Beatrice Farnsworth Powers Papers, 1887-1969
General International Standard for Archival Description
Sophia Smith Collection Smith CollegeNorthampton, MA
Finding aid encoded in NoteTab Pro. Encoded by Margaret Jessup. 2006-12-08
Encoded Archival Description
Encoded Archival Description (EAD) Version 2002
collection
Beatrice Farnsworth Powers Papers
Creation of Beatrice Farnsworth Powers Papers
Time of Creation of Beatrice Farnsworth Powers Papers
Powers, Beatrice Farnsworth
Biographical History for: Beatrice Farnsworth Powers Papers
Biographical Note Beatrice Farnsworth Powers was born May 22,1880 in Lincoln, Mass., daughter of Charles Perkins and Mary Jane (Murray) Farnsworth. She was graduated from the Lincoln School and attended Abbott Academy and Chauncy Hall. She taught for several years in the South School in Lincoln and served as superintendent of the Sunday school at St. Anne's Church (1904-09). After graduating from Johns Hopkins School of Nursing in 1912, she volunteered at the Dr. Wilfred Grenfell's Mission in Labrador. In 1913 Powers traveled to Changsha, China, where she spent two and a half years on the staff of the Yale-in-China Hospital as principal of the nursing school and superintendent of nurses. She returned to the U.S. in 1915 and in 1916 married Dr. Grover Francis Powers (1887-1968). The Powers lived in Baltimore and then New Haven where Grover F. Powers was Professor of Pediatrics at Yale University School of Medicine. They had one son, Ross Farnsworth Powers. In 1957 Beatrice Powers and her niece, Olive Floyd, published Early American Decorated Tinware which became "a classic on the subject." Beatrice Powers died September 4, 1967.
Scope and Contents of the Collection The Beatrice Farnsworth Powers Papers include correspondence, photographs, memorabilia, and writings documenting her nursing work in the Grenfell Mission in Labrador (1912); life in Changsha, China (1913-1915) where she was nursing superintendent at the Yale-in-China Hospital; and travels in Europe (1907). Of special interest are Powers' views on the status of Chinese women, the impact of missionaries on China, and reflections on Chinese society. Photographs capture daily scenes in Saint Anthony (Newfoundland), Battle Harbor (Labrador), and Changsha (China). There are also biographical articles and writings about Beatrice and Grover Powers, and their niece Olive Floyd.
Missionaries, Medical--China--Biography--Sources
lcsh
Missionaries, Medical--Newfoundland--Labrador
Nurses--Biography--Sources
Nursing--China--History--20th century--Sources
Women--China--History--Sources
Women--Missionaries--Biography--Sources
Women physicians--Biography--Sources
Floyd, Olive B. (Olive Beatrice), 1901-1985
lcnaf
Grenfell, Wilfred Thomason, Sir, 1865-1940
Yale-in-China Association--History--Sources
Yale-in-China Mission
China--Social life and customs--1912-1949--Sources
Labrador (Nfld.)--Description and travel--Sources
Contents
Biographical materials
Clippings and biographical sketch by Olive Floyd, 1962-67, n.d.
Early schools: Abbot Academy, Chauncy-Hall School: memorabilia, printed materials, and photograph, 1895-1969, n.d.
Photographs (family): Beatrice and Mary Jane Murray Farnsworth (mother)
Yale-in-China Hospital, Changsha
Writings, notes, postcards, clippings, memorabilia, and annual reports, 1913-15, 1966
Correspondence (to BFS), 1913-16
Photographs
Grenfell Mission, Labrador: notes, memorabilia, photographs, and printed materials, 1912-13
Travel notes (Europe), 1907
Memorabilia: awards, certificates, pins, and clippings, 1912-41
Grover Francis Powers: Yale School of Medicine memorials, articles, and photographs, and memorabilia, 1887-1968
Olive Floyd: photographs, writings, and memorabilia, 1901, 1926-43, n.d.
Photograph album: Saint Anthony, Newfoundland; Battle Harbor, Labrador; and Changsha, China, 1912-1915