Guide to the Condit Family Papers

Descriptive Summary

Title

Condit Family Papers

Inclusive Dates

1860-circa 1899

Bulk Dates

1860-1867

Call Number

RG 264

Creator(s)

Condit family.

Quantity

0.25 cubic feet

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

Ira M. Condit was born in Mercer County, Pennsylvania in January of 1833. He graduated from Washington and Jefferson College in 1855. In 1856, he enrolled at the Western Theological Seminary in Allegheny, Pa. and graduated in 1859. He received his D.D. from Parke College in Missouri.

On 6 March 1860, Ira married a teacher from Ohio named Laura Carpenter. She was born in Danville, Vt. but spent most of her life in Ohio. Mrs. Condit was educated at the Willoughby Female Seminary and Lake Erie College previous to her marriage.

Rev. and Mrs. Condit were appointed missionaries in 1859 by the Board of Foreign Missions (PCUSA). They sailed to Canton, China in 1860, shortly after their marriage. The couple lived in China for five years. They were compelled to return in 1865 due to Mrs. Condit's illness.

On their return to the U.S. Condit and his wife worked in a mission to the Chinese in California. They returned to Ohio before long on account of Mrs. Condit's lingering illness. Mrs. Condit died in Dec. 1866.

Mr. Condit returned to his missionary work in 1870, working with Chinese immigrants in the San Francsisco area. He married Samantha Knox in 1872. Mr. Condit worked as a Superintendent of the Chinese work in Alameda and Oakland until his death in 1915.

Collection Overview

The manuscripts cover a variety of areas pertaining to the Condits' life. Letters written by Laura Condit to various family members between 1860 and 1864 provide descriptive accounts of her life as a missionary in China. The papers also include two letters written by Ira Condit to his relatives which are insightful accounts of his activities. Ira Condit's journal, is an account of his voyage to China. The journal also details his life after his arrival in China. There is a map included with the journal. It is not an original but a copy found with the papers. It is not certain if it is an integral part of the journal. Also included in the collection is a sermon first delivered by Rev. Condit in 1867.

Organization and Arrangement

The collection is arranged accordingly:

SERIES I: CORRESPONDENCE, 1860-1864

SERIES II: JOURNAL, 1861-1863

SERIES III: SERMON, 1867

SERIES IV: MANUSCRIPT HISTORY, ca. 1899

Administrative Information

Processing Information

Collection processed and finding aide prepared: June 1990
Liz Lafferty, Archives Intern

Catalog Headings

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

Personal Name Subject

Condit, Ira M., 1833-1915.

Condit, Laura Carpenter, 1837-1866.

Corporate Subject

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

Topical Subject

Presbyterian Church--Missions--China--19th century.

Missions--China--19th century.

Missionaries--China--19th century.

Women missionaries--China--19th century.

Church work with Asian Americans--California--History.

Chinese--Missions--California--19th century.

Geographic Subject

China--Missions--19th century.

Genre-form

Correspondence.

Diaries.

Sermons.

Personal Added Name

Condit, Ira M., 1833-1915.

Condit, Laura Carpenter, 1837-1866.

Collection Inventory

Box	Folder	Description

1	1	Finding Aid to Record Group 264

		SERIES I: CORRESPONDENCE, 1860-1864

1	2	Ira M. Condit Correspondence, 1861-1862
1	3	Laura Condit Correspondence, 1860-1864

		SERIES II: JOURNAL, 1861-1863

1	4	Ira M. Condit Journal 1861-1863

		SERIES III: SERMON, 1867

1	5	Ira M. Condit Sermon, 1867

		SERIES IV: MANUSCRIPT HISTORY, ca. 1899

1	6	"History of Presbyterian Chinese Missions in California," ca. 1899

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Guide to the Condit Family Papers

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