Guide to the United Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A. Korea Mission Records

Descriptive Summary

Title

United Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A. Korea Mission Records

Inclusive Dates

1940-1982

Call Number

RG 197

Creator(s)

United Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A. Korea Mission.

Quantity

7.00 cubic feet (7 boxes); 22 MB (3 PDF files)

Restrictions on Access

Open for research. Medical, educational, and psychological records of living people are closed.

When materials are marked “Digital*” with an asterisk, they are available upon request. Click on the hyperlink to contact the Reference Desk to request access. Access is provided via a temporary password-protected link.

Repository

Presbyterian Historical Society, 425 Lombard Street, Philadelphia, PA 19147-1516 USA

Biographical Note / Administrative History

Administrative History

Presbyterian work in Korea commenced in 1884 when Dr. and Mrs. Horace Allen of the Shanghai station were transferred to Korea, then referred to as Chosen. Early mission work centered in Seoul and Pyengyang. Eventually nine stations were established. The others were: Taiku (1899); Syenchyuin (1901); Chairyng (1906); Chungju (1908); Kangkai (1908); Andong (1910); and Hingkin in Manchuria (1918). Mission work in Korea was done in cooperation with several other denominations, including the Methodist; Southern, Canadian, and Australian Presbyterian; Baptist; Anglican; and Methodist Episcopal churches. The Presbyterians and Methodists were the two largest groups in Korea. The first Protestant Church was organized in 1887 in Seoul. In 1907, all four Presbyterian denominations established the Union Presbyterian Church of Korea.

Medical work played a prominent role in the Presbyterian Church's missionary efforts in Korea. A hospital was established in Pyengyang in 1896 in conjunction with the Methodists. In 1885, Dr. Horace Allen founded the Royal Korean Hospital in Seoul that eventually became the Severance Union Hospital, Medical College and Nurses Training School. The Church's educational work commenced rather late and was complicated by a variety of difficulties, one of which was language. Primary schools, academies for boys and girls, a theological seminary and several colleges (in Seoul and Pyengyang) eventually were developed. The theological seminary in Seoul was operated in cooperation with the Methodists and represented only one example of denominational cooperation. Others included the Pierson Memorial Bible School, the Christian Literature Society and the Union Language School.

Mission work in Korea was complicated by several factors not common to others missions. The presence of the Japanese after 1910 until 1945, did much to undermine the work of the missionaries, especially during the 1930s. The Shrine Issue, for instance, though superficially a patriotic concern, reduced the role of the Church in Korea to the will of the Japanese Emperor. The divisiveness that it caused was clearly manifested both before and after the Second World War. Likewise, the Korean War caused a period of retrenchment for the Church.

Collection Overview

The collection documents the United Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A.'s and the Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A.'s work in the Korean mission field, 1940-1982. The bulk of the collection dates from 1950. Included are reports and correspondence that reflect the views of field representatives and missionaries regarding Church policy in the area of education, medicine and evangelism. Areas of special note include the Seung Dong and Yun Dong Church controversy, the Pang family tragedy, and issues related to Church property.

Organization and Arrangement

SERIES I: CORRESPONDENCE, 1948-1982
Boxes 1-5
Includes, field representatives correspondence, 1950-1979; correspondence to missionaries, 1955-1981; and miscellaneous correspondence by subject, arranged alphabetically, 1948-1982.

SERIES II: REPORTS, 1940-1982
Boxes 5-6
Includes annual reports, 1955-1981; educational reports arranged alphabetically, 1940-1980; medical institution reports, 1966-1977 and reports by subject, arranged alphabetically 1950-1981.

SERIES III: MINUTES, 1955-1981
Box 7
Includes university minutes, 1955-1956; Korean Church minutes 1955-1981; and miscellaneous minutes.

SERIES IV: MISCELLANY, 1948-1980
Box 7
Includes by laws, rules, constitutions of organizations, photographs, newspaper clippings, and other miscellaneous items.

Administrative Information

Processing Information

Finding aid prepared: 1985
William M. Grace, archival intern

Catalog Headings

The following headings have been used to index the description of this collection in the society’s electronic catalog.

Corporate Subject

United Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A. Korea Mission.

United Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A. Program Agency.

Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A. Korea Mission.

Topical Subject

Presbyterian Church--Missions--Korea--20th century.

Missions--Korea--20th century.

Korean War, 1950-1953.

Geographic Subject

Korea--Missions--20th century.

Genre-form

Correspondence. aat

Reports. aat

Minutes (administrative records) aat

Bylaws (administrative records) aat

Constitutions. aat

Photographs. aat

Clippings (information artifacts) aat

Corporate Added Name

Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A. Korea Mission.

United Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A. Commission on Ecumenical Mission and Relations.

Collection Inventory

Box	Folder	Description	Alternative Formats

1	1	Finding Aid to Record Group 197

		SERIES I: CORRESPONDENCE, 1948-1982

1	2-3	Field Representative Correspondence, 1950-51
1	4-20	Field Representative Correspondence, 1953-61

2	1-15	Field Representative Correspondence, 1961-68

3	1-14	Field Representative Correspondence, 1968-75

4	1-4	Field Representative Correspondence, 1976-79
4	5	Correspondence of Missionaries, 1955-1957
4	6	Correspondence of Missionaries, 1963-1969
4	7	Correspondence of Missionaries, 1970-1974
4	8	Correspondence of Missionaries, 1976-1977
4	9	Correspondence of Missionaries, 1977-1981
4	10	Edward Adams Trial--Taegu Presbytery, 1959
4	11	Asian Center for Theological Studies, 1975-1978
4	12	Berkan Scholarship Fund, 1966
4	13	Bible Institutes, 1959-1974
4	14	Christian Relief Fund, 1953-1955
4	15	Church Controversy: Seung Dong & Yun Dong, 1959-1960
4	16	Commission Representative, 1958
4	17	Committee of Fifteen, 1959-1961
4	18	Eclair Foundation, 1966-1972	Digital*
4	19	General Assembly Joint Committee, 1950-1952
4	20	General Assembly Five Year Plan (Integration Correspondence), 1950s
4	21	Hantook Group, 1955-1957
4	22	Hospital, 1965-1980
4	23	Keimung College, Taegu, 1954-1973
4	24	Keimung University, 1974-1980
4	25	Kihan Yi Problem, 1967
4	26	Korean Capital Grants, 1964-1971
4	27	Korean Missions Logistics, 1970s
4	28	Korean Presbyterian Church Reunion Effort, 1967-1968
4	29	Korean Presbyterian Seminary, 1960-1981
4	30	McIntyre-Hamilton Case, 1952-1954
4	31	Missionary, 1976
4	32	Missionary (William Basingers), 1972-1982
4	33	Missionary (Barbara & Paul Kingsbury), 1965-1981
4	34	Samuel Moffett Memorial Hall, 1972-1974
4	35	National Association of Evangelism, 1954 & 1959
4	36	Pang Family Tragedy, 1954
4	37	Property Correspondence, 1953-1955

5	1-2	Property Correspondence, 1964-1968
5	3	Secondary Schools Correspondence, 1950-1979
5	4	Secondary Schools, Keum Sung & Chang Sin, 1966-1981
5	5	Secondary Schools, Kyung An, 1970-1976
5	6	Secondary Schools, Soong Evi, 1950-1970
5	7	Secondary Schools, Sinmyung School & Taegu, 1950-1980
5	8	Secondary Schools, Soongsi High School, 1948-1954
5	9	Secondary Schools, Taikwang, Yung Kwang & Kyung Sin, 1950-1973
5	10	Severance Hospital, 1980
5	11	Soongjun University, 1954-1980
5	12	Taegu Hospital, 1962-1972
5	13	Taegu Hospital, 1974-1981
5	14	Taegu Keisung Land Question, 1961-1963
5	15	Three Board Consultation, 1964
5	16	Seoul Women's College, 1956-1982
5	17	Yonsei University, 1956-1981
5	18	Miscellaneous, 1948-1978

		SERIES II: REPORTS, 1940-1982

5	19-44	Annual Personal Reports, 1955-1981

6	1	Academic Plans & Proposals, 1976-1977
6	2	Bible Institutes, Reports, Etc, 1940s-1970s
6	3	Education Questionnaires
6	4	Four College Study, 1968
6	5	Keimyung University Reports, 1950-1978
6	6	Korean Presbyterian Seminary Reports, 1969-1980
6	7	Seoul Korean Women's College Reports, 1960s-1970s
6	8	Secondary School Reports--Keumsung, Chang Sin, 1965-73
6	9	Secondary School Reports--Kyung An, 1960-1974
6	10	Secondary School Reports--Taegu's Simnyung
6	11	Secondary School Reports--Soong Eui, 1948-1960
6	12	Secondary School Reports--Soongsil
6	13-14	Secondary School Reports--Taikwang, Yungkwang & Kyung
6	15	Miscellaneous Educational Reports, 1950s
6	16	Soongjun University Reports, 1954-1980
6	17	Soongjun University
6	18	Merger of Chosen Union with Severance Union, 1956
6	19	Yonsei University (Agricultural Plans & Master Plan)
6	20	Yonsei University Reports, 1957-1977
6	21	Miscellaneous Educational Reports
6	22	Taegu Hospital Reports and Miscellaneous
6	23	Taegu Hospital Reports
6	24	Hospital Reports and Miscellaneous
6	25	Berkan Scholarship Fund Reports, 1966-1978
6	26	Board of Foreign Missions Reports, 1951
6	27	Eclair Foundation Reports, 1965-1971	Digital*
6	28	Five Year Report, 1956-1960
6	29	General Assembly Five Year Plan (Integration Reports), 1950s
6	30	General Assembly Joint committee Reports
6	31	Korean Capital Grant Reports, 1964-1969
6	32	Korean Church Reunion Effort, 1967-1968
6	33	Korean Community Development, News, Addresses, Surveys, 1958
6	34	McIntyre-Hamilton Case, 1950-1954
6	35	Missionaries, Basinger & Miscellaneous Reports, 1950-1982
6	36	Missionary Dorothy Compton, 1976
6	37	Missionaries Paul & Barbara Kingsbury, 1964-1982
6	38	Missionary Joan Underwood, 1976
6	39	Samuel Moffett Memorial Hall, 1972-1974
6	40	Property Reports, 1962-1968
6	41	Property Reports Taegu Keisung Land Question), 1960s
6	42	Property Reports, 1950-1955
6	43	Representative in Korea Reports, 1964-1981
6	44	Welfare Agency Reports, 1950s
6	45-46	Miscellaneous Reports, 1949-1979

		SERIES III: MINUTES, 1955-1981

7	1	Chosen University Minutes, 1955-1958
7	2	HOSEB Minutes, Missions Conference Notes, 1955-1958
7	3	Korean Church Missions Minutes, 1959-1963
7	4	Korean Church Mission Minutes, 1964-1965
7	5	Korean Church Missions Minutes, 1966-1967
7	6	Korean Church Mission Minutes, 1968-1969
7	7	Korean Mission Logistics Minutes, 1970s
7	8	Korean Church Mission Minutes, 1970-1972
7	9	Korean Church Mission Minutes, 1973-1974
7	10	Korean Church Mission Minutes, 1975-1981
7	11	Miscellaneous Minutes


		SERIES IV: MISCELLANY, 1948-1980

7	12	Inter-Mission General Assembly Conference & Constitution, 1957
7	13	Constitution & Laws in Korean Missions Organizations, 1948
7	14	Missions Rules, 1960-1978
7	15	Rules and By-Laws Missionary Fellowship, 1950-1960
7	16	Rules and By-Laws Missionary Fellowship, 1959-1966
7	17	Constitution & By-Laws in Korean Missions Organizations
7	18	Berkan/Eclair Foundations, 1975	Digital*
7	19	News clippings (Hantook Group), 1955
7	20	News clippings (Keimung College, etc., 1970s
7	21	Keimung University, 1975-1976
7	22	Korean General Assembly Center Photographs
7	23	Korean Presbyterian Seminary
7	24	Samuel Moffett Memorial Hall Photographs, Etc, 1972-1974
7	25	N.A.E. News clippings, 1960s
7	26	Secondary Schools (Kyung An)
7	27	Soongjun University, 1954-1980
7	28	Stanton, Roger Wilson--Photographs, Report, 1953-1954
7	29	Seoul Woman's College
7	30	Yonsei University
7	31	New clippings, 1965
7	32	Miscellaneous News clippings and Photographs, n.d.
7	33	Miscellaneous speeches, Addresses, 1974-77
7	34	Korean Churches, 1969

Print

You are here

Guide to the United Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A. Korea Mission Records

Creator(s)