Mercy Whitney’s letters to family back home in the United States.

Mercy Whitney’s letters to family back home in the United States.

Hawaii
missionary project

Samuel Whitney documented his long stay in Hawaii in many different letters. Whether it be to his family, Levi Chamberlain or ABCFM His wife, Mercy Whitney too wrote many letters, many of which like the one at hand were addressed to her family. In this letter to her she expresses distaste to the upbringings and teachings of the indigenous Hawaiians, referring to them as ‘Heathens’ who were bought up on the ground despite having the guidance of a teacher. This is representative of the many attributes the missionaries wished to impose reform on. Whitney was particularly worried about the ‘Heathens’ having a negative effect on her children’s welfare, blaming these worries on deteriorating her health and stressing her out to the extent she could not perform labour. This is symbolic of the earlier 19th century where many missionaries felt as if the work they were doing was unsuccessful and insufficient.

Mercy Whitney, Hawaii

Hawaiian Mission Houses, Digital Archives, Whitney, Samuel – Missionary Letters collection

https://hmha.missionhouses.org/items/show/798

12-28 July 1831

Anonymous

Hawaiian Mission Houses Historic Site and Archives “Whitney, Samuel – Missionary Letters – 1819 – 1870 – Whitney, Mercy,” Hawaiian Mission Houses Digital Archive, accessed November 15, 2017
Collection ID: MS-024
https://hmha.missionhouses.org/items/show/798

English

Textual - handwritten letters

19th century Hawai'i