Peter Parker, medical missionary and diplomat to China, was born in Framingham Massachusetts in 1804. His parents were both farmers and devout followers of the orthodox Congregational faith. After graduation from Yale College in 1831 Peter Parker continued in New Haven where he studied both theology and medicine. He was subsequently awarded the degree of M.D. in 1834. In January of the same year he was ordained to the Presbyterian ministry in Philadelphia a month before departing for Canton as the first protestant medical missionary to China. One year after his arrival, with assistance from American and British benefactors, he opened the Ophthalmic Hospital at Canton. Dr. Parker specialized in treating diseases of the eyes, especially cataracts, but also performed operations including the removal of tumors. He is probably best known for the introduction of anesthesia to China, in the form of sulphuric ether. With the onset of the Opium War (1840-1842), Dr. Parker returned to America where he was to stay until hostilities ceased. During this period he sought financial support for his hospital and married Harriet Colby Webster in 1841.
Upon his return to China in 1842 Dr. Parker resumed his medical practice at Canton and became involved in diplomatic relations between America and China. In 1844 he served under Caleb Cushing, U.S. Attorney General, and assisted in negotiating the first treaty between the two countries. As a result of a prolonged illness, Dr. Parker returned to the United States in 1855 only to return later that year as the American Commissioner and Minister to China until 1857. In 1857, Dr. Parker settled in Washington D.C. and became involved with organizations such as the American Evangelical Alliance and the Smithsonian Institution. He remained active in these groups and the medical community until his death in January 1888.
This series highlights Peter Parker's interpersonal communications while at Yale, in Canton and upon his return to the United States. It also contains correspondence by his contemporaries about the Ophthalmic Hospital in Canton and Dr. Parker's work. All letters, except for one typed 20th century copy, are original.
The Correspondence is arranged last name except when the subject of a letter or run of letters could be of particular interest to scholars. For example, letters written by Peter Parker to his family are kept in folders separate from general correspondence. Folders 1-8 contain special correspondence including Peter Parker's family letters. Folders 9-18 contains alphabetically arranged general correspondence.
This series reflects Peter Parkers career as a student, minister and medical missionary. Sermons demonstrating the depth of Peter Parker's faith comprise the bulk of this series. Dr. Parker preached many of these sermons in either Connecticut or Canton, China. Manuscripts of papers include those written during his studies at Yale and one memoir written during his voyage to China. This series also contains addresses including those given by Peter Parker upon his departure to China and at the semicenteninal of the Yale Theological Seminary. Quarterly reports, hand written by Peter Parker, serve as a testament to the success and struggles of the Ophthalmic Hospital in Canton.
The Writings are divided between two boxes. Box I contains sermons organized in chronological order and divided between eight folders. The majority of sermons in folders I-IV, those written between the years 1834 - 1852, address the link between spiritual and physical health. Folders VII - VIII contain sermons that are either incomplete or lacking a date. Material in Box II includes manuscripts, addresses and quarterly reports. All items in this series are arranged chronologically.
Series III: Ledgers and Journals
This series highlights Dr. Parker's personal growth and observations as a student at Yale, aboard ship to China, in Canton, and upon his return to the America. The journals kept continuously until his final return to the United States in 1857. In journals I - IV Dr. Parker focused on his education and the development of his personal faith while journal V highlights his appointment as medical missionary to China. The remaining journals and ledgers contain observations about medicine and missionary work, life in China and the founding of the Ophthalmic Hospital in Canton. Within his journals Dr. Parker discusses among other topics, his many patients and the significance of their cases. All journals and ledgers are organized in chronological order.
This series contains a variety of written or printed items collected by Peter Parker. Many of the documents demonstrate the close interpersonal relationships developed over his lifetime, organizations he belonged to and events he attended. Other items, such as prescriptions and Dr. Thompson's essay "Medical Missionary Society in China" are testaments to Dr. Parker's career as a physician. The folders holding these items are organized alphabetically.
This series highlights objects collected by Peter Parker and items collected by others that focus on his career. Objects owned by Peter Parker consist of the well-known portraits by Lam Qua, Greek Bibles and Urinary Calculi from patients. Items not owned by Peter Parker include individual photographs of Canton Hospital Staff and Yale Professor of Pathology, Dr. Moses G. White's photographs of the Lam Qua portraits including commentary. This series also includes slides and negatives.
Series I: Correspondence
Folder 1: Letter to P.P. from Mr. Ashing
Folder 2: Letters from John Bowring to P.P.
Folder 3: Letters from John Bowring to P.P.
Folder 4: Letters from P.P. to Family while in New Haven
Folder 5: Letters from P.P. to Family while in Canton
Folder 6: Letter to P.P. from friends
Folder 7: Correspondence with Jules Kalproth
Folder 8: Correspondence of the Prudential Committee of the
Folder 9: A-C
Folder 11: G-I
Folder 12: J-L
Folder 13 M-P
Folder 14 Q-T
Josiah Quincy [president, Harvard Coll.] to P.P., 1830
[letter outlining admissions requirements]
Rev. H. Reed to P.P., 1837
Samuel Riddle to P.P., 1847
Mrs. H. Parker to Dr. W.S.W. Ruschenberger, 1849
[Typed copy of original letter]
Dr. W. S. W. Ruschenberger to Mrs. P. Parker.
W. [sic]. Serman, General., to P.P.. 1873
Lewis Sewall to Dr. J. S., 1831
Mrs. L.H. Sigowmy to P.P., 1853
Prof Benjamin Silliman to P.P., 1884
E. Goodrich Smith to P.P., 1860
Geo. B. Stevens [?] to Mrs. Parker, 1845
J.C. Stewart to P.P., [n.d.]
Noun Ta-tauri ("Tartar" lady) to Mrs. Parker, 1849
[Original letter in Chinese with translation into English]
Folder 15 V-Z
P.P. to Daniel Webster, 1841 (diplomatic relations)
John Vaughn to P.P., 1841
Tsi Yeng to P.P., 1847
P.P to Tsi Yeng, 1848
Folder 16 Unidentifiable Letters to P.P., [by point of origin and date]
Hartford, Ct., 1841
Edinburgh, 1843
France, 1851
New York, N.Y., 1841
Macao, 7/24/1845
1/8/1846
Paris, 1/8/1846
10/24/1846
Washington, 2/15/1847
Hartford, Ct., 11/14/1846
Macao, 1/18/1856
Macao, 2/2/1856
Hong Kong, 11/24/1856
Hong Kong, 7/2/1857
Cincinnati, 5/30/1871
Folder 17 Unidentifiable Letters [by date or addressee]
December 1864
Saturday Morning
August, 20
Letter to Madam Miss. L--- from M. Choate
Letter in Chinese, untranslated
[blue paper, black characters]
Letter in Japanese Script
[containing English letter of introduction]
fragment of a letter from an unknown source
Note from F. Seward
Note by P.P.
[Written on envelope mentioning papers in the care of the late Lord Comer]
Folder 18 Translation
Copy translation in Chinese of the presidents letter
Series II: Sermons, Manuscripts, Addresses and Quarterly Reports
Box 1: Sermons
Folder 1 [Sermons]
Wrentham Mass, Nov. 2, 1826 [First Sermon]
New Haven, Ct. 1832
Jobe 11:7.8.9. [n.d.]
Folder 2 [Sermons 1833 - 1835]
Derby, Ct. Nov. 2, 1833
New Haven, Ct. Jan. 19, 1834
Plymouth, Ct. Feb. 2, 1834
New Haven, Ct. Feb. 9, 1834
North Haven, Ct. Feb. 16, 1834
Cheshire, Ct. Feb. 21, 1834
Yale College, Mar. 1, 1834
Litchfield, Ct. Mar. 8, 1834
Bristol, Ct. Mar. 15, 1834
New Haven, Ct. [Center Church] Mar. 30, 1834
Farmington, Ct. May 1834
English Chapel, Malacca, May 31, 1835
English Chapel, Singapore, July 12, 1835
Folder 3 Sermons [1836-1841]
Dec. 4, 1836 [English Chapel, Canton]
July 7, 1836
Jan. 21, 1837
June 10, 1838
Jan. 6, 1839
Feb. 9, 1840
Feb. 23, 1840
Jan 24, 1841
Folder 4 Sermons onboard Ship to China [1843]
July 17, 1834
August 20, 1834
September 3, 1834
September 11, 1834
October 3, 1834
October 10, 1834 [China Sea]
Folder 5: Sermons [1842 and 1844]
Oct. 15, 1842
Sept. 15, 1844
Folder 6 Sermons [1845-1849 Canton, 1851&1852]
Romans 1:28 [n.d.]
Dec. 29, 1844
Jan. 5, 1845
Dec. 26, 1847
Dec 30, 1849
Jan. 6, 1850
Dec. 25, 1851
Dec 25, 1862
Folders 7 & 8 Sermons
[No date - pages missing]
Box 2 Manuscripts, Addresses and Quarterly Reports
Folder 1 Mss of Papers
"A study of the sciences necessary for professional excellence"
"Practical utility of the sciences of chemistry and nat. philosophy to the professional man"
First paper "Memoir" [written during P.P.s first year at College]
Memoir by Parker? Voyage to China?
Envelope 1 Address
Address of P.P. at Semi-Centennial of Yale Theological Seminary.
Envelope 2 Address
Farewell Address before leaving for China - 1834
Envelopes 3&4 Address
Remarks of the Rev. Dr. B. Sunderland at the obsequies of Dr. Peter Parker, Friday, January 13,1888. [two copies]
Folder 2 Miscellaneous
Mostly mss about Chinese medicine
2 Parker Manuscripts [Both dated 1860]
Parker [?] Manuscript
Folder 3 Quarterly Reports - Ophthalmic Hospital at Canton
First - Nov. 4, 1835 - Feb. 4, 1836
Second - Feb 4, 1836 - May 4, 1836
Third - May 4, 1836 - August 4, 1836
Fourth - Aug. 4, 1836 - Nov. 4, 1836
Fifth - Nov. 4, 1836 - Feb. 4, 1837
Sixth - Feb. 4, 1837 - May 4, 1837
Seventh - For term ending Dec. 31, 1837
Eighth - Jan, 1 - June 30, 1838
***Reports of the Medical Missionary Society in China and the Canton Hospital Reports are available on ORBIS.
Series III: Ledgers and Journals
Box 1
Ledger 1845-1855
Ledger 1861-1885
List of patients treated at Canton Hospital [Names in Chinese, diagnoses in English
Box 2
Journals, 1-7
Box 3
Journals, 8-10 [Microfilm of Journals available]
Series IV: Miscellaneous
Folder 1 The Cutlers Feast
Item 1 - Invitation
Item 2 - Menu
Item 3 - Order of Seating
Item 4 - Place Card
Folder 2 Congressional Temperance Society
Item 1 - copy of petition
Item 2 - Ye Old Granite State
Folder 3 Document from the French Ambassador to Brazil to Mr. Rothschild
Folder 4 Rev. Dr. B. Sunderland's at the obsequies of Dr. Peter Parker in 1888.
Folder 5 Hymn sung at the close of a sermon by P.P. at the funeral of Mary Sword.
Folder 6 Instructions of the Prudential Committee of the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions.
Folder 7 List of Paintings etc. at an undisclosed location
Folder 8 New Year Announcement
Folder 9 Notes
Item 1 - Notes on Governors of Macao
Item 2 - Notes on Sacraments
Item 3 - Notes on Sanctifications
Item 4 - Notes on Death
Folder 10 Poems
Item 1 - To Mrs. Parker; On her Birth Day
Item 2 - A Mothers Farewell
Item 3 - To the Medical Missionary in China
Item 4 - John Bowring [To the Camel]
Item 5 - John Bowring [Poem dated 1829]
Folder 11 Prescriptions
Item 1 - Prescription from Blake, Sanford & Blake
Item 2 - Prescription from P.P. to Miss. C. Smith
Folder 12 Sketch Book [containing drawings and Chinese script]
Folder 13 J.C. Stewart "Testimony to Christianity
Folder 14 Dr. Thompson "Medical Missionary Society in China"
Folder 15 Washington DC and Smithsonian Institution
Series V: Objects
Bound Volumes
Novum Testamentum, Græce. [Bible owned by Peter Parker]
Vetus Testamentum, Tom II, Græce. [Bible owned by Peter Parker]
Canton Hospital Reports, 1-11 [1835-1840]
Photo Albums and Individual Photographs [Box 1]
Photo Album of Lam Qua Paintings, 19th century**
Photo Album of Canton Hospital Staff**
** [Includes individual and group portraits]
Individual Items
Portrait of the Medical Missionary Society Meeting in front of the Canton Hospital [no date].
"The Old Guard" at Canton Hospital. [1927]
China [sic] July [1924].
Nurses and Doctors, Canton Hospital. [1947]
Calculi removed from Patients. [Box 2]
83 Numbered portraits by Lam Qua of Peter Parker's Patients.**
** [Slides of Portraits and descriptive finding aid available]
Tal/03