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A large format calligraphy brush, likely made with goat hair with a bamboo handle. This brush is in the center of the first image.

A large format calligraphy brush, likely made with goat hair with a bamboo handle. This brush is in the center of the first image.

A postcard showing a class of young men and boys at the Longenschool.

A postcard showing a class of young men and boys at the Longenschool.

This is a type of headcrest mask found amongst the southern Ika, a western Igbo peoples residing on the left bank of the Niger River (Kwale region) and Isoko peoples residing further to the south. G.I. Jones photographed such masks in the 1930s. In performance they are embellished with feathers inserted into holes along the back of the figure and across the feline figure at the top of the mask. Jones documented their performance in the Ogonya Play in Ogume village, southern Ika.

This is a type of headcrest mask found amongst the southern Ika, a western Igbo peoples residing on the left bank of the Niger River (Kwale region) and Isoko peoples residing further to the south. G.I. Jones photographed such masks in the 1930s. In performance they are embellished with feathers inserted into holes along the back of the figure and across the feline figure at the top of the mask. Jones documented their performance in the Ogonya Play in Ogume village, southern Ika.

An inkstone engraved on five sides with various scenes of a crowd gathered in the gardens of a large pavilion. The inverse of the stone is engraved with the text of the Lanting Xu (兰亭集序; 난정집서), a famous piece of Chinese calligraphy considered to have been written by the famous calligrapher, Wang Xizhi (王羲之; 왕희지), during the Jin dynasty (266-420 BCE). On the front of the stone, a lone scholar, possibly Wang Xizhi, sits at a desk overlooking a pond which makes up the ink well and plain.

An inkstone engraved on five sides with various scenes of a crowd gathered in the gardens of a large pavilion. The inverse of the stone is engraved with the text of the Lanting Xu (兰亭集序; 난정집서), a famous piece of Chinese calligraphy considered to have been written by the famous calligrapher, Wang Xizhi (王羲之; 왕희지), during the Jin dynasty (266-420 BCE). On the front of the stone, a lone scholar, possibly Wang Xizhi, sits at a desk overlooking a pond which makes up the ink well and plain.

A mask made of wood, fiber, and pigment, portraying Mma ji.

A mask made of wood, fiber, and pigment, portraying Mma ji.

Igbo masks are made in many styles, and their distribution does not necessarily coincide with a matching set of beliefs concerning mask spirits. For example, the Okorosia masquerades of south-central Igboland share overall style features with the northern Igbo masks of the Nri-Awka area, such as the white-faced "Maiden-Spirit Mask" Agbogho mmuo but the belief in Okorosia water spirits is borrowed from the Niger Delta to the south where water spirits abound.

Igbo masks are made in many styles, and their distribution does not necessarily coincide with a matching set of beliefs concerning mask spirits. For example, the Okorosia masquerades of south-central Igboland share overall style features with the northern Igbo masks of the Nri-Awka area, such as the white-faced "Maiden-Spirit Mask" Agbogho mmuo but the belief in Okorosia water spirits is borrowed from the Niger Delta to the south where water spirits abound.

A set of forty-two simple glass communion cups.

A set of forty-two simple glass communion cups.

Extracts from two letters sent from Charles Minot Griffith to his wife, Elva, and published in the Perry Record, a local newspaper in Perry, New York, which regularly published letters and journal entries the Griffith's sent during their time in South America. The first letter discusses Griffith's preparations to travel Naranjal in the Guayaquil Province of Ecuador, including descriptions of the acquisition of pack animals and the necessity of repacking much of his luggage to account for the weather.

Extracts from two letters sent from Charles Minot Griffith to his wife, Elva, and published in the Perry Record, a local newspaper in Perry, New York, which regularly published letters and journal entries the Griffith's sent during their time in South America. The first letter discusses Griffith's preparations to travel Naranjal in the Guayaquil Province of Ecuador, including descriptions of the acquisition of pack animals and the necessity of repacking much of his luggage to account for the weather.

A postcard showing a thatch-roofed buiilding, outside of which sit group of children. In the shade of the roof's overhang, a man is sitting in a white suit.

A postcard showing a thatch-roofed buiilding, outside of which sit group of children. In the shade of the roof's overhang, a man is sitting in a white suit.

A large format calligraphy brush, likely made with goat hair with either a bone or horn handle. The handle is engraved with the characters, [insert here], which roughly translate to "[insert translation]." This brush is on the left of the first image.

A large format calligraphy brush, likely made with goat hair with either a bone or horn handle. The handle is engraved with the characters, [insert here], which roughly translate to "[insert translation]." This brush is on the left of the first image.

The proceedings of the thirty-fifth meeting of the Society of Biblical Literature and Exegesis held at Columbia University on December 28, 1899.

The proceedings of the thirty-fifth meeting of the Society of Biblical Literature and Exegesis held at Columbia University on December 28, 1899.

Through bold color and aggressive imagery, predatory animal references, horns, and strange tubular eyes this mask is a visually intimidating presence that harnesses the power of spirits from the wilderness as instruments of proprietary control in the realm of the town or village. Their visual affect was only heightened during performance. This Wé mask presents a bewildering accumulation of animal references: a fringe of aluminum-silver pseudo-leopard teeth, wild boar tusks, and pointed ears.

Through bold color and aggressive imagery, predatory animal references, horns, and strange tubular eyes this mask is a visually intimidating presence that harnesses the power of spirits from the wilderness as instruments of proprietary control in the realm of the town or village. Their visual affect was only heightened during performance. This Wé mask presents a bewildering accumulation of animal references: a fringe of aluminum-silver pseudo-leopard teeth, wild boar tusks, and pointed ears.

Small delicately carved face masks with pert noses and childlike facial features representing male and female spirits (elu) appear in village masquerades among Ogoni peoples living between the Niger Delta and Cross Rivers of southern Nigeria. Many of these face masks are cut across the mouth allowing the wearer to articulate the jaw as the spirit speaks through him. The open mouth reveals narrow teeth, usually made of cane.

Small delicately carved face masks with pert noses and childlike facial features representing male and female spirits (elu) appear in village masquerades among Ogoni peoples living between the Niger Delta and Cross Rivers of southern Nigeria. Many of these face masks are cut across the mouth allowing the wearer to articulate the jaw as the spirit speaks through him. The open mouth reveals narrow teeth, usually made of cane.

A postcard showing Sister Coote, next to the unnamed mother, holding the first baby born with surgical intervention as part of the "Mbuma-zending" medical. The photograph was taken a few months after the birth. The verso includes a description of the image and a request for donations to the Dutch Foundation "Mbuma-zending" which supports the mission work of the Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland in Rhodesia (modern Zimbabwe and Zambia).

A postcard showing Sister Coote, next to the unnamed mother, holding the first baby born with surgical intervention as part of the "Mbuma-zending" medical. The photograph was taken a few months after the birth. The verso includes a description of the image and a request for donations to the Dutch Foundation "Mbuma-zending" which supports the mission work of the Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland in Rhodesia (modern Zimbabwe and Zambia).

A postcard showing in the distance the "Mission Baudouinville." A road lined by thatch-roofed buildings leads up to the church. The shot shows a number of individuals carrying baskets and bundles walking towards the church between several palm trees.

A postcard showing in the distance the "Mission Baudouinville." A road lined by thatch-roofed buildings leads up to the church. The shot shows a number of individuals carrying baskets and bundles walking towards the church between several palm trees.

A report on a meeting of the International Missionary Union in the early 1900s published in a newspaper. The article covers the opening session and briefly describes the reports made by various members on their work in Turkey, Bulgaria, Spain, Micronesia, India, Burma, and Siam.

A report on a meeting of the International Missionary Union in the early 1900s published in a newspaper. The article covers the opening session and briefly describes the reports made by various members on their work in Turkey, Bulgaria, Spain, Micronesia, India, Burma, and Siam.

A photograph album collecting photgraphs, postcards, and other images depicting the daily life and work of the Callahan's during their mission in Japan. This album includes a number of recreations of traditional Japanese paintings and other artworks.

A photograph album collecting photgraphs, postcards, and other images depicting the daily life and work of the Callahan's during their mission in Japan. This album includes a number of recreations of traditional Japanese paintings and other artworks.

A photograph album collecting photographs depicting the daily life of the Callahan's during their mission in Japan. There is a focus on their travel throughout Japan, hosting "tent" meetings.

A photograph album collecting photographs depicting the daily life of the Callahan's during their mission in Japan. There is a focus on their travel throughout Japan, hosting "tent" meetings.

A wax rubbing of the tablet, done in sections on four different pieces of tissue paper. The inscription is primarily in Chinese, but there are several Syriac words; and there is a bilingual list of proper names in both languages.

A wax rubbing of the tablet, done in sections on four different pieces of tissue paper. The inscription is primarily in Chinese, but there are several Syriac words; and there is a bilingual list of proper names in both languages.

A large format calligraphy brush, likely made with goat hair with a wooden handle. This brush is on the right in the first image.

A large format calligraphy brush, likely made with goat hair with a wooden handle. This brush is on the right in the first image.