Collection 417 Papers of Dick Springer

Collection

Identifier: CN 417

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

Oral history interview and one prayer letter relating to the ministry of Charles Oliver “Dick” Springer, missionary with Overseas Missionary Fellowship in China and Japan from 1937-1996.

Series: Audio Tapes

Oral history interview with Dick Springer in which he describes his family and their missionary interest and involvement, conversion, education (at Whitman College, Princeton Theological Seminary, and Moody Bible Institute), his involvement in the Student Volunteer Movement, missionary work in China and Taiwan with China Inland Mission/Overseas Missionary Fellowship and the Pocket Testament League, impressions of Samuel Zwemer and Charles Erdman, Herbert and Winnifred Kane, Henry Frost and his wife Marion, the Japanese occupation of China during World War II, the Chinese civil war, literature production in Taiwan, and evangelistic work in the US. The time period covered by the interview is 1909 to 1989.

Charles Oliver Springer was interviewed by Paul Ericksen on June 19, 1989 at Calvary Church in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.

Series: Paper Records (Box List)

This collection also includes a prayer/newsletter for circulation from the Springers, first-term China Inland Mission (CIM) missionaries, while stationed at Hwaining (new spelling, Huaining) in the province of Anhwei (new spelling, Anhui) for language school. The letter gives a brief account of their arrival in Shanghai and preparation to move inland, their travel to Huaining via the Yangtze Kiang (new spelling, Chang Jiang), and an average daily schedule. While devotional in nature, the letter expresses the Springers' feelings about assuming new responsibilities as missionaries.

Dates

Created: 1937-1989

Conditions Governing Access

There are no restrictions on the use of this collection.

Biographical Information

Full Name: Charles Oliver Springer

Birth Date: January 30, 1909 in Montpelier, VT

Parents: Isaac Elihu Springer and Mildred (Bishop) Springer Barber

Conversion: During teen years, ca. 1922-1927

Marital Status: Married Marion Elizabeth Tucker on August 1, 1935

Children: Mary Olive Harriet (1937); Charles Henry Thomas (1940); John (1942)--died and buried in Taiho, Anhwei, China; Harriet Johanna (1945); Joseph Tucker (1949); Ruth Ernestine (1951)

Education:

Whitman College, Walla Walla, WA: B.A.(?), history, 1931(?)

Princeton Theological Seminary, Princeton, NJ: B.Th., 1935

Moody Bible Institute, Chicago, IL

Career:

1936 Ordained by Walla Walla Presbytery Synod of Washington

Accepted into China Inland Mission

Language school in Anking

1937 Fowyang, Anhwei: first assignment

1939-1940 Kanhsien, Kiangsi and then Fowyang, Anhwei

1941-1944 Taiho, Anhwei

1945 Los Angeles

1947 Shanghai, Kaifeng, Honan, worked with Pocket Testament League

1948-1950 Loping, Kiangsi

1951-1957 San Francisco and Seattle (pastor of Mt. View Presbyterian Church)

1958-1960 Taiwan: Hsinying and T'ainan, worked in literature distribution

1961 Seattle

1962-1964 Taiwan: Hsinchu, created correspondence course while his wife taught Bible

1965 San Francisco

1966-1969 Taiwan: Shinju, worked with mountain people

1970 Honolulu

1971-1975 Taiwan: T'aipei, taught English at a church while his wife walked to the nearby university to teach

Retired:1976

Died: February 17, 1995

Extent

0.20 Cubic Feet

1 Box (DC)

5 Audio Tapes

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Accruals and Additions

The materials in this collection were given to the Billy Graham Center Archives in April 1982 by Overseas Missionary Fellowship and in June 1989 by Charles Oliver Springer.

Accession 82-60, 89-63

June 9, 1995

Mark Congdon

J. Nasgowitz