CALLAHAN, WILLIAM JACKSON.
Papers, 1890-1936.

MANUSCRIPT NUMBER 063

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CITATION:  William Jackson Callahan Papers, MSS 063, Archives and Manuscripts Dept., Pitts Theology Library, Emory University.

William Jackson Callahan was born in Whitesville, Harris County, Georgia, on July 27, 1866.  His parents were the Rev. James Callahan, a local preacher, and Edna Reish Callahan. Immediately after graduation from Emory College, he went to Japan as a teacher under the auspices of the Y.M.C.A., a position he held for two years.  During this time, he met Martha Taylor, who represented the Women's Board of the Methodist Episcopal Church.  They were married in Nagasaki on October 9, 1893.  In 1904 the Vineville Methodist Episcopal Church, South began supporting the Callahans as missionaries in Japan.  They continued this support until Callahan's retirement in May 1935. The missionary couple spent approximately 45 years in Japan, from about 1890 to 1935 and were located primarily in Matsuyama on the island of Shikoku. William Callahan died in San Antonio, Texas, on April 16, 1936.  He was a member of the South Georgia Conference.

The William Jackson Callahan papers consist of about seventy-five items, primarily sermons and writings, dating from 1890 to 1936. Writings by Martha Taylor Callahan also are included. Of particular interest may be a typed copy of "Tent Evangelism" by Mr. Callahan, published by the Christian Literature Society in Tokyo, and an outline on Japan which includes financial and statistical data on education, industry, earthquake reconstruction, and salaries. Also present is information on Mr. Sterling Fischer, an acquaintance of the Callahans and announcer for NBC.

The collection contains two albums of photographs taken in Japan. Included are pictures of the aftermath of an earthquake which occurred in 1923, as well as photographs of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Individuals represented in the photograph albums include Bishop Paul B. Kern, Dr. Hayward Pearce (Emory 1891), and Dr. George Dorough (Emory 1890). Several Japanese writings also are present including what appears to be a practice tablet.

                      Biographical Material
1/1                  W. J. Callahan
1/2                  Sterling Fischer

1/3                  Correspondence, 1892-1935 and undated

1/4                  Minutes of Second General Conference of the Japan Methodist
                            Church, Tokyo, 1911

1/5                  Miscellaneous

1/6                  Receipts, 1932 and undated

                       Volumes
1/15                 # 1 Mrs. Callahan's travel journal, February 28 through April 18, 1930
1/16                 # 2  Mr. Callahan's account ledger, 1900-1916
1/17                 # 3 Japanese writing tablet

1/7                 Writings in Japanese
                           a)  Fudo-san, uri watshi sho
                           b)  Teito-ken, hokisho
                           c)  Teito-ken, Hoki shotaku sho
                           d)  To-ki ba, sho hon
                           e)  Etsuran sho

                      Writings--W. J. Callahan
1/8                   Educational and Social Developments in Japan
1/9                   Japan and her People
1/10                 (Japan Notes)
1/11                 Notebook of Miscellaneous Writings
                           a)  Christianity and the Student Class
                           b)  Japan Methodist Church
                           c)  Japan (outline)
                           d)  The Kingdom of Heaven: the Meaning of the Missionary Program
                           e)  A Parting Word, June 1935
                           f)  Redemption Sermon
                           g)  Vineville Sermon Notes, May 1931
1/12                "Tent Evangelism," ca. 1928

1/13                 Writings--Mrs. W. J. Callahan
                           a)  How a Missionary Spends His or Her Time
                           b)  Women of Japan (and notes)

1/14                  Writings--Others

Box # 2             Two photograph albums