Darley Downs papers, circa 1942 -- 1959

Creator:: Downs, Darley
Abstract:: Darley Downs was a missionary in Japan before World War II, and was interned at the Los Banos camp in the Philippines between 1942 and 1945. The collection contains a handwritten diary and a typed partial transcription of his internment experience, correspondence, and newspaper clippings.
Extent:: 0.25 linear feet 0.25 linear feet; 1 box
Language:: English .
Scope and content:: This collection contains a diary kept by Darley Downs during his internment at Los Banos, the internment camp in the Philippines where he was held, as well as correspondence and newspaper clippings. The diary, kept in the back pages of a salary ledger book, begins in June 1942 in Dansalan (page 45) and continues through April 1945 in Emporia, Kansas (page 143). A typed transcription of entries from June 1942 through January 1943 (page 45-72), created by Downs' son AJ Downs in 1997, is also included. Correspondence includes a Department of State memo on Downs, letters from Downs to his family, a telegram announcing Downs' rescue, and a letter to Downs from friends in the Philippines. The photocopied newspaper clippings-- from publications including the New York Times, the Boston Globe, The Christian Science Monitor, and the Emporia Gazette-- relate to Downs and the release of Americans from Los Banos.
Biographical / historical:: Darley Downs was born in 1894 in Colorado and served as a Christian missionary with the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions. In 1919, Downs arrived in Tokyo, Japan to teach at Doshisha University. In 1929, he became the principal of the School of Japanese Language and Culture and a secretary of the National Christian Council, positions he held until 1941, when he left Japan due to strained relations between the country and the United States. Downs traveled to Dansalan, Mindanao, Philippines to substitute for Frank Laubach, a missionary who had been working with Muslim Moros, and Downs also worked for the American Congregational Mission Board in Mindanao. Beginning in May of 1942, Downs was interned by the Japanese at multiple internment camps for nearly three years. In September of 1943, Downs was moved to the Los Banos camp, where he served as translator. Downs remained at Los Banos until the camp was liberated in February of 1945. After his return to the United States, Downs earned a Master of Sacred Theology degree from Union Theological Seminary in 1946, completing a thesis titled, "Effects of war time pressures on churches and missions in Japan." Downs returned to Japan in 1947, and was secretary of the Council of Cooperation and the Interboard Missionary Field Committee. Darley Downs died in 1969.

Acquisition information:

This collection was donated by Jennifer Downs, granddaughter of Darley Downs. Received in December 2020, accession GEN-2021-010.

Processing information:

Materials were placed in new acid-free folders and boxes. The finding aid was created by Leah Edelman in 2021.

Arrangement:

This collection is arranged in one series organized by format.

Related material:

Darley Downs papers, Coll 111, Special Collections and University Archives, University of Oregon Libraries, Eugene, Oregon.

MRL 4: Frank C. Laubach Papers, box #, folder #, The Burke Library at Union Theological Seminary, Columbia University in the City of New York.

Other information:

General collections

Access and use

Restrictions:

This collection is open for research, but contains some fragile material. Restrictions related to specific material are listed in the detailed contents list.

Onsite storage.

Terms of access:

Some material in this collection may be protected by copyright and other rights. Information concerning copyright, fair use, and reproduction requests can be consulted at Columbia's Copyright Advisory Office.

Preferred citation:: Item description, Darley Downs papers, circa 1942-1959, box #, folder #, The Burke Library at Union Theological Seminary, Columbia University in the City of New York.

Location of this collection:: Burke Library at Union Theological Seminary

Burke Home Page
Before you visit:: Researchers must book an appointment at least 5 business days in advance to view special collections material in the reading room. To make the most of your visit, be sure to request your desired materials before booking your appointment, as researchers are limited to one item per hour of appointment time.

Contact:: burke@library.columbia.edu

Collection