![[logo]](https://ead.lib.virginia.edu/vivaead/logos/wm.jpg)
Special Collections Research Center
William & Mary Special Collections Research CenterSCRC Staff.
Before reproducing or quoting from any materials, in whole or in part, permission must be obtained from the Special Collections Research Center, and the holder of the copyright, if not Swem Library.
Collection is open to all researchers. Manuscript collections and archival records may contain materials with sensitive or confidential information that is protected under federal or state right to privacy laws and regulations, such as the Virginia Public Records Act (Code of Virginia. § 42.1-76-91); and the Virginia Freedom of Information Act (Code of Virginia § 2.2-3705.5). Confidential material may include, but is not limited to, educational, medical, and personnel records. If sensitive material is found in this collection, please contact a staff member immediately. The disclosure of personally identifiable information pertaining to a living individual may have legal consequences for which the College of William and Mary assumes no responsibility.
Robert Nelson Papers, Special Collections Research Center, Swem Library, College of William and Mary.
Gift and purchase.
Robert Nelson was a Protestant Episcopal minister from Virginia, who spent many years as a Protestant Episcopal Church Foreign Missionary in Shanghai, China.
Correspondence, sermons, essays and accounts of Robert Nelson, Protestant Episcopal missionary to Shanghai, China. The collection Includes two account books, a lettercopy book, and articles written by Nelson as well as two manuscript Chinese-English dictionaries compiled by Nelson. Some items, such as a "Count of Missionaries and Staff in China, 1807-1874" illuminate the history of missionaries in China. There is one letter written to Nelson in which the writer has used Wade-Giles transliteration.
Correspondence and Sermons are grouped together, but otherwise, no particular arrangement.
Mss. 39.2 N33 James Poyntz Nelson Papers, 1866-1926; Mss. MsV Ad121-125 James Poyntz Nelson Manuscript Volumes; and Mss. MsV Co4 Olive Nelson Commonplace Book, all at Special Collections Research Center, Swem Library, William and Mary.
The Nelson Family papers (1560 items) are at the Virginia Historical Society, Richmond, Va.: Mss1 N3386 a.
William H. Kinckle[?], at Staunton, [Virginia] to [Robert] Nelson, September 3, 1846.
William Henry Brooks, at Plymouth, Mass. Printed form letter to the clergy of the Protestant Episcopal Church.
James Johnston, at Shanghai, to [Robert] Nelson.
J. K. Wight, at New Hamburgh, N.Y., to Robert Nelson.
Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America, at New York, to Robert Nelson.
George F. Seward, at Hong Kong, to O. B. Bradford, U.S. Vice Consul General, at Shanghai. [Copy].
E. H. Thomson, at West Gate, Shanghai, to [Robert] Nelson.
Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America, at New York, to Robert Nelson, at Shanghai, China.
Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America, at New York, to Robert Nelson, and E. H. Thomson, at [Shanghai, China].
J. K. Wight, at New Hamburgh, N.Y., to R[obert] Nelson.
Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America, at New York, to the Standing Committee of the Missionary Jurisdiction of Shanghai.
Municipal Council, by R. N. Morburn, Secretary, at Shanghai, to [Robert] Nelson, at Hong Kew.
Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America, at New York, to Robert Nelson, at Shanghai, China.
Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America, at New York, to Robert Nelson, at San Francisco, Cal.
King [?], at St. John's [College, Shanghai, to Robert Nelson, at Staunton, Virgnia?].
Lih Cung Sia, at Long ho, [China] to [?] Sang. Note: The Chinese month, Tsoong kok, comes in April or May.
H. N. Woo, at Shanghai, to [Robert] Nelson.
R. [Robert?] Nelson, at Rahway, J. J., to his wife.
Hoong N. Woo, at Kong Wan, [China] to [Robert] Nelson, at [New York City].
H.N. Woo, at Kong-Wan, [China] to [Robert] Nelson.
E.W. Syle, at Philadelphia, to [Robert] Nelson.
H.N. Woo, at Hong Kew, [China] to Dr. and Mrs. [Robert] Nelson.
H.N. Woo, at Hong Kew, [China] to Dr. [Robert] Nelson.
Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America, at New York, to Robert Nelson, at Rahway, N.J.
Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America, at New York, to Robert Nelson, at Brooklyn, N.Y. [Original letter and a copy.]
A. A. Hayes to Mrs. R[obert] Nelson, at Brooklyn, NY.
Robert Nelson, at Brooklyn, [N.Y.] to A. A. Hayes. Enclosures: "The Ritualistic Character of the China Mission," an article by Robert Nelson, August, 1882. A Copy of a letter from Robert Nelson, at Brooklyn, to Joshua Kimber, Secretary of the Foreign Committee of the Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America, [at New York]. 13 Dec 1882.
Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America, at New York. A printed circular letter.
S. T. Abernathy, Corresponding Secretary of the Women's Christian Temperance Union, to Dr. [Robert] Nelson.
James Stoddard, at Watertown, Connecticut, to Dr. [Robert] Nelson.
John Mac Leod, at Louisville, to Prof. James P. Nelson, at Frankfort, Ky.
The General Fireproofing Co., at Youngstown, Ohio, to James P. Nelson, at Lexington, Ky. Enclosures: 3 blueprints.
S. L. Clark, at Hartford, to Rev. [?].
Elliott H. Thomson to Manager of Oriental Bank Co. undated.
Handwritten sermons written by Robert Nelson and used throughout his ministry career. Most are handbound with thread.On each sermon, he has noted the locations and dates when it was delivered. Locations include Lexington, Virginia; Buchanan, Virginia; Staunton, Virginia; St. Johns in Richmond, Virginia; Alexandria, Virginia; Shepherdstown, West Virginia; Green Mountain; Fork Church; Canton; Woodbury; Shanghai; and other locations in Asia and the United States.
Handwritten sermons written by Robert Nelson and used throughout his ministry career. Most are handbound with thread.On each sermon, he has noted the locations and dates when it was delivered. Locations include Lexington, Virginia; Buchanan, Virginia; Staunton, Virginia; St. Johns in Richmond, Virginia; Alexandria, Virginia; Shepherdstown, West Virginia; Green Mountain; Fork Church; Canton; Woodbury; Shanghai; and other locations in Asia and the United States.
Handwritten sermons written by Robert Nelson and used throughout his ministry career. Most are handbound with thread.On each sermon, he has noted the locations and dates when it was delivered. Locations include Lexington, Virginia; Buchanan, Virginia; Staunton, Virginia; St. Johns in Richmond, Virginia; Alexandria, Virginia; Shepherdstown, West Virginia; Green Mountain; Fork Church; Canton; Woodbury; Shanghai; and other locations in Asia and the United States.
Handwritten sermons written by Robert Nelson and used throughout his ministry career. Most are handbound with thread.On each sermon, he has noted the locations and dates when it was delivered. Locations include Lexington, Virginia; Buchanan, Virginia; Staunton, Virginia; St. Johns in Richmond, Virginia; Alexandria, Virginia; Shepherdstown, West Virginia; Green Mountain; Fork Church; Canton; Woodbury; Shanghai; and other locations in Asia and the United States.
Handwritten sermons written by Robert Nelson and used throughout his ministry career. Most are handbound with thread.On each sermon, he has noted the locations and dates when it was delivered. Locations include Lexington, Virginia; Buchanan, Virginia; Staunton, Virginia; St. Johns in Richmond, Virginia; Alexandria, Virginia; Shepherdstown, West Virginia; Green Mountain; Fork Church; Canton; Woodbury; Shanghai; and other locations in Asia and the United States.
Handwritten sermons written by Robert Nelson and used throughout his ministry career. Most are handbound with thread.On each sermon, he has noted the locations and dates when it was delivered. Locations include Lexington, Virginia; Buchanan, Virginia; Staunton, Virginia; St. Johns in Richmond, Virginia; Alexandria, Virginia; Shepherdstown, West Virginia; Green Mountain; Fork Church; Canton; Woodbury; Shanghai; and other locations in Asia and the United States.
Handwritten sermons written by Robert Nelson and used throughout his ministry career. The locations and dates delivered are not noted on most of these sermons, and most are loose sheets rather than handbound or written in notebooks.
Handwritten sermons written by Robert Nelson and used throughout his ministry career. The locations and dates delivered are not noted on most of these sermons, and most are loose sheets rather than handbound or written in notebooks.
Handwritten sermons written by Robert Nelson and used throughout his ministry career. The locations and dates delivered are not noted on most of these sermons, and most are loose sheets rather than handbound or written in notebooks.
Handwritten sermons written by Robert Nelson and used throughout his ministry career. The locations and dates delivered are not noted on most of these sermons, and most are loose sheets rather than handbound or written in notebooks. Some of these sermons may be drafts and incomplete manuscripts. 29 pieces.
Scope and Contents Handritten sermon by Robert Nelson entitled "A Sermon Preached on the occasion of the death of Mrs. Juliet E. Fish, in the Chapel of the Am. Ep. Mission, Shanghai China" dated November 1, 1857 with the additional note that it was printed by request. Printed sermon entitled "Memorial Sermon of the Rev. John Tevis Points, Rector of St. John's, Richmond, Virginia who died June 10th, 1860" by Rev. Robert Nelson and printed by the Vestry. Printed sermon by Robert Nelson "preached in the Church of Our Saviour, Shanghai on the Occasion of the Death of Mrs. Miers Corryell" dated June 16, 1872. Printed sermon "The Communion of Saints; in Memory of Four Beloved Children, Gone, as We Believe, to Paradise" by Rev. John Thos. Wheat, D.D., printed in Greensboro, North Carolina, 1875. Printed sermon "preached in the Church of OUr Saviour, Shanghai, October 15, 1871 and February 18 and 25, 1877" by Rev. R. Nelson, D.D., published by Presbyterian Mission Press.
Loose handwritten sermon notes and drafts of Rev. Robert Nelson. 382 pieces total.
Loose handwritten sermon notes and drafts of Rev. Robert Nelson.
Loose handwritten sermon notes and drafts of Rev. Robert Nelson.
Loose handwritten sermon notes and drafts of Rev. Robert Nelson.
Scope and Contents Leather covered book boards, lined with velvet, with fabric straps in interior for keeping tickets and other ephemera. One side included a pressed flower inside a folded piece of paper with handwritten labeling, "With Care / Flower from Stevenson's funeral and grave," possibly Robert Louis Stevenson. Other side contains a piece of paper with typed text "CONSULATE GENERAL OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, APIA SAMOA, _____________ 188." Leather covered board sleeve is embossed with text "CHIT BOOK / REV. R. NELSON / RECTORY / HONG QUE" with two Chinese characters. 6.625 in. (height) x 4.875 inches (width) x 0.5 (depth).
Handwritten transcriptions of the positive comments that Rev. Robert Nelson received about his review of D. [James] Legge's essay on "Confucianism in relation to Christianity." Comments were received from Rev. T.P. Crawford, at Tung Chow [China], Rev. E.H. Thomson, at Tung Chow [China], Rev. Charles R. Mills, at Tung Chow [China], Rev. C.W. Mateer, at Tung Chow [China], Rev. C.W. Mateer, at Tung Chow [China], Rev. E.W. Style, at Yed-o, Japan, Rev. Dr. Edkins, at Peking [China], Rev. Dr. Blodget, at Peking, Rev. Dr. Happer, at Canton, Rev. James Legge, at Oxford, Rev. R.H. Graves, at Canton, Rev. S.L. Baldwin, Foo-Chow, and Rev. D.Z. Sheffield, at Tung Cho. Includes clipping from The Christian Observer about Mr. Nelson's comments on "Confuscianism in Relation to Christianity," 1872.
Essay and notes on Disraeli, undated. Notes on Darwinism written on four small pieces of paper, undated.
Loose ledger accounts from various businesses and expense accounts for Robert Nelson while in Shanghai and St. Paul's Parish. 11 pieces.
Scope and Contents Account ledger of Rev. Robert Nelson while a missionary in China. Includes an index with the following entries: Rt. Rev. W.J. Boone, Rev. Wong Kwong Chai, Miss Lydia Mary Fay, Miss Catharine E. Jones, Miss Emma G. Jones, Rev. Cleveland Keith, Rev. E.W. Pyle, Miss Caroline P. Tenney, Nang Doo-Dong, John T. Points, Ton Chu Kiung, Moneys Received, Miscellaneous, Bill Account, Missionary Society, Girls' Schools, General Repairs, Credits, and Quarterly Balance. 108 pages. 71/4" x 61/2".
Scope and Contents Account book of Rev. Robert Nelson while a missionary in Shanghai, China. Personal and missionary related accounts. No index. 138 pages. 6 1/2" x 4". Purchased in 1938.
A table showing the number of missionaries in China, grouped by English, American, and German with religious denominations under each group. Tallies are in columns for clerical, medical, female, whether married or single beside each denomination. Dates are from 1807 to 1874.
Itinerary and daily entries of Rev. Robert Nelson while visiting Japan, written on one sheet of paper. September 6 to November 18, 1872.
List of Chinese confirmed by Bishop Schereschewsky in the Church of Our Savior at Hong Kew [China], divided by male and female. The heading is written in English but the names are written in Chinese. January 12, 1879 and September 14, 1879.
Scope and Contents Building permit issued to Rev. Robert Nelson by David H. Bailey, U.S. Consul General at Shanghai, and Lui[?], His Majesty's Intendant of Circuit for the Department of Soo, Sung, and Tae. The document grants Rev. R. Nelson "the owner of certain land registered in the United States Consulate Geneal as No. 52" to build "any houses or tenements of whatsoever...for the occupation of Chines and for letting or permitting the same to be leased or let to Chinese." Written in English and Chinese with signatures and an embossed seal. Dated December 22, 1879.
Typed extract of a resolution in the minutes of the Foreign Committee of the Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America approving the resignation of Rev. Robert Nelson as a Foreign Missionary. Miss Mary C. Nelson resigned at the same time. February 8, [1881].
3 copies of the Directory of the Members of the Conference held May 10 - 22, 1877. Booklet of hymns sung at the Missionary Conference printed by the Presbyterian Mission Press in Shanghai. 3 copies of the Programme of the Missionary Conference.
Scope and Contents Booklet entitled "A Plain Review of the Rev. Dr. Littledale's Tract on Real Presence" [By Benjamin J. Douglass?] New York. 1881.
Scope and Contents Complete copy of the "Southern Churchman", Richmond, Virginia, March 5, 1885.
Booklet entitled "Buy Your Own Cherries," a Ballard printed by the American Sunday-School Union in Philadelphia, undated.
2 postcards for the Bismarck Cafe in Cincinnati, Ohio, one with the picture of Bessie Barriscale and the other with the picture of Rita Jolivet. Undated.
Scope and Contents Brochure type card entitled "Christmas Card, a gift to the Members of the Foreign Missionary Box Association of the Protestant Episcopal Church" with messages from many missionaries about the death of Richard B. Duane, D.D., the late Secretary and General Agent, 1876.
Pamphlet of the Trinity Church, Woman's Association of Christ Church in Rye, New Jersey, Auxiliary to the Board of Missions. Includes their articles of organization, constitution and list of officers, circa 1873.
Program for the Second Concert given by the Shanghai Temperance Society, March 23, 1878, with handwritten notes on "Principle?" on reverse.
Scope and Contents One page from the "Dictionnaire Geographique" with words beginning with "A," "B," and "Y." Undated.
Handwritten recipes and a description of meal courses entitled "Lady Clark." 2 items.
Scope and Contents Letterpress copybook of Rev. Robert Nelson while he was a missionary to China. Copybook includes letters, reports, accounts, writings relating to the China Mission, and religious subjects. The last page includes a "letterpress copy" of a note from XYZ wanting an example of his copying experiment. Page numbers begin on page 104 and ends with 502. 11" x 9 1/4". Fragile binding with tissue paper inside.
Scope and Contents Handwritten dictionary with chinese characters, English translation, and phonetic pronunciation. It is in alphabetical order by the English spelling of the words. Some pages have handwritten vocabulary notes. Other topics such as "List of Malay Books in the possession of A. North Esq and Rev. J.S. Havelli at Singapore" appear on otherpages. The book is a blank page book entitled "A Theological Common-place Book, with a Copious Index" published by Hilliard and Brown, Cambridge, 1832. The index is a list of religious vocabulary. The book has the signature of William J. Boone, Theological Seminary, Virginia, September 11, 1834. Per a loose note in the book, it was probably written and used by Rev. Robert Nelson. 227 pages. Binding fragile and appears to be hand bound.
Handwritten dictionary of English words with corresponding Chinese characters and translation into Chinese, often including more than one way to express a word. In alphabetical order by the English words. Per a loose note in the book, it was probably written and used by Rev. Robert Nelson. Loose binding. 437 pages.