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| Record Creator: | Long, Carroll Summerfield |
| Title: | Carroll Summerfield Long Personal Papers |
| Title: | Long Papers |
| Date Span: | 1863-1931 |
| Abstract: | Reverend Carroll Summerfield Long, D.D., PhD. (1850-1890) American Methodist Episcopal Church missionary to Japan was born on January 2, 1850 in Athens, Tennessee. Long was admitted to the Holston Conference and was appointed to a church in Asheville, North Carolina where he would serve for four years. Long and his wife sailed from San Francisco, California, on February 28, 1880, and arrived in Nagasaki March 20, 1880. Reverend Carroll Summerfield Long made his last return trip to the United States on August 17, 1890, and due to bad health, passed away at the home his friend the Reverend J.D. Robertson in Asheville, North Carolina, on September 4, 1890. Long is buried in Cedar Grove Cemetery (Athens, Tennessee). This collection reflects the missionary work of the Reverend Carroll Summerfield Long and the Methodist Episcopal Church in Japan. The material ranges from 1863 to 1931, and includes multiple record types. The collection provides an insider’s point of view towards a missionary’s life in 19th century Japan. |
| Extent: | 0.52 cubic feet |
| Resource ID: | gcah.ms.3844 |
Reverend Carroll Summerfield Long, D.D., PhD. (1850-1890) American Methodist Episcopal Church missionary was born on January 2, 1850 in Athens, Tennessee. He was the oldest son of Reverend William R. Long (February 18, 1819-November 4, 1847) and Sarah Elizabeth (Atlee) Long (April 4, 1829-December 5, 1889). He attended East Tennessee Wesleyan College (Athens, Tennessee) with the intent of practicing medicine. However, he had a change in plans and wanted to live a more religious lifestyle. He became licensed to preach on June 22, 1872 under Reverend J. W. Mann. Higher education was important to Long, and he would return to East Tennessee Wesleyan College to complete his studies, receiving a B.A. in the classics in 1878, a M.A. in 1881, followed by an PhD in 1886.
In October 1875, Long was admitted to the Holston Conference and was stationed in Asheville, North Carolina where he would serve for four years as the pastor of the church. During which he would also serve as the president of Candler College for two of those years. In August 1879, he was elected as the principal of Powells Valley Seminary (Well Spring, Tennessee), where he would hold the position for a short five months before accepting an appointment as missionary to Japan. Long and his wife sailed from San Francisco, California on February 28, 1880 and arrived in Nagasaki March 20, 1880. Long was determined to become emerged within the Japanese culture, and took up to the study of the language and customs upon his arrival. Within less than 13 weeks, Long was able to give his first sermon in the vernacular of the people. Reverend Carroll Summerfield Long would serve a total of eight years as a missionary to Japan. Some of his many accomplishments include founding Cobleigh Seminary (1881), becoming the presiding elder of the Nagasaki and Nagoya districts, as well as founding a school for girls in Nagoya (October 1888).
His missionary experiences were not experienced alone, and in many aspects, could not be completed without his family. On June 3, 1879 he married Flora Isadore Smith (1861-1952), the daughter of Reverend William Conway Smith (1830-1881) and Mary Eliza (Hemens) Smith (1835-1929). They met through “Pen Pal,” as Flora loved to read “The Children’s Corner” and began an relationship through the correspondence that the two would have. During their time in Japan, Carroll and Flora would have 4 children: Mary Elizabeth Long Dayharsh (1880-1975), Flora Hortense Long Harrison (1881-1968), Pauline “Haru” Atlee Long (1883-1931) and “Michi” Geraldine Long Bailey (1888-1985).
Reverend Carroll Summerfield Long made his last return trip to the United States on August 17, 1890, and due to bad health, passed away at the home his friend Reverend J.D. Robertson in Asheville, North Carolina on September 4, 1890 and is buried in Cedar Grove Cemetery (Athens, Tennessee).
This collection reflects the missionary work of the Reverend Carroll Summerfield Long and the Methodist Episcopal Church in Japan. The material ranges from 1863 to 1931, and includes multiple record types. The collection provides an insider’s point of view towards a missionary’s life in 19th century Japan.
Correspondence from the Reverend Long has been recorded in two copy letter books (1881-1885). They include copies of business and personal letters written by Reverend Carroll Summerfield Long, which documents his role as missionary and Presiding Elder in the Nagasaki Conference. Included are financial information describing salaries, grocery lists and other expenses kept by the Japan Mission. Also included is a documented account of the newly established Cobleigh Seminary (1881), as well as the joys and concerns of running a Christian seminary in a foreign land. Personal correspondence is between his friends and family. He keeps his loved ones updates on his life abroad, describing the benefits and challenges he and his family gain while in Japan. One issue which he speaks of often is that of ill health. He writes to his family doctor in one letter, “Our mission is almost broken up by sickness...the few missionaries who are left here...to carry on the work in absence of the sick members” (March 2, 1882). Nearly all the letters are written in English, with a handful written with Japanese characters. In addition, both copy letter books include an index, where the Rev. Long as organized and recorded his letters alphabetically in reference to the respondent.
The collection includes Long’s diary (1881-1883). In which he describes his responsibilities as a minister to the Methodist Episcopal Church, as well as his responsibilities as a father, husband and son to his family. He records his day to day experiences including visitations from various missionaries, his relationship to his students and teachers at Cobleigh Seminary, as well as his reaction and criticism towards his sermons and preaching abilities. He also writes of his personal inspirations to why he joined a religious life and how it has effects his daily routine as a missionary overseas. The collection also includes an excerpt from the diary of the Reverend Long’s daughter Flora Hortense Long Harrison (1908). She describes how her Japanese teacher, Mr. Chiga, became to be a Christian and a Methodist, and the role that her father played in his religious transformation.
The role which the Reverend Long played in the Methodist Episcopal Church can also be seen in the Presiding Elders Manual which he kept for both North Carolina (1886-1888) and Japan (1888). Both manuals give a detailed account of the different conferences he was involved with. The manuals include the names of pastors, number of church members, attendance for Sunday school, as well as the financial information regarding each organization. The role of Carroll Summerfield Long, as well as other missionaries, are depicted in the collection’s thirty-one photographs. These include portraits of Long, his family, members of the Nagasaki Conference. The photographs also include some buildings, including the Wistorua of Kwassui Joyakko and Kwassui Joen, Girls Home Omura.
The collection also includes a number of publications which showcase Long’s writing and descriptions of a life in Japan to his American audience. Included in the publications are pieces written by missionary Elizabeth Russell, the history of Evangelization of Japan, as well as some biographical writings, including an obituary for the Reverend Carroll Summerfield Long.
Materials have been arranged in the following manner.
Materials are arranged by record type.
When citing material from this collection please use the following format: Direct reference to the item or its file folder, Carroll Summerfield Long Personal Papers, United Methodist Church Archives - GCAH, Madison, New Jersey. Do not make use of the items call number as that is not a stable descriptor.
No restrictions.
Detailed use restrictions relating to our collections can be requested from the office of the archivist at the General Commission on Archives and History. Photocopying is handled by the staff and may be limited in certain instances. Before using any material for publication from this collection a formal request for permission to publish is expected and required.
Mission Biographical Files
Long, Carroll. Holston Annual Conference. Kelly Library, Emory and Henry College
| Call Number | Folder Title | Date(s) |
| 1607-3-3: 1 | Local Preacher's License | 1872 |
| 1607-3-3: 2 | Presiding Elders Manual - North Carolina | 1886-1888 |
| 1607-3-3: 3 | Presiding Elders Manual - Nagoya, Japan | 1888 |
| 1607-3-3: 4 | Letters Book 1 October 20, 1881 - July 10, 1883 | 1881-1883 |
| 1607-3-3: 5 | Letters Book 2 December 15, 1882 - February 13, 1885 | 1882-1885 |
| 1607-3-3: 6 | C. S. Long's Nagasaki Diary December 7, 1881 - August 18, 1883 | 1881-1883 |
| 1607-3-3: 7 | Letter in Diary to Brother Long from Brother C. Bishop June 12, 1887 | 1887 |
| 1607-3-3: 8 | Flora Hortense Long Harrison's Diary Excerpt November 3, 1908 | 1908 |
| 1607-3-3: 9 | Photographs 1887-1898 | 1887-1898 |
| 1607-3-3: 10 | Pioneer Days in My Beloved Japan by Elizabeth Russell | Undated |
| 1607-3-3: 11 | The Evangelization of Japan: A Story of the Evangelistic Activities of the Japan Mission | 1931 |
| 1607-3-3: 12 | Gospel in All Lands July 1900 | 1900 |
| 1607-3-3: 13 | The Florida Methodist July 15, 1889 | 1889 |
| 1607-3-3: 14 | Chattanooga Daily Rebel June 28, 1863 | 1863 |
| 1607-3-3: 15 | The Christian Advocate: Tokyo March 20-July 16, 1889 | 1889 |
