| Summary: |
Letters to Douglas Harman, Changchow Union Hospital, Fujian, from a leprosy patient, Li Pak Chwan, with the text of a story, 'Tien Ming', based on Chwan's case, 1946-1952; album of photographs of the new Changchow Union Hospital (built 1947-1949), showing hospital buildings, staff, patients and activities, includes typed notes by Douglas Harman, and sketch plans of the hospital site and hospital floors, c1950.
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| Admin history: |
Douglas Harman (1915-2003) trained as a doctor at the University of Edinburgh (1933-1938), where he joined the Edinburgh Medical Missionary Society, and decided to undertake medical missionary work with the London Missionary Society (LMS). After graduation, Harman completed a year of hospital work in England, and was then assigned by the LMS to Changchow Union Hospital in Changchow [Zhangzhou], Fujian, China. Harman and his wife Gladys (born Mary Gladys Gunstone; 1914-2003) sailed for China in 1939, arriving in Amoy in December 1939. After nine months of language study in Amoy, the Harmans moved to Changchow in autumn 1940, where Douglas Harman commenced work at the Changchow Union Hospital.
The LMS's medical mission in Changchow had been commenced in 1887 by Dr Ahmed Fahmy, whose hospital continued until Dr Fahmy's return to Britain and retirement in 1920. Medical work was resumed in 1928 when Dr Wilfrid Busby was posted by the LMS to Changchow. Dr Busby carried on in Dr Fahmy's hospital until his resignation from the LMS in 1939. By then it had been agreed that the Changchow hospital would be operated jointly by the London Misssionary Society, the English Presbyterian Mission and the Reformed Church in America Mission, with a medical staff drawn from the LMS and the Reformed Church in America Mission. Local oversight of the hospital was in the hands of a joint committee of the missionary societies known as the Three Missions Council. By the time Douglas Harman commenced work in 1940, Changchow Union Hospital had been relocated to the buildings of the Changchow Theological College in order to escape Japanese bombing. It remained at the College for the remainder of the Second World War. As Changchow was outside the zone of China occupied by the Japanese, the Harman family were able to continue in Changchow until 1944, when a Japanese offensive led to the evacuation of European staff to India. The Harmans arrived in Britain in January 1945.
Douglas and Gladys Harman returned to Changchow in August 1946. In 1947-1949 Douglas Harman was involved in the building of a new Changchow Union Hospital, made possible by funds donated by Susan Duryee Fahmy, the widow of Dr Ahmed Fahmy. Following the rise to power of the Communist Party, the LMS decided to withdraw its missionary staff from China, and the Harmans returned to Britain in 1950. In 1952 Douglas Harman was assigned by the LMS to the hospital at its mission station in Mbereshi, Northern Rhodesia [Zambia]. Gladys Harman remained in Britain with the Harman's children. Harman served at Mbershi until 1955, when he was seconded to the Mission to Lepers in Hong Kong. Harman moved to Hong Kong with his wife and part of his family, and continued to work at the leprosarium until 1960. The family then returned to London, where Douglas Harman worked at the Leprosy Study Centre until his retirement. |
Douglas Harman (1915-2003) trained as a doctor at the University of Edinburgh (1933-1938), where he joined the Edinburgh Medical Missionary Society, and decided to undertake medical missionary work with the London Missionary Society (LMS). After graduation, Harman completed a year of hospital work in England, and was then assigned by the LMS to Changchow Union Hospital in Changchow [Zhangzhou], Fujian, China. Harman and his wife Gladys (born Mary Gladys Gunstone; 1914-2003) sailed for China in 1939, arriving in Amoy in December 1939. After nine ... View more |
