Japan,, 1913-1929

Summary:

Folt's Missionary Institute, 1911-1912: Arranged chronologically by dates written, this group includes letters sent by Reba Snapp Ryder to her mother, Cassie M. Snapp, between 1911 and 1912. This documents Reba Snapp Ryder's experiences at the Folt's Missionary Institute in Herkimer County, New York, including her involvement teaching, volunteering, observation of Christmas celebrations and general community engagement.

The Lily House, 1912-1913: Grouped chronologically by dates written, this series features letters dating between 1912 and 1913. These cover Reba Snapp Ryder's time as a caretaker at the Lily House in Hamilton County, New York, an assisted-living community. Sent to her parents, Isaac G. Snapp and Cassie M. Snapp, these cover the daily routines of the Lily House and her work as a caretaker.

Japan, 1913-1929: Arranged chronologically by dates written, this group makes up the majority of documents in the entire collection. It includes letters sent by Reba Snapp Ryder during her service in Japan to her parents, Isaac G. Snapp and Cassie M. Snapp, and covers her experiences and observations as a missionary in Japan. This includes both personal and cultural insight, as Reba discusses her language classes, missionary work and marriage, and comments on her impressions of Japanese culture, travel, and cuisine. She also discusses the fluctuating attitudes of the Japanese towards foreigners during World War I, Japanese pottery, holiday celebrations, and farming. These documents pertain to several events as well, including the eruption of Sakurajima, the passing of Empress Dowager Shōken, and the cholera outbreak of 1916. Some of these letters, primarily those from 1913, 1921, and 1929, cover the conditions of trans-atlantic travel, and letters from 1924 describe her stay and treatment at the Peking Union Hospital for tuberculosis. Almost all of the letters in the group are handwritten, with occasional typewritten letters. As a whole, these documents offer insight into early 20th century missionary work in Japan, while suggesting related avenues of research.