WWI ERA PHOTO EPHEMERA BELONGING TO BERTA R. BABCOCK
Japanese, early 20th century. Photographs, negatives, and postcards all belonging to the missionary during her time in Yokohama, several examples of Ms. Babcock with members of the mission as well as photographs gifted to Ms. Babcock.

Recurring figures include a young man with the surname Akiyama, who appears in two photographs with Ms. Babcock (of which the negatives are also included), and in a photo with, presumably, his parents; as well as a young couple by the name of Inagaki, who appear in a wedding photo of the couple and one of the wife, both dated April 14th, 1913, two additional photos of the couple together, and a photo postcard of Inagaki in graduation dress reading "To Miss Babcock, Merry Christmas, from Y. Inagaki, New York, 1907".

Most notable is a stock-mounted photograph of fourteen individuals, at the center of which is Berta Babcock seated below Reverend John McKim, with the Inagakis to the left, produced by T. Shirasaki. Also included is a portrait photograph of McKim alone, hand-notated "Sincerely Yours, John McKim" in ink.

Also included are a miscellany of negatives of acquaintances, scenes from Japan, and other images, as well as a small assortment of postcards.

Property from the collection of one Berta R. Babcock (b. 1866), a St. Louis missionary stationed in Yokohama on behalf of the American Episcopal Mission New York, between roughly 1914-1922. Ms. Babcock was appointed missionary to the Society to the Missionary District of Tokyo and was working under the Rev John McKim (1852-1936), Anglican Bishop of Tokyo and Chancellor of Rikkyo University, as records show, from as early as 1902. Her eclectic collection of small decorative arts and utilitarian articles gathered during her residence in Japan speaks both as a window to the past and of an honest appreciation for the day-to-day culture that surpassed touristic fascination.

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