Lewis C. Walmsley fonds

Administrative / Biographical History: Lewis Calvin Walmsley (1897-1989) was born in Ontario in 1897. He graduated with a B.A. in mathematics and physics from Victoria College of the University of Toronto in 1919. In 1921, Walmsley and his wife, Constance Ellen Kilborn, set out for West China and worked in the Canadian School in Chengdu, which was originally set up for the education of the children of missionaries. Walmsley was the principal of the school. After 1929, he also worked at West China Union University teaching pedagogy, social psychology and experimental psychology. In 1948, Lewis returned to Toronto and worked in the Department of East Asiatic Studies at the University of Toronto. While there Walmsley started researching the life and work of the Rt. Rev. William Charles White, Bishop of Honan (1909-1934), the man behind the Chinese artifacts collection and the H.H. Mu Chinese reference library collection at the Royal Ontario Museum. His research culminated in a biography entitled, "Bishop in Honan : mission and museum in the life of William C. White", [ca.1974]. Walmsley also wrote and published other Chinese related works. In collaboration with Chang Yin-Nam he published in 1958 a translation of Poems of Wang Wei. In 1968, he wrote Wang Wei, A Pastoral Poet. He wrote the concise yet comprehensive history of West China Union University, published in 1974. He also painted in oils, scenes in West China, in Canada and other parts of the world.

Scope and Content: Fonds consists of research files for the biography of William Charles White and his efforts collecting Chinese artifacts. Files include genealogical information, a list of White's publications, H.H. Mu library, inteviews with various people concerning White's life and career, and newspaper clippings about Chinese artifacts and art.

Associated Material: Lewis C. Walmsley fonds - SC11 at University of Toronto Library

Related Fonds: William Charles White fonds; Missionary Society of the Church of England in Canada (MSCC) fonds

General Notes: GSA holds "Bishop in Honan : mission and museum in the life of William C. White", by L.C. Walmsley in the historical library (MM52.7 .W338.2)