Beatrice Farnsworth Powers papers
Collection
Identifier: SSC-MS-00125
Scope and Contents
The Beatrice Farnsworth Powers Papers include correspondence, photographs, memorabilia, and writings documenting her nursing work in the Grenfell Mission in Labrador (1912); life in Changsha, China (1913-1915) where she was nursing superintendent at the Yale-in-China Hospital; and travels in Europe (1907). Of special interest are Powers' views on the status of Chinese women, the impact of missionaries on China, and reflections on Chinese society. Photographs capture daily scenes in Saint Anthony (Newfoundland), Battle Harbor (Labrador), and Changsha (China). There are also biographical articles and writings about Beatrice and Grover Powers, and their niece Olive Floyd.
Dates of Materials
- 1887-1969
Creator
- Powers, Beatrice Farnsworth (Person)
Language of Materials
English
Conditions Governing Access
The papers are open to research according to the regulations of the Sophia Smith Collection without any additional restrictions.
Conditions Governing Access
Until we move into New Neilson in early 2021, collections are stored in multiple locations and may take up to 48 hours to retrieve. Researchers are strongly encouraged to contact Special Collections (specialcollections@smith.edu) at least a week in advance of any planned visits so that boxes may be retrieved for them in a timely manner.
Conditions Governing Use
Copyright ownership to unpublished materials is unknown. It is the responsibility of the researcher to identify and satisfy the holders of all copyrights. Permission must also be obtained from the Sophia Smith Collection as owners of the physical property to publish reproductions or quotations beyond "fair use."
Biographical / Historical
Beatrice Farnsworth Powers was born May 22,1880 in Lincoln, Mass., daughter of Charles Perkins and Mary Jane (Murray) Farnsworth. She was graduated from the Lincoln School and attended Abbott Academy and Chauncy Hall. She taught for several years in the South School in Lincoln and served as superintendent of the Sunday school at St. Anne's Church (1904-09). After graduating from Johns Hopkins School of Nursing in 1912, she volunteered at the Dr. Wilfred Grenfell's Mission in Labrador. In 1913 Powers traveled to Changsha, China, where she spent two and a half years on the staff of the Yale-in-China Hospital as principal of the nursing school and superintendent of nurses. She returned to the U.S. in 1915 and in 1916 married Dr. Grover Francis Powers (1887-1968). The Powers lived in Baltimore and then New Haven where Grover F. Powers was Professor of Pediatrics at Yale University School of Medicine. They had one son, Ross Farnsworth Powers. In 1957 Beatrice Powers and her niece, Olive Floyd, published Early American Decorated Tinware which became "a classic on the subject." Beatrice Powers died September 4, 1967.
Extent
2 boxes (.75 linear feet)
Overview
Nurse; Medical missionary; Teacher. Correspondence, photographs, memorabilia, and writings documenting nursing work in the Grenfell Mission, Labrador (1912), and in Changsha, China (1913-1915) as nursing superintendent at Yale-in-China Hospital.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
The Beatrice Farnsworth Powers were donated to the Sophia Smith Collection from 1971 to 1992 by her niece Olive Floyd.
Processing Information
Processed by Jennifer Smar, SSC intern, 2006.
- China -- Description and travel
- China -- Description and travel
- China -- Social life and customs -- 1912-1949
- Floyd, Olive
- Grenfell, Wilfred Thomason, Sir, 1865-1940
- Labrador (Nfld.) -- Description and travel
- Missionaries
- Missionaries, Medical -- China
- Missionaries, Medical -- Newfoundland -- Labrador
- Notes
- Nurses
- Nursing -- China -- 20th century
- Photographs.
- Powers, Beatrice Farnsworth
- Women -- China
- Women in medicine
- Women missionaries
- Women physicians
- Yale-in-China Association
- Yale-in-China Mission
- correspondence
- photograph albums
Creator
- Powers, Beatrice Farnsworth (Person)
- Title
- Beatrice Farnsworth Powers papers
- Subtitle
- Finding Aid
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Jennifer Smar, SSC intern
- Date
- 2006
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Revision Statements
- 07/26/2017: This resource was modified by the ArchivesSpace Preprocessor developed by the Harvard Library (https://github.com/harvard-library/archivesspace-preprocessor)
- 2017-07-26T17:48:17-04:00: This record was migrated from InMagic DB Textworks to ArchivesSpace.
Repository Details
Part of the Sophia Smith Collection of Women's History Repository
