Clarence E. Norman Papers

1916-1933
Manuscript Collection #367
Portions of this collection are digitized (1 item)
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Creator(s)
Norman, Clarence E.
Physical description
0.073 Cubic Feet, 52 items , consisting of correspondence and one typescript news release.
Preferred Citation
Clarence E. Norman Papers (#367), East Carolina Manuscript Collection, J. Y. Joyner Library, East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina, USA.
Repository
ECU Manuscript Collection
Access
No restrictions

Papers (1916-1933) consisting of correspondence, one typescript news release, account of daily activities, letters, vital statistics, Japan Evangelical Lutheran Church.

Biographical/historical information

Clarence E. Norman was an American missionary for the United Lutheran Church of America who worked in the prefecture of Kumamoto, Japan, from 1919 to at least 1930. During this period he returned to America once, in 1924, for a stay of about a year. Mr. Norman was accompanied to Japan by his wife, Lottie, and their young daughter, Rebecca.

Scope and arrangement

Most of the correspondence is written by Mr. Norman but occasionally there is a letter written by Lottie and even one piece of correspondence from young Rebecca. Other correspondence includes three letters from J. M. S. Winshor (1933) and one from a Miss Shirk (1933).

Generally, most of the correspondence consists of routine information. Accounts of daily activities, such as who came to dinner, excursions to the parks and countryside, health of the family, and travel are all included in these narratives.

However, there are several letters which carry more weight. Most notable among these is the November, 1919, letter that comments extensively on Japanese prostitution. Included in the text are remarks on the prostitutes' appearance, how Japanese women begin such a life, and the inevitable consequences.

Other letters discuss a Japanese prisoner's treatment while incarcerated (Dec., 1926); the number of locals converted to Christianity (Feb., 1927); and, following the worst typhoon in forty years, the local devastation and the vital statistics quoted from a local Japanese newspaper (July, 1930).

Also included is a report from the seventh annual meeting of the Japan Evangelical Lutheran Church held in Arima, Japan.

Administrative information
Custodial History

September 20, 1978, 52 items; Correspondence (1916-1933) of Lutheran missionary to Japan. Gift of Reverend Clarence E. Norman, Cary, N.C.

Source of acquisition

Gift of Reverend Clarence E. Norman

Processing information

Processed by H. Warren, March 1981; Updated by N. Hardison, June 2025

Encoded by Apex Data Services

Copyright notice

Literary rights to specific documents are retained by the authors or their descendants in accordance with U.S. copyright law.

Metadata Rights Declaration
Key terms
Personal Names
Norman, Clarence E.
Corporate Names
United Lutheran Church in America--Missions
Topical
Missionaries--Japan
Missions--Japan
Prisoners--Japan
Prostitution--Japan
Typhoons--Japan
Places
Japan--Description and travel