Guide to the Cornwell Family Papers

Descriptive Summary

Title

Cornwell Family Papers

Inclusive Dates

1888-1923

Call Number

RG 243

Quantity

0.35 cubic feet (2 boxes)

Language

Materials in English

Restrictions on Access

Collection open for research

Repository

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

Biographical Note / Administrative History

Biographical Note

George Cornwell was born in Peekskill, New York in 1866. After graduating from Amherst College in 1888, he attended Union Theological Seminary until his completion in 1891. The same year he married Mary Mead Cornwell of Yorktown, New York, and they settled in Pound Ridge, New York, where he obtained a pastorate. In 1892, the Cornwells applied to the Board of Foreign Missions and were appointed to the East Shantung Mission in Chefoo (Yantai, Shandong province), China. While stationed at Chefoo, the Cornwells supervised the Anglo-Chinese School and Night School, and Mr. Cornwell conducted religious services for the employees of the Silk Factory. George Cornwell also traveled with a Chinese elder to Vladisvostock in 1908 to investigate the existence of Chinese Christians with no church provision. The Cornwells both died of cholera in 1909, leaving seven children, including Sarah and Willie. After returning to the United States, Sarah married Robert (Bob) R. White, the son of a minister, in 1923.

Collection Overview

The collection consists of a photograph album, photographs, and correspondence. The photograph album contains photographs believed to be of the Cornwells' home life and mission experience in China. The first section of the photograph album depicts a mission station in Madura, India that is not Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A. owned. The miscellaneous biographical items contain excerpts of letters written by the Cornwells about their experiences in China.

Organization and Arrangement

SERIES I: PHOTOGRAPHS, CIRCA 1890-1910

SERIES II: MISCELLANEOUS, UNDATED

SERIES III: CORRESPONDENCE, 1888-1923

Administrative Information

Processing Information

These photographs and miscellaneous items were formerly cataloged as part of the library collection. Researchers should consult the card catalog for related materials.

The cataloging provided no indication on the author of the album. Careful examination by the archives staff revealed the probable creator of at least part of the album which was ascribed to the Cornwell family.

Collection processed and finding aid prepared 1989:
Kristin L. Gleeson, Associate Archivist

Accrual to collection processed as SERIES III and guide updated in 2024 by Nicholas Skaggs, Processing Archivist.

Preferred Citation

Cornwell Family Papers, RG 243, Presbyterian Historical Society, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Catalog Headings

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

Personal Name Subject

Cornwell family.

Cornwell, George, 1866-1909.

Cornwell, Mary Mead, 1868-1909.

Cornwell, Sarah.

Corporate Subject

Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A. East Shantung Mission.

Topical Subject

Missionaries--China.

Missions--China.

Missions--India.

Russo-Japanese War, 1904-1905.

Sino-Japanese War, 1894-1895.

Presbyterian Church--Missions--China.

Women missionaries--China.

Geographic Subject

China--Missions.

India--Missions.

Yantai (Shandong Sheng, China)

Genre-form

Clippings (information artifacts) aat

Correspondence. aat

Photographs. aat

Photograph albums. aat

Personal Added Name

Cornwell, George, 1866-1909.

Cornwell, Mary Mead, 1868-1909.

Cornwell, Sarah.

Collection Inventory

Box	Folder	Description

		SERIES I: PHOTOGRAPHS, CIRCA 1890-1910

1	none	Photograph album, circa 1890-1907

2	1	Photographs, circa 1900-1910

		SERIES II: MISCELLANEOUS, UNDATED

2	2	Biographical, miscellaneous, undated

		SERIES III: CORRESPONDENCE, 1888-1923

2	3	George and Mary Cornwell correspondence [chiefly letters to the Mead family], 1888-1892
2	4	George and Mary Cornwell correspondence [chiefly letters to Louisa Mead], 1892-1899
2	5	George and Mary Cornwell correspondence [chiefly letters to James and Louisa Mead], 1900-1910
2	6	Sarah L. Cornwell correspondence [chiefly letters to Robert R. White, Jr.], 1917-1923
2	7	Cornwell family correspondence [includes Board correspondence, clippings, and condolences], 1900-1910

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Guide to the Cornwell Family Papers