| Administrative History | Eleanor ('Nellie') Jane Harrison (1872-1930) of Cookley, Kidderminster was an assistant in a library before studying at the Church Missionary Society training home 'Highbury' in 1894 and being accepted as a missionary in July 1895. She set sail for the Fukien Mission in China for the first time in January 1896. Having initially been stationed at Kosangche, she went to Tangtau on the island of Hai-tan to open a new mission station in 1902; from 1909 she was based at Kienning and from February 1916 at Chungan. After 30 years service she tendered her resignation due to family circumstances in December 1926 but returned to the Fukien Mission after rejoining CMS in 1929. She and fellow missionary, Edith Nettleton, were captured by bandits 26 June 1930; they were held to ransom before being shot and killed in October 1930. Sources: Annotated copy of the CMS 'Register of missionaries (clerical, lay & female) and native clergy from 1804 to 1904' (available on microfilm) and records of the General Secretary's Department (CMS/G/C 1/91-93; CMS/G/Y/CH4/3). |
| Custodial History | The photographs were amongst family papers inherited by the donor. The donor's Great Uncle, Tom Perkins, was a contemporary of Eleanor Harrison and his diaries record the friendship between the Perkins and Harrison families of Cookley, Worcestershire including, on 6 November 1892, the news that, 'Nellie told me that she is going out as missionary' [sic]. One of the photopostcards is addressed to C. M. Perkins and it is likely that the photographs were given to the Perkins family by Eleanor or a member of her family. Source: notes supplied by Diana Parnell (wife of the donor) with the photographs. |