[Note: In the Arrangement section, the notation "folder 2-5" means "Box 2, Folder 5"]

Series: Audio Tapes

Arrangement: Chronological by date of interview

Date Range: 1996-1999

Date Range on events described: 1909-1988

Volume: 9 tapes

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Series: Oversize Materials

PRINT OF KITCHEN GOD (OS 11 ). Print of the kitchen god made on very thin paper (12"x18") in color, undated.

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Series: Photo Albums and Photographs

Arrangement: Alphabetical by title

Date Range: 1923-1943

Type of Materials: Photo albums and photographs

Notes: There are three of Harry's and six of Marguerite's photo albums. Several loose photographs were placed into various photo folders.

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Series: Paper Records

Arrangement: Alphabetical and chronological

Date Range: 1929-1999

Volume: 1.5 cubic feet, Boxes: 1-3

Geographic Area: China, Canada, USA Type of documents: Articles, booklets, correspondence, lecture notes, manuscript, newspaper clippings, outlines of lectures, prayer letters, reports, research notes, scrapbooks, travel brochures Correspondents: Marguerite Goodner Owen, Harry Owen, and friends Subjects: Moody Bible Institute student life and missions, departure for China, China Inland Mission (CIM) Women's Language School in Yangzhou, life and mission work in China, CIM women missionaries in China, wedding of Henry and Marguerite Owen, CIM, missionary orientation, biblical basis for missions, furlough, retirement

Notes: Most of the collection consists of correspondence (most by Marguerite Owen) and scrapbooks. Marguerite wrote almost weekly over two hundred letters to her aunt, Marguerite Barrow Grow, from 1933-1940. The letters were originally kept in envelopes which were pasted onto pages of three scrapbooks. The archivist removed the letters and placed them into folders 1-7 through 1-10 and 2-1.

Each of the three scrapbooks (folders 3-1 through 3-3) has been assigned an alphabetical letter based on the chronological order of the letters. There were many photographs (most are labeled) and other items pasted in the scrapbooks which were not removed. Most of the letters are addressed to "Agweet" a nickname for her aunt. These letters are handwritten and well preserved. They offer an interesting account of the life and mission work of a young, single missionary woman in China.

There are annual typeset missionary letters from Marguerite for the years 1934-1937 and from her and Harry in 1939 clipped to some of these letters. Marguerite's letters begin with descriptions of her journey to China aboard the Danish freighter Anna Maersk in 1933. Marguerite goes on to detail her life in the CIM language school and at her first mission station in Fowyang. The letters also mention life with other missionaries and missions conferences she attended. There are purple font typewritten letters (folders 1-10 and 2-1) addressed to "Dearly Beloved Ones," "Dearly Beloved Family Mine," etc., which are carbon copy duplicates of letters sent to the family members and possibly prayer supporters. The originals of some of these letters are found in folder 2-2.

The collection also contains Harry Owen's lecture notes and outlines on the topics the biblical basis of missions, challenges for missionary work, missionary orientation to the mission field, compassion for the lost, difficulties of being a single missionary, etc. Folder 2-19 contains a memorial service program and transcript of a speech by Marguerite's daughter, Elizabeth Owen Nordquist, given at the memorial service of Marguerite. Also included is Nordquist's letter detailing the service.

Exceptional items: A 1933 CIM Ladies outfit list, a program of special meetings and a letter announcing two groups who were setting sail for China in the fall of 1933 are in folder 2-3. Newspapers clippings about Marguerite's departure for China, her teaching in Honan Province, wedding, and one hundred mile wheelbarrow ride are located in folder 2-12. A letter dated November 7, 1933, in folder 1-7 describes the schedule of the CIM Women's Language School in Yangzhou. Marguerite's letters (folder 1-4) to her family give an overview of how evangelism took place in villages. In a letter written July 5, 1939, (folder 2-1) Marguerite identifies seventeen Ruths and six Helens she was corresponding with. Folder 2-15 contains twenty-six prayer letters of Harry and Marguerite. Folder 2-16 provides notes on the first meeting of the North Anhwei Regional Council on September 25, 1941. Harry's letters (folder 1-5) written from Yunnan Province describe his work and writings at the time when the Communists took over in 1949.

Letters (folder 1-6) are written to Marguerite and Harry from various friends including CIM missionaries James Herbert "Bert" and Winnifred Kane, Otto and Kathryn Dodd Schoerner, Ruth Williamson, Charles Richard "Dick" Hillis, Theodore and Olive Fischbacher, and others. Olive Fischbacher's letter of December 13, 1938, describes her and her husband's evacuation from Japanese controlled areas of China. A letter Winnifred Kane wrote describes the 1938 wedding of the Schoerners.

Scrapbook A (folder 3-1) contains an article from the CIM magazine, China Millions, written about Henry and Marguerite Owen, their background and their call to China. It also includes information on six other missionaries who also sailed for China in 1933. The scrapbook also contains photo scenes of Mt. Fuji in Japan, CIM's language school for women (students and staff in 1933-1934), Marguerite Owen in Fowyang, Anhui, staff and Chinese at Church girl's school in Fowyang in the summer of 1934 as well as scenes of the CIM compound in Fowyang. One photo compares Marguerite wearing western clothes and then Chinese clothes. Scrapbook B (folder 3-2) contains twenty-one photos, which document life in Fowyang with other missionaries. There is one photo showing the Daily Vacation Bible School in July 1937. There are four photos of the wedding of Louis and Nancy Gaussen (1936) and Theodore and Olive Fischbacher (1938). Also among the photos are those including missionaries Ruth Nowack, Mabel and Frances Williamson, and Helen (Mount) Anderson. Scrapbook C (folder 3-3) contains nineteen photos of Henry and Marguerite at their wedding and on their honeymoon. Two letters, pasted in the scrapbook, dated at the end of 1939, tell about their move from Fowyang to Chengyangkwan.

A very thorough coverage of issues of retirement is in Harry's manuscript (including research notes) on "Some Observations on the Retirement of Christian Workers" (folder 2-10). Harry addresses issues of housing, fellowship, personal goals, service in the church or in other organizations, visitation and service to the church abroad. Retirement "shock" and other special problems of retirement are also covered as well as Christian attitudes to retirement.

Folder 2-18 contains an unpublished manuscript, My Precious Agweet, edited by Norman Owen (Marguerite’s son) with excerpts from Marguerite’s letters to Marguerite B. Grow, 1933-1940, and some of her CIM circulars. This manuscript was given to Marguerite on her 90th birthday.