| Order number: |
MMS/Special Series/Biographical/China/Box 1407
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| Summary: |
21 letters written by Winifred [Hardy] to Emily [Naish], who was a fellow student at Westfield College, University of London, in the 1930s. Most of the letters were written from the David Hill Girls' School, Hanyang [Wuhan], Hupeh [Hubei], China between 1946 and 1951.
The letters touch on a wide range of personal and contemporary matters including her journey to China (including a week in Hong Kong), her initial impressions of Hanyang [Wuhan] and the school, comments on missionary colleagues, discussions of mutual friends and their respective families, learning Chinese, her and her colleagues' work at the school (including specific examples of speech therapy and music), evangelism, Christian festivals (particularly Christmas), Chinese festivals (particularly New Year), holidays in Kuling [Guling], missionary meetings (particularly synods) and the economic situation.
From November 1947 there is increasing mention of the civil war and then the communist victory. Hardy mentions fighting in nearby areas, impact on missionary work, martial law and difficulties of working under communist government (particularly restrictions on religious instruction and teaching English).
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| Main author: |
Hardy; Winifred Elsie (1913-2001); educational missionary |
| Extent: |
1 folder
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| Admin history: |
Winifred Elsie Hardy, known as 'Clippie' to family and friends, was born in Gainsborough, Lincolnshire, on 15 August 1913. Her family moved to Bedfordshire when she was a child and she was educated at the local high school and became a member of the Methodist Church. She studied French with English at Westfield College, University of London and after graduating she undertook a teaching diploma at Clapham, south London. She taught French at Purley County School for Girls in Surrey (1937-1941) and then at Luton High School in Hertfordshire (1941-1945).
In 1945 she was accepted as a candidate for the Women's Work section of the Methodist Missionary Society and began a year training at Kingsmead. Upon finishing she was selected for the Hupeh District in China and arrived there in October 1946 to work in the David Hill Girls' School at Hanyang [Wuhan] which had only recently returned from its war time location in Szechwan [Sichuan]. For her first few months she focused on learning Chinese and continued with her studies for the next two years. As her language skills progressed she was given greater teaching responsibilities and increased her participation in bible classes. During 1949 the communists took control of the area and religious teaching on school premises was soon prohibited. By 1950 the teaching of English was also being curtailed and outreach work in villages was no longer possible. Hardy was taken ill in December 1950 and transferred to Hankow [Hankou] but upon recovering she was unable to teach in Hanyang [Wuhan] again. In May 1951 she received permission to leave China and return to England.
On her return to England she took up a post teaching French at St Michael's School in Hurst Green, Sussex. She also involved herself in the work of the local circuit (Oxted and East Grinstead) including with the foundation and administration of a new Methodist church at Hurst Green. In retirement she learnt braille to translate texts for the blind. Hardy died on 5 July 2001. |
Winifred Elsie Hardy, known as 'Clippie' to family and friends, was born in Gainsborough, Lincolnshire, on 15 August 1913. Her family moved to Bedfordshire when she was a child and she was educated at the local high school and became a member of the Methodist Church. She studied French with English at Westfield College, University of London and after graduating she undertook a teaching diploma at Clapham, south London. She taught French at Purley County School for Girls in Surrey (1937-1941) and then at Luton High School in Hertfordsh ... View more |
| Custodial history: |
Given by the family of Emily Naish to Mrs Jean Yeomans |
| Acquisition: |
Gift, accepted on behalf of the Methodist Church, from Mrs Jean Yeomans of Ilkley, Yorks, August 2009
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| Access status: |
Open
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| Copyright: |
Copyright vested with Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes |
| User restrictions: |
For permission to publish, please contact Archives & Special Collections, SOAS Library in the first instance |
| Language: |
English
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| Scripts: |
Latin
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| Related material: |
Any extant correspondence by Winifred Hardy will be in the Women's Work Hupeh District correspondence (MMS/Women’s Work/Correspondence/China/FBN 4 & 5) or general China correspondence (MMS box 1308).
A brief overview by Hardy of her work is also available (MMS/Special Series/Celebrate Together/Box 1207). |
| Format: |
Archive
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