Mary Lewis [Mrs. W. A.] Shedd papers, 1918

Creator:

Shedd, Mary Lewis, 1873-1962

Abstract:

This collection contains a typed copy of a journal kept by Mary Lewis Shedd, missionary and wife of William Ambrose Shedd, detailing events in Uremia, Persia from February 24, 1918 to October 3, 1918.

Extent:

0.25 linear feet 0.25 linear feet; 1 box

Language:

English .

Scope and content:

This collection contains a typed copy of Mary Lewis Shedd's journal, which details the events from February to October, 1918 in Uremia, Persia, including the withdrawal of Assyrian Christians. Shedd experienced this directly, and was privy to other information from her husband, United States consul in Uremia William Ambrose Shedd, which she includes in her journal. The journal was published as "The Urumia Exodus: More Leaves from the War Journal of a Missionary in Persia." The original contains more detail and entries than the published version.

Biographical / historical:

Born in Glen Lock, Pennsylvania on January 15, 1873, Mary E. Lewis became the third wife of William Ambrose Shedd [1865-1918], Presbyterian missionary to Persia and later United States consul in Uremia, in July 1917. They had known one another for fourteen years and had lived as missionary associates at Uremia prior to their marriage.

The Shedds were forced to evacuate Uremia on July 31, 1918, along with thousands of other Assyrian Christians, as the Ottoman Army threatened nearby. They retreated for six days, at which point her husband became ill with cholera and died shortly thereafter. Mrs. Shedd's group escaped further from the warzone towards Iraq with the aid of the British, and buried her husband along the way, about seven miles east of Sain Kala. Mary Lewis Shedd reached Hamadan on August 24. On October 2, she wrote that probably seven or eight thousand died, were killed, or were taken prisoner on the journey she had recently completed.

Shedd wrote a biography of her husband, published in 1922, and continued her work as a missionary.

Acquisition information:: Formerly part of the independent Missionary Research Library (MRL), these records were donated by Mrs. Robert E. Speer. They were later moved with the MRL to the Brown Memorial Tower of Union Theological Seminary in 1929, and accessioned by the Burke Library at the time of the MRL's closure in 1976.
Processing information:: The journal was cataloged by Lynn A. Grove on 1988-07-18. Materials were placed in new acid-free folders and boxes, and the journal cover was wrapped in tissue and tied with acid-free cotton tying tape. The finding aid was created by Brigette Kamsler in 2011 with the support of the Henry Luce Foundation, and edited by Leah Edelman in 2020.
Arrangement:: This collection is arranged in one series in original order.
Rules or conventions:: appm
Related material:: Additional material by Shedd can be found in the MRL Pamphlets collection, folders 1890 and 2069.
Other information:: Missionary Research Library Archives: MRL2, Near/Middle East

Access and use

Restrictions:

This collection is open for research.

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, MRL 2: Mary Lewis [Mrs. W. A.] Shedd papers, 1918, 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

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Collection