Isaac Taylor Headland papers, circa 1890 -- 1939
Collection context
- Creator:
- Headland, Isaac Taylor, 1859-1942
- Abstract:
- Isaac Taylor Headland was a missionary and educator in China. The collection contains correspondence, and photographs and clippings, including both formal portraits and street scenes of everyday life in China, as well as images of Beijing, military forces involved in the Boxer Rebellion, and the Qing Imperial family.
- Extent:
- 0.5 linear feet (0.5 linear feet; 1 box)
- Language:
- English .
- Scope and content:
-
This collection contains personal correspondence between Headland and other missionaries and teachers and correspondence regarding Peking University's endowment, as well as photographs and clippings collected by Headland as a missionary, professor, and college president in China. Included are formal portraits and street scenes of everyday life, people, and important personages in China, as well as images of Beijing, military forces involved in the Boxer Rebellion, and the Qing Imperial family. Also included are portraits of Chinese people and Western missionaries that were clipped from publications. Most of the photographs are undated and many lack identifying information; photographic portraits which have been identified include those of:
Shanqi, the 10th prince Su 肅親王 1866 - 1922 Led the attempted 1917 restoration Zhang Xun 張勳 1854 - 1923 Qing loyalist general Wang Wenshao 王文韶 1830 - 1908 Prominent late-Qing official Zhou Fu 周馥, 1837 - 1921 Viceroy of Liangguang The Xuantong Emperor 宣統皇帝 1906 - 1967 Puyi, the last Emperor of China The First Prince Chun 醇賢親王 1840 - 1891 Father of Puyi Prince Pujie 溥傑 1907 - 1994 Younger brother of Puyi Prince Pulun 溥伦 1869 - 1925 Nephew of the Guangxu Emperor Moses and Nelly Parmelee 18?? - 18?? Missionaries to Armenia George Heber Jones 1867 - 1919 Missionary to Korea
- Biographical / historical:
-
Isaac Taylor Headland was born on August 16, 1859 in Freedom, PA. In 1888 he graduated with an A.B. from Mount Union College, and in 1911 he was awarded an honorary Ph.D. In October 1890, he arrived in China as a missionary under the auspices of the American Methodist Episcopal Mission. He was posted to Beijing, the capital of Imperial China, and worked as professor of science at Peking University. On June 11, 1894 he married Marian Sinclair, a doctor who served as physician to many aristocratic families in Beijing. Marian also treated the Empress Dowager Cixi 慈禧太后, then the political ruler of China. Headland was associated with the Education Association of China, the Peking Missionary Association, and the YMCA. From 1901 to 1904 he served as president of the Anglo-Chinese College 鶴齡英華書院 in Fuzhou 福州. He also published numerous articles and books, many of which made use of the photographs in this collection. His publications include Chinese Mother Goose, 1900; Chinese Heroes, 1902; Court Life in China, 1909; By-Products of Missions, 1912; and China's New Day, 1912. After he returned to America, he taught comparative religion at Mount Union College from 1914 to 1937. He died on August 2, 1942 in Alliance, Ohio. A number of pieces of Chinese art in the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston were donated by Headland.
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, MRL6: Isaac Taylor Headland papers, circa 1890-1939, box #, folder #, The Burke Library at Union Theological Seminary, Columbia University in the City of New York.
- Location of this collection:
- 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