Scope and Contents
This record group contains relatively little material related to the Ikenberrys' work in China prior to their last stint in Shanghai following the second World War. Three times in their lives as missionaries in China, Olivia and Ernest Ikenberry had to evacuate because of dangerous war situations. First in 1927 when they were living in Taiyuan (Tai Yuan), the warlords began fighting for power in Shanxi (Shansi). The second time, in the winter of 1940, they had been living under Japanese occupation for three years in Ping Ting, Shanxi (Shansi). At this time the Ikenberrys burned all their letters, papers, and accounts to keep them out of the hands of the Japanese, afraid that some information could be used against the Chinese Christians. This collection does contain circular letters, writings, and photographs documenting the Ikenberrys' work in China as well as correspondence and other materials related to their work among Native Americans in the United States.
Dates
- 1921-2005
Creator
Conditions Governing Access
The materials are open for research.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Gift of O. Susan Ikenberry Wilson, Ernest Ikenberry, Jr.
Arrangement
- I. Correspondence, 1921-1966
- II. Sermons and Writings, 1921-1966
- III. Collected Materials
- IV. Personal Items and Memorabilia, 1922-2005
Extent
3 Linear Feet (7 boxes)
Language of Materials
English
Catalog Record
A record for this collection is available in Orbis, the Yale University Library catalog
Persistent URL
Abstract
Correspondence, writings, and collected material document the Ikenberrys' work in China and the U.S. Ernest and Olivia Ikenberry were American missionaries in China from 1922-1951, serving under the Church of the Brethren. Following their return from China they served at a Church of the Brethren mission among the Navajo Indians in Lybrook, New Mexico.
Biographical / Historical
Ernest LeRoy Ikenberry
- 1892
- Ernest LeRoy Ikenberry born.
- 1920
- B.A. McPherson College
- 1917
- Installed as minister, McPherson Church of the Brethren
- 1922
- Married Olivia Dickens, went to China
- 1922-1923
- Language study in Beijing (Peking)
- 1923-1924
- Stationed in Ping Ting, Shanxi (Shansi)
- 1924-1934
- Taiyuan (Tai Yuan), youth work with YMCA, on loan from Church of the Brethren
- 1927
- Evacuated due to political unrest
- 1929
- Graduated, Yale Divinity School; Returned to YMCA work in Taiyuan (Tai Yuan)
- 1934-1940
- Evangelistic work in Ping Ting
- 1937-1940
- Children at North China American School
- 1941
- Returned to U.S.
- 1941-1943
- Pastor, Twin Falls, Idaho
- 1945
- Ernest returned to Shanghai, China followed by Olivia in 1946
- 1945-1948
- National Christian Council of China and the China Office of Church World Service
- 1948-1951
- Church of the Brethren Mission Office, Shanghai
- 1951
- Returned to USA
- 1951-1953
- Personnel Secretary for Brethren Mission Board, Elgin, Illinois
- 1954-1957
- Re-opened Navajo Indian Mission in Lybrook, New Mexico
- 1958
- Pastor, Brethren Church in Phoenix, Arizona
- 1962
- Pastor, Aline, Oklahoma
- 1964
- Wife Olivia died, Married Marguerite Berkey, former missionary to China and Japan
- 1964
- Moved to LaVerne, California
- 1974
- Died
Olivia Dickens Ikenberry
- 1896
- Olivia Dickens Ikenberry born
- 1915-1917
- Northfield Seminary
- 1917-1919
- Oberlin College
- 1919-1921
- McPherson College
- 1921-1922
- Taught at Daleville College
- 1922
- Married Ernest Ikenberry, Went to China
- 1922
- Went to China, taught in mission schools, worked with Chinese women
- 1944-1946
- Dean of Women, McPherson College
- 1946
- Returned to China
- 1946-1950
- National Christian Council, Secretary, Women's Work; publicity writer: Church World Service
- 1964
- Died
Processing Information
Place names were modernized in the description, with the name originally used in the collection material or in an older version of the finding aid in parenthesis: e.g. “Beijing (Peking)” or “Benin (Dahomey)”.
- Title
- Guide to the Ernest and Olivia Ikenberry Papers
- Author
- Compiled by Elizabeth Pipes and Martha Lund Smalley
- Date
- 2000, 2017
- Description rules
- Finding Aid Prepared According To Local Divinity Library Descriptive Practices
- Language of description note
- Finding aid written in English.
Part of the Yale Divinity Library Repository