This is cool... Oberlin's Digital Collections

Working on preparations for my trip to Oberlin's archives next month, I came across this in Oberlin's Digital Collections. I feel as though if I wait long enough, I won't even have to go to the archives to do my research--it'll all be digitized!

The document I just linked to is entitled "The Shansi Memorial Association: A Strategic Missionary Opportunity." It was published in 1908 and basically outlines the history of Oberlin's missionary work at Shanxi, China; the "martyrdom" of the missionaries in Shanxi in 1900 (during the Boxer Uprising); the restoration of the Oberlin mission in Shanxi in 1903; and a plan to establish a Christian school system in Shanxi via the work of the Shansi Memorial Association. It ends with a somewhat indirect request for money:

The most urgent need is the erection of an Academy building at Taiku for which $10,000 are necessary. We have the land and the site has already been chosen. Mr. K'ung [Hsiang-hsi*] now has a class of ten boys who are taking up Academy work in a small and uncomfortable building, and has been obliged to turn away many children of influential families because of the lack of suitable quarters and equipment. There is also need of a budget of $1,000 for general expenses and for the equipment and enlargement of some of the day schools. It is gratifying to have the salaries of our representatives assumed by individuals, so that all of the money contributed by the Oberlin constituency may be applied directly to the work. (15)

I wonder how typical this kind of "indirect" request for donations was at the time. At any rate, it will provide some more background for my study.

*K'ung Hsiang-hsi, or Kong Xiangxi, was a Taigu graduate who got an M.A. from Oberlin and returned to China to establish the Ming Xian school in Taigu. Later, he became married one of the Song sisters (Song Ailing) and became involved with the Nationalist government. He's pictured here (on the right).

[dissertating]