Gift of Edna Wade, daughter of John Adam and Eleanor Reuling, Port Huron, Michigan, 2003.
Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information:
Box number, Folder number and/or title, John Reuling and Eleanor Reuling Personal Papers , MSS 257, Special Collections, Michigan State University Main Library
Copyright is retained by the author of the items in this archive, or their descendants, as stipulated by United States copyright law.
This collection of personal and family papers focuses on Adams College in South Africa, with an East Lansing/Michigan State University connection to the family. Materials include personal papers (chiefly correspondence from South Africa to relatives in East Lansing), pamphlets, publications, and unpublished papers and other personal documents, including photographs. Also included is material on Nobel Peace Prize winner Albert Luthuli (who taught at Adams College in the 1920s and early 1930 and John Reuling attended the presentation of the Nobel Prize). Part of the collection is a copy of correspondence, the originals of which were deposited together with related official papers at Yale University, Divinity Library Special Collections in 2002 and which are described in detail in Guide to the John and Eleanor Reuling Papers (Record Group 120) Compiled by Martha Lund Smalley, Yale University Library, 1997, 2003: http://webtext.library.yale.edu/xml2html/divinity.120.con.html). The collection of papers in MSU Library therefore both complements and duplicates the Yale collection of papers.
John Reuling was born in 1906 in Osceola, Nebraska. He graduated from Michigan State College and later received the M.A. from Cornell University. He was a missionary teacher of the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions (ABCFM) at Adams College, Natal, South Africa (1927-1941), where he was director of teacher training. He also was farm manager and Vice-Principal of Adams College and District Commissioner for the African Boy Scouts. John Reuling He was Africa Secretary for the ABCFM and then an administrator for its successor, the United Church of Christ's Board for World Ministries (UCBWM), serving as regional secretary for Africa (1946-1962) and then General Secretary for Mission (1962- 1972). In this capacity he traveled to Africa, including Angola, Rhodesia, Togo, Ghana and South Africa (he returned briefly to South Africa in the mid-1950s when Adams College was being absorbed under the apartheid regime). Between 1942 and 1945, he was President of Northland College, Ashland, Wisconsin, where he was awarded an honorary degree of Doctor of Laws in 1945. He also served as President of Carleton College, Minnesota. He retired in 1971. John Reuling died in Port Huron in 1990.
Eleanor Swanson Reuling was born in 1903 and graduated from Michigan State College. She married John Reuling in 1926 and in 1927 was appointed an ABCFM missionary to South Africa. She was an educational missionary in South Africa, taught at Adams College and tutored students. She published First Saint to the Zulus, a short biography of missionary James C. Bryant in 1960. Her M.A. entitled “A Graded Program of Outside Reading for American Children Being Educated Abroad” was awarded at MAC in 1934. Eleanor Reuling died in 1983.
The Reulings may have been the first married couple at MAC.
The donation was inventoried by Peter Limb, Africana Bibliographer, with the assistance of Tibebe Ashete.Finding aid updated in 2011 by Leslie M. Behm.
I. |
CORRESPONDENCE |
Photocopies of letters from the Reulings to family in U.S. (19 files)
Originals form part of a deposit at Yale University Library, Divinity Library Special Collections. Included
are a small number of programs from Adams College pageants or other ephemeral materials, including
photocopies of press clippings, chiefly from the Natal press. A few letters are written on board ship, and
a few are written from inside the U.S. |
| Box |
Folder |
Description |
| 1 |
1 |
Originals form part of a deposit at Yale University Library, Divinity Library Special |
| 1 |
2 |
Photocopies of letters to family, 1927 Jun-Aug |
| 1 |
3 |
Photocopies of letters to family, 1927 Sept.-Dec. |
| 1 |
4 |
Photocopies of letters to family, 1928 Jan.-June |
| 1 |
5 |
Photocopies of letters to family, 1928 July-Dec. |
| 2 |
6 |
Photocopies of letters to family, 1929 Jan.-June |
| 2 |
7 |
Photocopies of letters to family, 1929 July-Dec. |
| 2 |
8 |
Photocopies of letters to family, 1930 |
| 2 |
9 |
Photocopies of letters to family, 1931 Jan.-July 7. |
| 2 |
10 |
Photocopies of letters to family, 1931 July 8.-Dec. |
| 3 |
11 |
Photocopies of letters to family, 1932 |
| 3 |
12 |
Photocopies of letters to family, 1933 |
| 3 |
13 |
Photocopies of letters to family, 1934 |
| 3 |
14 |
Photocopies of letters to family, 1935 |
| 3 |
15 |
Photocopies of letters to family, 1936 |
| 3 |
16 |
Photocopies of letters to family, 1937 |
| 4 |
17 |
Photocopies of letters to family, 1938 |
| 4 |
18 |
Photocopies of letters to family, 1939 |
| 4 |
19 |
Photocopies of letters to family, 1940 |
| 4 |
20 |
Photocopies of letters to family, 1941 |
| 4
|
21
|
Family letter of John Reuling, from Mt. Silinda, Southern Rhodesia to friends, May 1960.
Family letter of John Reuling, from Rome enroute Salisbury, Southern Rhodesia to family
and friends, December 1961. 7 p. Ts. Deals chiefly with A. Luthuli.
Photocopy of letter of Eleanor Reuling to Nellie January 1941.
Photocopy of letter of S.S. Ndhlovu to Eleanor Reuling, Inanda Seminary, April 1961, in
appreciation of her book. 1 p
Photocopy of letter of Rev. Paul Dickey to Mr. Stowe, May 1975, with original
handwritten note to John Reuling. 1 p |
4
|
22
|
“John and Eleanor Reuling Golden Wedding”
Originals of letters and cards from friends for 50th wedding anniversary in 1976. Many
contain reminiscences of South African years (Adams College, Inanda, Umzumbe,
Mapumulo, Umsunduzi, McCord’s Hospital, Ifafa); also Rhodesia, Angola. Some letters
have photographs attached. Includes telegrams and press clippings (The Barre Gazette
October 8, 1975 on McCord Hospital; on Samkange, 1976). Correspondents include
Samkange family, Frieda Matthews (wife of Z.K. Matthews, Gaborone), Bill and Zilpha
Booth, Mary Beals, [Edgar?] Brookes, Charles Brookes (Australia), Rosemary Brookes
Rittman (Cape Town), David Brookes (Kloof, Natal), Arthur Brooks (England), Anna
Brueckner Ludlow (Johannesburg), Frieda Brueckner Hough (Alice), Michael Hough
(Auburndale, Mass.), Clifford Ellis (Kloof, Natal), Tracy and Mac Major (Gwanda,
Rhodesia), Donald Mtimkulu (Canada), Edith and M.B. Yengwa (card, annotated in Zulu),
Kathryn Avery Tucker (Kitwe, Zambia), and many others. Also includes some replies by John Reuling.
|
| 4 |
23 |
Christmas and greeting cards, some annotated, chiefly to or from Africa (Zimbabwe,
Zambia, and Lessotho). Correspondents include Ndabaningi Sithole. Some cards feature
McCord Hospital, Durban. Identifiable dates include 1966 and 1979. |
II. |
PUBLICATION OF ELEANOR REULING |
|
|
Eleanor Reuling. First Saint to the Zulus. (Boston: American Board of Commissioners for
Foreign Missions, 1960). Biography of James C. Bryant. Signed.
Cataloged in Special Collections: BV3625.Z82 B75 c.2) |
III. |
MANUSCRIPTS OF ELEANOR REULING |
| Box |
Folder |
Description |
| 4 |
24 |
Original typescript ms. of the book “Springtime in Africa,” by Eleanor Reuling about her
experiences in Africa, n.d., [iii], 202, [ii] p. Ts. |
IV. |
BIOGRAPHICAL DOCUMENTATION |
| Box |
Folder |
Description |
4
|
25
|
Photographs
1927 Board of Appointees. Includes inserted leaf: “Identification of the
American Board's 1927 Appointees. November 2, 1962" (the Ruelings and other
appointees to South Africa, Angola, Rhodesia, India, etc.)
1926, December wedding photo
1935 during furlough, either 1933 or 1935
1935, Eleanor and children (Edna, John, Anna Lois, Walter) dressed as voortrekkers, for
Great Trek pageant in South Africa
1977 50th anniversary picture of 1927 MSC graduates. |
| 4 |
26 |
1933 address of a radio message by J. Reuling on Adams College, Reuling family, Native
Law, and South Africa Scouting. Ts. Annotated. 8p. |
4
| 27
| Miscellaneous biographical material
Certificate from UCBWM presented to J. Reuling, 1967. Original, signed |
| 5 |
28 |
Academic degree: Doctor of Laws, honoris causa, Northland College, Ashland,
Wisconsin. 1945 |
| 5 |
29 |
Academic degree: Doctor of Humanities, Northland College, Ashland, Wisconsin, 1971 |
| 5 |
30 |
Passports, 1945, 1953, 1957 |
| 5 |
31 |
Passports, 1961, 1966, 1971 |
| 5 |
32 |
South Rhodesia driver’s licence, 1946; Titulo de Residencia, Angola, 1946 |
5
|
33
|
“Obituaries, Articles, News Releases.” [Photocopies]
News clippings about the Reulings. Newspapers include Boston Globe, 1961-2 (on Albert
Luthuli), Christian Science Monitor 1957 (on John Reuling’s trip to Ghana), 1960-1, and
the Natal press of 1932.
Briefing notes on John Reuling, from the Office of Communication, United Church of
Christ, New York, January 1972
Briefing notes on John Reuling, from the Office of Communication, United Church of
Christ, New York, n.d. (2 copies)
Obituary of Eleanor Reuling, Bergen Record, May 1, 1983.
Eulogy for Eleanor Reuling by David M. Stowe, memorial service, May 1, 1983. 3 p.
[Eulogy for] Eleanor Swanson Reuling. 2 p.
Memorial service, for John A. Reuling, UCBWM, by David M. Stowe, February 26, 1990. 5
p. (2 copies)
Obituary of John Reuling, New York Times February 1990
Obituary of John Reuling, Boston Herald February 1990
Letter from MSU (1990) concerning the use of the remains of J. Reuling for science. 2 p.
Photocopy of article on Luthuli with handwritten note that J. Reuling died “as the
African National Congress is liberated”, 1990. 1 p.
Obituaries, John and Eleanor Reuling [originals]
Obituary of Eleanor Reuling, Bergen Record, May 1, 1983.
Printed program of memorial service, May 1, 1983. 3 p.
Eulogy for Eleanor Reuling by David M. Stowe, memorial service, May 1, 1983. 3 p
Letter from William R. Booth to Edna, March 6, 1990, attached to “Something from the
Garden,” by William R. Booth on John Reuling and Adams College. 3 p.
Letter from Agnes A. Wood to Edna, December 7, 1990, attached to “Memories of
Language Study 1929-1930,” by Agnes A. Wood on John Reuling. 4 p.
Pathfinders (South Africa) Praise Names of Reuling. 1 p. |
V. |
MISCELLANEOUS DOCUMENTATION ON SOUTH AFRICA |
| Box |
Folder |
Description |
5
|
34
|
Brochures and programs on mission work in South Africa
“Adams Escapade,” n.d. Annotated; roneod program. 1 leaf.
A Century of Progress in Medical Work Among the Zulus, 1835-1935: The Evolution of
the McCord Hospital [1935], 12 p.
Greetings from Your Friends of the South Africa Mission of the American Board [ca.
1939?], 1 folded brochure.
James B. McCord, Some Sidelights on the House that Jim Built (Durban: ca. 1939?). 24 p.
Illustrated.
The Healing Ministry of the American Board in Africa, 1943. (Boston: American Board of
Commissioners for Foreign Missions [1943?]). 23 p.
Inanda Seminary, Phoenix, Natal. (s.l.: 193-?]) [4] p. Illustrated brochure. Separate
illustration inserted.
“Kraal to Class-Room: A Pageant of 100 Years … at the Adams Mission” by W.
Murraybrown, (Durban?: 1935?). 1 printed broadsheet. Includes reproductions of article
and photographs from Natal Advertiser June 1935. Original, and also photocopy.
The Missionary Herald, vol. 123, no. 7 July 1927. Includes photograph of 1927
Appointees that include the Reulings.
“The Zulu Witch Doctor and Medicine Man,” by J.B. McCord, “reprint,” South African
Medical Record, 27 April 1918. 14 p. Ts.
The Third Adams Mission Native Agricultural Show … June 14, 1932. Programme. 9 p.
Envelope: Original photograph of A.B.M. missionaries, 1927, and copies of related
material from the Missionary Herald (Large envelope laid on top of the boxes) |
5
|
35
|
Material about Albert Luthuli.
(Annotated) photocopies of photographs of Luthuli with J. Reuling (1932 or ’33),
with
Adams College staff (1935), addressing Infant School at Adams (n.d.), leading
Adams
choir (1934 or 1935), in Groutville (mid to late 1930s); in West Newton, Mass.,
December 1948. Copies of invitation to, and program of, installation of Luthuli as Chief
to Groutville Mission Reserve Community, 4 January 1936; clippings from U.S. press on
J. Reuling attending Nobel Prize, 1961; clippings from U.S. and Danish press on Luthuli;
copy of Nobel Prize Program 1961 and of J. Reuling’s invitation; original correspondence
re: death of John Reuling
“Nkosi Sikelel’I Afrika” hymn. English/Zulu. Computer print-out |
5
|
36
|
Material about Edgar Brookes, 1897-1979.
Program of memorial service, St. Peter’s Church, Pietermaritzburg, 25 April 1979.
Obituary by Rev. J. Henderson, Rector, St. Agnes Church, Kloof.
“Edgar Brookes: A South African Pilgrimage” by Alan Paton. Address at funeral service,
25 April 1979. Ts. 3 p.
A.E. News May 1979 (pp. 3-6): includes Edgar Brookes, “The Lion, the Lamb and South
Africa”; “Dr. Edgar Harry Brookes: a Multi-Gifted Man of God."
|
