- physdesc
-
{"format"=>"simple", "value"=>".16 linear foot (1 box)"}
- unitdate
-
{"value"=>"1839-1879", "type"=>"inclusive", "normal"=>"1839/1879"}
- date_inclusive_start
-
1839
- date_inclusive_end
-
1879
- keydate
-
1839
- unittitle
-
{"value"=>"Edward C. Taintor papers"}
- repository
-
{"value"=>"The <span class=\"corpname\">New York Public Library. <span class=\"subarea\">Manuscripts and Archives Division</span></span> <div class=\"address\"> <span class=\"addressline\">New York, New York</span></div>"}
- abstract
-
{"value"=>"Edward C. Taintor (1842-1878) was an American who served in the Chinese Customs Service. The collection consists chiefly of Taintor's letters to his brothers and sisters, 1865-1870, describing his trip to China, daily life there, his travels to various port cities, the local customs, and business affairs."}
- prefercite
-
{"value"=>"<p>Edward C. Taintor Papers, Manuscripts and Archives Division, The New York Public Library. Astor, Lenox and Tilden Foundations.</p>"}
- origination
-
{"value"=>"Taintor, Edward C., 1842-1878", "type"=>"persname"}
- bioghist
-
{"value"=>"<p>Edward C. Taintor was a recent graduate of Union College, Schenectady, New York, when he was selected as one of three exceptional young scholars to serve in the Chinese Customs Service. He arrived in China in 1865 and was stationed first in Peking and later in several port cities. While on duty in Formosa he contracted a disease which left him deaf. He obtained sick leave and returned to the U.S. in 1870. During his stay in America he married and had two children. Once he had regained his health he returned to China where he was put in charge of the Customs Service's Department of Statistics. In addition to his official duties, Taintor continued to pursue classical studies, Chinese language and literature, and research for the Royal Geographical Society of England. However, the stress and isolation produced by his deafness forced him to return to the U.S. once again in 1875. Taintor attempted to to resume his duties in January of 1878, but frustration with his deafness and depression led him to commit suicide in May of that year.</p>"}
- scopecontent
-
{"value"=>"<p>The collection consists chiefly of Taintor's letters, 1865-1870, to his brothers and sister written while aboard the ship <span class=\"emph\">Christian Mathias</span> en route to China and after his arrival. The letters describe life aboard ship, intermediate stops in Rio de Janeiro and Java, and provide detailed accounts of his daily life in China, travels to various port cities, local customs and business affairs. The letters are also available in the typed transcript, <span class=\"title\">An American Life in the Chinese Customs Service, 1865-1870</span> compiled by Lawrence Phillips, Angela Phillips Suter, and Angela Suter. In addition to the letters, the papers contain Taintor's published essay, <span class=\"title\">The Aborigines of Northern Formosa</span> (1874), a manuscript outline map of Peking (enclosed in his letter of January 31, 1866), clippings, Sabbath School certificates, obituaries, and two photographs.</p>"}
- acqinfo
-
{"value"=>"<p>Gift of Angela P. Suter, 1984; 1990.</p>"}
- userestrict
-
{"value"=>"<p>Materials not to be published without consent of Angela P. Suter.</p>"}
- unitid
-
{"value"=>"MssCol 2943", "type"=>"local_call"}
{"value"=>"2943", "type"=>"local_mss"}
- processinfo
-
{"value"=>"<p>Processed by Melanie A. Yolles; machine-readable finding aid created by Melanie A. Yolles.</p>"}
- date_start
-
1839
- date_end
-
1879