Correspondence and papers, 1888-1970, of and relating to Samuel Pollard, used by R Elliott Kendall for his work on Pollard, and comprising 12 letters from Pollard, 1888-1915, during his time in China, 11 of them to H W Horwill; four letters concerning Pollard, 1915-1916, 1970; three articles by Pollard on China, c1911-c1913; notes by H W Horwill on Pollard, undated; 50 press cuttings, 1908-1915, including some by Pollard in religious publications; 21 press cuttings, 1915-1921, mainly obituaries and reviews of Pollard's publications.
Correspondence of Samuel Pollard
This material is held atSchool of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) Archives, University of London
- Reference
- GB 102 MS 380690
- Dates of Creation
- 1888-1970
- Name of Creator
- Language of Material
- English
- Physical Description
- 1 box
Scope and Content
Administrative / Biographical History
Born in Camelford, Cornwall, 1864; his father, Samuel Pollard, and his mother were preachers with the Bible Christian Church (from 1907 part of the United Methodist Church); converted, c1875; initially prepared for a career in the civil service, but a London conference influenced him to become a missionary, 1885; appointed Bible Christian missionary, 1886; sailed for China, 1887; attended Ganking Language School, 1887; posted to Yunnan province, 1888; went to Chaotung (Zhaotong), where a new station was opened, 1891; married Emmie (née Hainge), 1891; assigned to the provincial capital (now Kunming); engaged in evangelistic work; worked with the Flowery Miao (A-Hmao, a minority tribe), among whom started in Anshun, Kweichow (Guizhou) province, a religious movement which spread to Chaotung, from c1905; Pollard became its most prominent missionary leader; established a centre for thousands of new believers at Shihmenkan; travelled extensively, planting churches, training leaders, and soliciting justice for Miao Christians from officials and landlords; developed a new script which he used to translate the New Testament into the Miao language; died from typhoid fever while in service as a missionary, 1915.
Further reading:
Grist, W.A., Samuel Pollard: Pioneer Missionary in China (1971);
Hayes, E.H., Sam Pollard of Yunnan (1947);
Kendall, E., Eyes of the Earth: the Diary of Samuel Pollard (1954);
Kendall, E., Beyond the Clouds: the Story of Samuel Pollard of South-west China (1948);
Pollard, S., In Unknown China : a Record of the Observations, Adventures and Experiences of a Pioneer Missionary during a Prolonged Sojourn amongst the Wild and Unknown Nosu Tribe of Western China (1921);
Pollard, S., Tight corners in China (c1910);
Pollard, W., The Life of Sam Pollard of China; an Account of the Intrepid Life of Adventure, Danger, Toil & Travel of a Missionary in the Far & Little Known Interior of the Vast Chinese Empire (1928).
Arrangement
The material has been arranged in chronological order.
Access Information
Open
Acquisition Information
Donated in 1998.
Other Finding Aids
Unpublished handlist.
Conditions Governing Use
For permission to publish, please contact Archives & Special Collections, SOAS Library in the first instance