Items

• Ontario Families in West China
  Group portrait of George and Dorothy Sparling, with George's cousin Edith (who was the accountant for the Canadian Methodist Mission) and Dorothy's sister or other relative, and two additional missionaries with the Women's Missionary Society. From the caption it seems that the two unnamed women missionaries are placed one in the front and the other in the back, while the relatives are placed with each other with the Sparlings in the back and the Switzers in the front. They are posing in front of a verandah alcove with a window behind.
• Three Sparling Girls
  Portrait of Ruth, Margaret and Florence Sparling (from left to right). The baby sleeps on a wicker rocking chair while the two girls look off to the side as if there were another photographer taking another photograph. Ruth wears a dark dress with plaid silk taffeta trimmings. Florence wears a white dress. The setting is outdoors in front of a wall with a small patch of grass in the foreground.
• Francis, Winnifred and Margaret Service
  Studio portrait of the three daughters of Dr. Charles and Robina Service, Francis, Winnifred and Margaret. All three girls wear white dresses. The two older girls wear black stockings, while the younger girl wears ankle socks.
• Mrs. Ferguson and Gerald Irene Marshall
  Mrs. Ferguson is seated on a wicker chair with Gerald on her lap in front of a wooden door.
• Abrey Family on Porch
  The Abrey family posing on the porch of a brick building, probably their home. Fred wears a two piece suit with dark tie and pen in pocket. Elsie wears a polka dot blouse with a dark ankle-length skirt.
• The Abrey and Johns Families Outdoors
  The Abrey and Johns families pose in an outdoor setting wearing coats, sweaters, and hats. Back row from left: Alfred Johns, Elsie Abrey, Myrtle Johns, Fred Abrey. Front row from left: Eleanor and Dorothy Abrey, Martin and Harold Johns.
• Johns Family Portrait, 1924
  The Johns family poses before a brick wall. Left to right: Ruth, Myrtle, Ed, Martin, Alfred, Paul, Harold. Myrtle wears a white frock with stocking-covered ankles exposed. Alfred wears a two piece suit with a white tie. The older boys wear striped shirts with dark ties. Harold and Ed wear boys' jumpers. Ed has a bow scarf at his neck. Ruth wears a white dress.
• Myrtle Johns with Her Twins
  Myrtle stands holding her twin babies, Ruth and Ed Johns. The background is a brick garden wall with foliage above it. The babies appear to be wearing pucker-toed moccasins.
• Portrait of Johns Family with Three Boys
  Formal studio portrait of Alfred, Myrtle, Martin, Harold and Paul Johns. Paul sits on Myrtle's lap. Alfred wears a white tie and high collar. Myrtle wears a printed or embroidered silk blouse with a dark woolen skirt. The boys are wearing white dresses or shorts with knee socks and Mary Jane shoes.
• Harold and Martin Johns on Porch
  Baby Harold Johns sits on a small wooden rocking chair. His brother Martin stands beside him. In the background can be seen an embroidered Chinese screen and two potted plants.
• Johns Family in Garden
  The Johns family posing in front of a stone wall in a garden. Alfred Johns stands behind Myrtle, who is seated on a wicker chair with baby Martin on her lap. Alfred wears a three piece suit with a watch chain. Myrtle wears an ankle-length dress with short sleeves over long sleeves.
• Johns Family on Porch
  The Johns family on the porch of a brick building, probably their home. Alfred Johns stands behind Myrtle who is seated on a wicker chair with baby Harold on her lap. Martin Johns is seated in his own little rocking chair. There are potted plants on either side of the family.
• Myrtle Madge and Another Student Practicing Dentistry
  Two dental nurses pose with two child patients in the dental laboratory at the School of Dentistry at the University of Toronto where Alfred Johns and Myrtle Madge met. Myrtle (right) uses a set of pliers to pull a child's tooth. The other nurse wraps a bandage around a child's head, simulating a procedure after surgery. Bottles with labels sit in rows on shelves in the background. A large book lays open on the table.
• Unidentified WCUU Building
  Two or three story building on the WCUU campus with the "Oriental-Western" style of architecture.
• Laying the Cornerstone of the Canadian School in West China, 1918
  A large group of missionaries pose on a platform that appears to be the beginning of scaffolding. British, Canadian and American flags are hung behind them. Another unidentified flag hangs at the front of the platform. The caption explains that this was a ceremony for laying the cornerstone of the Canadian School in West China.
• Vandeman Memorial Hall, WCUU, 1920
  The Vandeman Memorial Hall is a large three-story building in the "Oriental-Western" style of architecture typical of the WCUU campus. There is a small pagoda-like tower projecting from the roof above the front door. The building is enclosed by fences of both brick and bamboo.
• Ackerman Memorial Dormitory, WCUU, c.1914
  This photograph shows the Ackerman Memorial Dormitory under construction very close to completion. There is scaffolding on the pagoda tower element of the building, which makes it so distinctive. To the left of the Ackerman Building is the Joyce Memorial Dormitory. Both buildings are designed in the "Oriental-Western" style of architecture.
• 1905-1913 Building the Canadian Methodist Mission Hospital, Chengdu
  The missionaries involved in the construction of the Canadian Methodist Mission (CMM) teaching hospital between 1905 and 1913 have left a rich record of its construction in both images and text. This is their story.
• Canadian Row at WCUU from Creek
  This photograh shows the six houses on the outer row of the "Canadian Row," which faced an irrigation ditch or stream, but was later converted into an athletic field. Apparently the Johns' house was not among these houses because they are all of the later style with verandahs encircling bith first and second floors. After a few decades, missionaries learned that those upper verandahs were just what was needed for summer sleeping quarters.
• Canadian Row at WCUU Across Field
  This photograh shows the six houses on the outer row of the "Canadian Row," which faced an irrigation ditch or stream, but was later converted into an athletic field. Apparently the Johns' house was not among these houses because they are all of the later style with verandahs encircling bith first and second floors. After a few decades, missionaries learned that those upper verandahs were just what was needed for summer sleeping quarters.
• 1913 Johns' Home in Chengdu
  Alfred and Myrtle Johns stand on the lawn of their home on "Canadian Row" with another (unidentified) missionary family. The two story house is a mixture of European and Chinese architecture and has a verandah surrounding the first floor.
• 1913 Johns' Home at WCUU
  Alfred and Myrtle Johns stand on the lawn of their home on "Canadian Row" with another (unidentified) missionary family. The two story house is a mixture of European and Chinese architecture and has a verandah surrounding the first floor.
• Johns' Language Teacher with His Family
  Johns' language teacher (center back) with his wife (front, second from right) with their family (front) and friends (back, right and left?). Note the men's changshan or "scholars' gowns," and the women's trousers and bound feet.
• Lao Guan Miao Back View with Alfred Johns
  Alfred Johns wearing pith helmet stanfing inside the courtyard of Lao Guan Miao. Trees, a small gazebo, and other out buildings can be seen within the compound.
• Lao Guan Miao Back View with Myrtle Johns
  Described differently as both back and front of the compound at Lao Guan Miao, it appears to be inside the courtyard. Myrtle Johns stands with a Chinese language instructor and a servant, the former identified by his changshan or "scholars' gown."