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Mary Reynolds papers, 1830-1833

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Summary

Creator:
Reynolds, Mary
Abstract:
The Mary Reynolds papers are comprised of six letters written home by a missionary and teacher in Turkey. The Reynolds letters offer an insight into one woman's view of the missionary endeavor and local occurences.
Extent:
6 items
Language:
English
Sponsor:
Blandina Diedrich Collection
Authors:
Collection processed and finding aid created by Rob S. Cox, 1995, and Sara Quashnie, February 2021

Background

Scope and Content:

The collection consists of six letters, five addressed to Reynolds's sister and brother-in-law, Lucy (Reynolds) Root (1789-1871) and John Root (1789-1855) of Greenwich, Massachusetts, and one to her sister Martha Reynolds (1795-1832).

Major events discussed in Reynolds's letters include outbreaks of plague and cholera in Smyrna and other Ottoman cities, an 1831 fire that destroyed most of the Pera district of Constantinople, and a visit by missionary Joseph Wolff (1795-1862). One letter also discusses the appearance of a volcanic island off the coast of Sicily (likely Graham Island which subsequently sank back into the ocean) as told by two English travelers.

The letters' primary focus is Reynolds's missionary efforts and her devotion to God. She often expresses joy in the prospect of heaven and her daily prayer, hymns, and school teaching. Reynolds's religious views permeate every aspect of her life and she often considers events as divinely ordained- the Pera fire she attributes to the sins of its inhabitants such as British ambassador Robert Gordon's infidelity. Her piety does target Protestants she deems not faithful enough as well as members of other religions including Greeks, Catholics, Armenians, and Jews. She also discusses the ongoing war with Egypt (First Egyptian-Ottoman War) and related impressment and taxation by the Turkish government.

Biographical / Historical:

Mary Reynolds was born on April 13, 1802, in Longmeadow, Massachusetts, to Samuel Reynolds (1762-1845) and Lucy (Pitkin) Reynolds (1764-1849). In 1830, Reynolds sailed for the Ottoman Empire to serve as a missionary and schoolteacher under the New Haven Ladies' Greek Association. Upon arrival in Smyrna (now Izmir, Turkey), she resided with Rev. Josiah Brewer (1796-1872) and his family. She married fellow missionary Revered William Gottlieb Schauffler (1798-1883) on February 26, 1834, in Constantinople. They had six children: Wilhelm Samuel (1835-1836), Jakob Ferdinand, identified as James in his father's biography, (1836-1836), Henry Albert (1837-1905), Edward William (1839-1916), Alfred Theodore (1843-1915), and Adolph Frederick (1845-1919). The family remained in Constantinople until 1874. She died on January 9, 1895, in New Rochelle, New York, and is buried in Woodlawn Cemetery in Bronx, New York.

Acquisition Information:
Donated by D. N. Diedrich. M-3091.1 .
Rules or Conventions:
Finding aid prepared using Describing Archives: A Content Standard (DACS)

Contents

Using These Materials

Info for Visitors

How to Request

Ordering Reproductions

Download PDF Finding Aid
RESTRICTIONS:

The collection is open to research.

USE & PERMISSIONS:

Copyright status is unknown.

PREFERRED CITATION:

Mary Reynolds Papers, Blandina Diedrich Collection, William L. Clements Library, The University of Michigan

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Collection

Mary Reynolds papers, 1830-1833
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Total components 1
Last indexed 2023-08-09