A Guide to the Additional Papers of Sam
Higginbottom and Jane Ethelind Cody Higginbottom
1844-1971 Higginbottom, Sam and Jane Ethelind
Cody Higginbottom, Papers
5996-b,-c,-d
Additional Papers of Sam Higginbottom and Jane Ethelind
Cody Higginbottom, Accession #5996-b,-c,-d, Special
Collections Dept., University of Virginia Library,
Charlottesville, Va.
Acquisition Information
These papers are an addition to the main collection
(#5996) given by Henry and Elizabeth Higginbotton in 1959
and 1971. The main collection is one that was utilized for
the biography by Gary Hess. This collection contains the
richest material and most extensive records. This current
gift was presented to the University of Virginia in these
groups from Dec. 1971 - May 1972 by Mrs. Lynndon Clough and
David Higginbottom. Accession number #5996-b came from the
estate of Gertrude Higginbotton Wallace of Washington, D.C.
Accession numbers #5996-c and #5996-d came from the
Higginbottom home in Florida. Material that was judged
irrelevant to Higginbottom's missionary activities was
returned to the Higginbottom family.
The Higginbottom Papers, 1844-1971, consist of ca. 13,650
items (ca. 13 shelf feet) relating to activities of the
Higginbottom family. The collection contains family
correspondence and papers pertaining to missionary activities,
the Presbyterian Church, and miscellaneous activities of the
Higginbottoms. There are some manuscript drafts, proofs, etc.,
of various published works and reports by Ethel and Sam
Higginbottom.
To 1903 the papers chiefly include family correspondence
providing interesting background for understanding the
missionary life that the Higginbottom's led. From 1903 to 1945
the papers primarily concern Sam and Ethel's activities as
missionaries in India and the development of the agricultural
institute at Allahabad. Although this material is peripheral
to the main collection (See "Acquisition") it offers
fascinating insight into the personal life and attitudes of
the Higginbottoms'. Satisfactions and frustrations are
chronicled through their letters to one another, members of
the family, and friends. There is also some interesting
information concerning the relationship between the missionary
activity and the emergin nationalist sentiment in India.
Higginbottom's activities in fund-raising durign his visits to
the United States are thoroughly covered, as are Ethel's
activities in the States. The post-1945 material pertains to
the activities of Sam and Ethel durign their retirement. These
papers reflect their continuing attachment to Indian
missionary work. They also document the efforts of Sam
Higginbottom to found the Christian Service Training Center at
Frostproof, Florida during the 1950s.
Sam Higginbotton (1874-1958) came to American from England
in 1894 to attend the Mt. Harmon School in Massachusetts.
Influenced by the evangelical work of Dwight Lyman Moody, he
went to Amherst in 1899 and Princeton in 1901. While at
Princeton, he met George Forman, a missionary from India.
Forman convinced Higginbotton to go to India as a Presbyterian
missionary in 1903. Higginbotton taught at the Allahabad
Christian College and was deeply impressed by the poverty of
village life. He assumed a leading role in developing the
Naini Leper Asylum and conceived the pioneering idea of
founding an agricultural school to improve economic conditions
on the sub-continent. Ethel and Sam Higginbottom returned to
America several times to raise funds for the Allahabad
Agricultual Institute. Such visits occurred during 1909-11,
1914-15, 1919-21, 1932-33. The period of greatest development
and fufillment for the school was during the 1920s and 1930s.
Such prominent Indians such as Gandhi were fascinated by
Higginbottom's ideas for the improvement of Indian life.
During various periods Higginbottom advised Indian princes
concerning agricultural techniques. Throughout his stay in
India, Higginbottom remained in close contact with his
associates in the Presbyterian Church. His manifold public
appearances in search of funds brought them increasing
recognition from leaders of the Church. In 1939 Higginbottom
was elected Moderator of the Presbyterian Chruch in
America.
Higginbottom retired in 1945 and returned to America
settling in Frostproof, Florida. Higginbottom kept in close
touch with developments in India until his death. During the
1950s he unsuccessfully tried to establish a Christian Service
Training Center to train missionaries for agricultural work.
During his lifetime Higginbottom was widely known and
respected. His biographer has written that he "embodied the
ideal American representative in underdeveloped nations." His
life and the work of the Institute have been adequately
delineated by Gary R. Hess in
Sam Higginbottom of Allahabad: Pioneer
of Point Four to India, (Charlottesville: U. of
Virginia Press, 1967).
When the material was received it was in no inherent order,
either chronologically or topically. Series I, Accission
#5996-b, was kept apart from #5996-c and #5996-d (Series II),
which were interfiled, and two chronologies were created.
However the chronological breakdown does not extend to month
and day. The arrangement within the chronology is generally:
family papers, missionary papers, Presbyterian Church papers,
and general and miscellaneous papers.