Correspondence, newsletters, articles, negatives, and photographs relating to the missionary service of Isobel and John Kuhn, primarily among the Lisu people in China and Thailand with Overseas Missionary Fellowship from 1928 to 1954. The topics discussed in the letters include travel in China, missions work, their marriage, birth of daughter and son, cultural differences, advance of communists into the Lisu area, biographical sketches of co-workers Mary Baldock, Frances Bailey, Lilian Hamer, and Eileen O'Rourke. Information on daughter and son-in-law Kathryn and Donald Rulison, and co-workers Allyn and Esther Cooke is also in the collection.

[NOTE: In the Scope and Content description, the notation "Folder 2-6" means Box 2, Folder 6.]

The materials in this collection consist of personal correspondence, prayer letters, articles, negatives, and photographs documenting the work of Isobel and John Kuhn. Folder 1-2 contains the personal correspondence and prayer letters written to family, friends, and supporters from 1927 to 1957. The earliest letter, written by John from the Training Home in Anking, China, mentions the expected evacuation of Anking in 1927. Later that same year, however, John wrote from Anking about a revival at the Home and announced his assignment to Yunnan Province as well as his engagement to Isobel. Later letters describe his work and the church in Chengkiang, Yunnan (August 10, 1929), the birth of their daughter Kathryn (April 25, 1931), and his trip among the Lisu (May 20, 1934).

Also in folder 1-2 are Isobel's letters, the earliest of which describes her ocean trip to China in 1928. Other letters cover the language school, evangelistic opportunities, an amusing account of a church service which illustrates cultural differences between the Chinese and westerners, and meeting Theodore Roosevelt's sons, Theodore Jr. and Kermit Roosevelt (1929). After the Kuhn's marriage, the letters were often signed by both Isobel and John and give accounts of the activities of both, including work in Tali, Yunnan, China (1931); the advance of the communists on Yunnanfu and the missionaries' evacuation from Tali at that time (May 8, 1936), traveling to Vancouver, BC, on furlough (June 4, 1936, July 1936), and the birth of their son, Daniel (August 2, 1943). There is a hand-drawn map of the area around Tali (April 1931). Biographical sketches of co-workers Mary Baldock, Lilian Hamer, Frances Bailey, Eileen O'Rourke are attached to 1955 New Year's greetings. Prayer letters written by Isobel from Wheaton from 1955 to 1957 include reports of OMF activities in Thailand. Isobel's funeral service at College Church includes the printed message brought by Dr. Carl Armerding.

Folder 1-1 contains two articles from The Millions, one titled "The Secret of Endurance" by Mrs. Howard Taylor (October 1954) and the other includes a testimony of Isobel's daughter, Kathryn Kuhn (December 1954). A prayer letter by Esther and Allyn Cooke, co-workers of the Kuhns, in which John Kuhn is mentioned, is in folder 1-4. Folder 1-5 has two prayer letters, an article, and pictures of Kathryn Kuhn Rulison, her husband and children. Folder 1-3 has several lists of negatives, some of which are sections from letters, only two of which are dated. The lists do not match the strips of negatives which are in the Negative File, though some descriptions do match some negatives.

The negatives and photographs include pictures of Isobel and John as well as their children, co-workers, and missionary activities among the Lisu.