Extent of Material:
52 cm of textual records.
approx. 45 photographs : b&w, 1 glass negative.
Biographical Sketch:

Bishop William Charles White (1873-1960) was a missionary in Fukien, China, 1897-1909 and Bishop of the Canadian missionary Diocese of Honan, China, 1909-1934.  He returned to Toronto as Professor of Chinese Studies and as Keeper of the East Asiatic Collection at the Royal Ontario Museum, a collection enhanced by his connections.  He was also a biographer of the Rev. Canon H.J. Cody.

Custodial History:
Donated in 1963 by W.C. White’s widow, Daisy Masters White and other donors. This initial deposit was followed by others, including one made in 1972 by L.C. Walmsley, White’s biographer.
Scope and Content:

Fonds consists of missionary reports, histories and biographies from the Diocese of Honan in China, arranged in chronological order, photographs of people and places in the Diocese, a stole belonging to Bishop White, three sets of rubbings of Jewish memorial stones from Kaifeng (approx. dates: 1489-1512), W.C. White’s correspondence and biographical notes, arranged chronologically (1896-1958), sermon notes and articles written on Chinese archeology, history, ethnology, everyday life and other miscellaneous matters, pamphlets written in both English and Chinese.

Fonds arranged in five series:

  • Series 1. Diocese of Honan, China, 1909-1950
  • Series 2. Personal correspondence, 1896-1957
  • Series 3. Writings, 1909-1956
  • Series 4. Pamphlets
  • Series 5. Photographs and rubbings.
Notes:

Title based on contents of fonds.

Reproductions:
In 1965, the University of Toronto Rare Books Library microfilmed part of this fonds. See finding aid for a description of their work and holdings.
Finding Aids:
Itemized finding aid available.
General Notes:

The photographs, rubbings and stole from the W.C. White fonds are located in P8006

Please contact the Archives for more information on this record.