Leila Judson Tuttle Papers and Chinese Artifacts

Collection

Identifier: MSS 0222

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

The Lelia Judson Tuttle Papers and Chinese Artifacts date from 1834 to 2005, with the bulk of materials dating from the late 1800s to the 1960s, and contain clippings, correspondence, photographs, writings, artifacts and books that mainly document Tuttle's time in China and her interest in Chinese culture and art, as well as the history of the Tuttle family.

The biographical materials include clippings related to Tuttle's life, work and family; personal narratives written by Tuttle and others' writings about her; family documents; and materials relating to the Tuttle Educational State Forest. Correspondence is also included, mainly between Tuttle and her family, documenting her experiences and her passion for her work while also expressing her sadness at being separated from them. Tuttle also collected some correspondence from other missionaries. Finally, photographs feature Tuttle in China; the Tuttle family homeplace, Glen Serene Farm, in Lenoir, North Carolina; and some family events and gravestones.

Artifacts include 148 art items ranging from porcelain bowls to cloth dolls to brass incense burners to silver and coral chopsticks. The books are mainly illustrated, hardcover reference books on Chinese and Japanese history, culture and art.

Dates

1834 - 2005
Majority of material found within late 1800s - 1960s

Creator

Leila Judson Tuttle (1878-1967) (Person)

Conditions Governing Access

Collection is open for research.

Conditions Governing Use

Copyright is retained by the creators of items in these papers, or their descendants, as stipulated by United States copyright law.

Manuscript collections and archival records may contain materials with sensitive or confidential information. Please see our Sensitive Materials Statement.

Biographical or Historical Information

Lelia Judson Tuttle was born in 1878 in Caldwell County, North Carolina, where she grew up on the family farm. She graduated from the State Normal and Industrial College (now UNCG) in 1900, and did postgraduate work in English at the State Normal before receiving her Master of Arts degree in English from Columbia University in New York.

From 1902 to 1904, Tuttle taught English and history at Davenport College in Lenoir, North Carolina. She then decided to pursue missionary work, and prepared at the Scarritt Bible Training School in Kansas City. In 1910, she set sail for China, where she was appointed chair of English literature at the McTyeire Institute in Shanghai. She remained there until 1926, when she transferred to Soochow University, to serve as Dean of Women as well as professor of English and history. Tuttle remained in China until 1942, when World War II necessitated her departure.

Upon her return to the States, Tuttle bought a house near her old home in Caldwell County, and remained busy giving talks to local churches, clubs and schools. In 1956 she deeded 160 acres of land she had inherited from her father to the Tuttle Forest Foundation; the Tuttle State Forest is now used by the North Carolina Forest Service as an Educational State Forest. Lelia Tuttle passed away in 1967.

Extent

20.00 Linear Feet (20 boxes, 10 books)

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract

Lelia Judson Tuttle (1878-1976) was an alumna of the State Normal and Industrial College (now UNCG), and spent over 30 years as a missionary teaching English in China.

Arrangement Note

The collection is organized into the following series: Biographical Materials, Artifacts, and Books.

Method of Acquisition

Transferred from the Caldwell Heritage Museum to UNCG Archives in 2004.

Separated Materials

Articles of Chinese clothing and accessories were given to the Department of Consumer, Apparel, and Retail Studies (CARS), UNCG School of Human Environmental Sciences.

Offensive Language Statement

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