Michael S. Culbertson Manuscript Collection
Scope and Content
The collection consists of the Old and New Testaments in three hand-bound volumes of Chinese text, the Old Testament in two volumes. On the bottom edges of the New Testament is written in ink "with Corrections".
Dates
- undated, 1911
Language of Materials
Chinese
Access
There are no special restrictions to access of this collection. It may be examined by library patrons under the normal rules and conditions of Special Collections.
Biographical Information
Michael Simpson Culbertson was born in Chambersburg, Pa., January 18, 1819. He graduated from the The United States Military Academy at West Point in 1839 and was commissioned second lieutenant, First Artillery. He entered Princeton Theological Seminary September 1841 and graduated in 1844. Following licensure by the Presbytery of Carlisle and ordination in his hometown, he married Mary Dunlap of Salem, NY.
Soon after, Culbertson was commissioned by the Board of Foreign Missions of the Presbyterian Church to serve at the Mission of Shanghai. He and his wife sailed for China June 22, 1844, arriving October 22. The First Presbyterian Church in China at Ningpo was organized July 18, 1845, and Culbertson installed as pastor. He worked for six years at Ningpo before being transferred to Shanghai in 1851.
Culbertson served two months in 1850 on the General Committee for Translating the Scriptures with Elijah Coleman Bridgman and others. After disagrements over translation of some terms and illness of members, Bridgman and Culbertson continued their work together, publishing their translation in 1855. Biographical documents by his widow state that Culbertson also acted as interpreter to the Amerian Legation and "military commander to prepare defences for the Foreign American community during an invasion of the Chinese insurgents".
Culbertson wrote several other works on China, including Darkness in the flowery land : or, Religious notions and popular superstitions in North China and "The religious condition of the Chinese, and their claims on the church : a sermon / preached for the Board of Foreign Missions of the Presbyterian Church, in New York, May 3, 1857". He died in Shanghai August 25, 1862, of cholera.
Extent
0.3 Linear Feet (1 Box)
Provenance
The collection was given to Princeton Theological Seminary February 17, 1911, by Culbertson's daughter, Josephine Culbertson.
- Title
- Michael S. Culbertson Manuscript Collection
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Staff
- Date
- 2015
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- Undetermined
- Script of description
- Code for undetermined script
- Language of description note
- English
Repository Details
Part of the Princeton Theological Seminary. Library. Special Collections Repository
Princeton Theological Seminary
Wright Library
25 Library Place
Princeton NJ 08540 USA
speccoll@ptsem.edu