and miscellaneous 1920

box 22, folder 9

Clippings on education in the west 1917-1920

box 22, folder 10

Chapel Talk materials 1920

box 22, folder 11

Notes from Crozer Theological Seminary 1923

box 23, folder 1-4

Course materials, Education 107 1923-1924

box 23, folder 5

Honolulu conference materials 1924-1925

box 23, folder 6

Curriculum correlation 1923-1925

box 23, folder 7

Course materials, Education A 1924

box 23, folder 8

A Survey of Chinese Adolescents 1928

box 24, folder 1-2

A Survey of Chinese Adolescents (Contd.)

box 24, folder 3

Union Academy statements and correspondence 1911-1913

box 24, folder 4

Religious education, printed material 1914-1928

box 24, folder 5

Christian industry in China, National Christian Council 1924-1929

box 24, folder 6-8

Course materials, Education 113 and 114 Group Method book 1923-1924

box 25, folder 1-2

Course materials, Education 113 and 114 Group Method book (Contd.)

box 25, folder 3-4

Psychology material on the student strike 1919-1920

box 25, folder 5

Sunday school nature study lessons undated

box 25, folder 6

Psychology of religion data 1919-1920

Financial records

box 25, folder 7-8

Receipts from Shanghai 1917-1921

box 26, folder 1-2

Checkbooks 1908-1913

box 26, folder 3-8

China receipts and statements 1907-1918

Subject file

box 27, folder 1

Art and literature 1913-1914

box 27, folder 2

Christianity and industry in China 1923

box 27, folder 3

China, general writings 1919-1925

box 27, folder 4

Publisher correspondence 1912

box 27, folder 5

Christian education in China 1912-1925

box 27, folder 6

Maps depicting mission stations in China undated

box 27, folder 7

China's foreign relations 1910-1911

box 27, folder 8

Famine of 1910-1911 1911

box 27, folder 9

Government 1910-1914

box 27, folder 10

Politics and economics 1912-1913

box 27, folder 11

Religion 1912-1913

box 27, folder 12

Union Educational Commission of China, minutes 1911-1914

box 27, folder 13

Science and education 1911

Writings

box 27, folder 14

"Pawnshops and Opium in China," undated

box 27, folder 15

"The Capture of Purple Mountain and the Fall of Nanking," 1911

box 27, folder 16

"The Fall of Nanking," circa 1911

box 27, folder 17

"A Glimpse of the Advance on Peking," 1912

box 27, folder 18

"Things Chinese," 1913

box 27, folder 19

Miscellaneous clippings 1911-1913

Photographs

envelope A

28 photos of scenes of the Chinese Revolution and of daily life and cultural sites in China 1911-1912

box 44

3 mounted photographs (4 prints) undated

Incremental Materials 1902-2003

box 28

Photographs 1902-1930

Scope and Contents note

Includes miscellaneous revolution photographs from Chongqing and Nanjing (1911), early photographs of James Webster, portraits of James Webster and Alta Newby Webster, Webster family photographs, other missionaries in China, and cartes de visite of Chinese students

box 29, folder 1-6

Correspondence 1913-1926

box 29, folder 7

"Little Bennie Cowboy Stories," manuscripts 1923

box 29, folder 8

Biographical materials 1929

box 30, folder 1-3

Mission Board correspondence, incoming and outgoing 1908-1926

box 30, folder 4-5

Mission information 1920-1935

box 30, folder 6-10

Letters from E. M. Jeter, photocopies 1917-1923

box 31

Binder of materials on Alta Almira Newby 1909-1938

Scope and Contents note

Includes transcripts of letters, photocopies of photographs, and biogrpahical materials

box 31

James B. Webster and Alta A. Newby biographical materials

Scope and Contents note

Relates mostly to their wedding and honeymoon

box 31

"Travels with Martha Esther Webster 1915-1930"

box 31

Correspondence of Carleton Mabee and Esther Webster Howse regarding China 1924, 1995-1996

box 32

Correspondence 1904-1914

Scope and Contents note

Includes photographs and negatives. Includes correspondence of wife, Alta Newby

box 33, folder 1-3

Correspondence 1904-1914

box 33, folder 4-5

Letters to Alta Newby from James B. Webster 1911-1912

box 34, folder 1-4

Letters to Alta Newby from James B. Webster 1911-1912

box 34, folder 5

Correspondence 1912-1957

box 45

Correspondence 1912-1957

box 46

Correspondence 1912-1957

box 35

Chinese Bible 1914

box 35

Chinese Hymnal prepared by Rev. H. Blodget and Rev. C. Goodrich 1909

box 35

Crozer Theological Seminary bulletin 1930

Scope and Contents note

Includes tribute to James B. Webster

box 35

Songs of Cathay compiled by T. Z. Koo undated

box 35

Shanghai College yearbook 1925

box 36

Alta Newby Webster guestbook 1923-1934

box 36

Interests of Chinese Students. Vol. 1 Studies in Education and Psychology by James B. Webster 1932

box 36

"The Story of the Univeristy of Shanghai from the Year 1906 to the Year 1934"

box 36

Ribbons and medals from Butte [Montana] Miners Union and Western Federation of Miners undated

slide cabinet

Glass lantern slides depicting scenes from children's stories undated

box 37, folder 1

Photographs of Webster family and others 1922-1923

box 37, folder 2-3

Materials used by Alta Newby Webster in her teaching and supervising 1941, undated

box 37, folder 4

German mark and list of Chinese dynasties undated

Scope and Contents note

Hand painted Chinese poster moved to Box 44

box 37, folder 5

Seals taken from doors of the Baldwin Memorial school after forced evacuation during riots and cash ticket 1906

box 37, folder 6

University of the Pacific correspondence 1926

box 37, folder 7

Alta Newby speech notes undated

box 37, folder 8

Copper reliefs and sketches undated

box 37, folder 9

Photographs depicting Shanghai College and families of instructors 1925

box 37, folder 10

Alta Newby Webster correspondence, narrative of sixty-mile walk through China, and copies of photographs 1907-1912

box 37, folder 11

Mali Lee [Ma Li] letters and photographs before and during the war in Shanghai and Nanking 1937-1938

box 37, folder 12

Alta Newby Webster commemorative diploma from Wesleyan College 1949

box 37, folder 13

Notes and observations undated

box 37, folder 14

Letter from Mirian Mabee undated

box 37, folder 15

Missionary education in China printed materials and clippings 1910-1923

box 37, folder 16

Photographs of the Webster and Newby families 1912-1914

box 37, folder 17

Writings and research materials 1929, 2003

box 37

3 glass plate negatives

box 38

Postcards from China and the United States 1910-1922

box 48

Postcards from China and the United States 1903-1927

box 39

Chinese vocabulary flash cards undated

box 39

Notebook of Alta Newby Webster filled with inspirational clippings and jokes undated

box 39

Soong, Maying. The Art of Chinese Paper Folding for Young and Old 1948

box 39

James B. Webster biographical materials 1929-1930

Scope and Contents note

Includes condolences and memorial service pamphlets

box 39

Letters from the Hoover Company regarding donation of vaccuums to Shanghai College 1923-1924

box 39

Classroom materials and correspondence 1949

box 39

Diplomas of Alta Newby and James B. Webster 1906-1908

Photographs and photo albums

box 40

"Scenes from Chinese life"

box 40

"Kuling"

box 40

"Scenery"

box 40

"Honolulu and other places"

box 41

James B. Webster and Alta Newby family photos 1907-1908

box 41

Mission work in China circa 1911

box 42

Negatives of family photographs, Sunday school, Alta Newby before and after her wedding, and others

box 42

Conference on Religious Education, Shanghai College, program and publications circa 1923

box 42

"Student Ministry to Children: Manual for Teachers in Daily Vacation Bible Schools," 1919

box 42

Outlines for Mothers' Meetings 1924

box 42

Conference of Christian Colleges and Universities, Nanking, notes, programs, and other materials 1924 February

box 43

Photographs of mission work in Nanchang and Shanghai 1903-1920

box 44

"Industrial and Natural Resources in China," hand drawn map with samples of resources glued to corresponding region undated

box 44

Hand painted Chinese poster undated

box 44

Cartoon sketches and statistical figures related to education in China undated

map_case

Black and white panorama photograph of Shanghai College graduates, classes 1923-1928, with James B. Webster at the center circa 1928

map_case

Ink drawing by Walter G. Yip depicting an education race, with China and the Middle East in last place and the United States crossing the finish line 1919