William Johnson Cole papers, 1910-1916 and undated
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Summary
- Creator:
- Cole, William Johnson, b. 1886-
- Abstract:
- Employee of the Lepetkatta Tea Co., Ltd., in Barbaru, Assam, India. Cole signed his letters "Johnson." Collection comprises weekly letters Johnson wrote to his parents in England while he served as an engineer for a tea estate, and provides commentary written from a late-colonial perspective. There is information regarding the management of the tea estate, tea manufacture, tea prices and trade, and the transformation of work processes and personal lives by mechanization, the introduction of electricity, and brick making. In addition, Johnson wrote about local customs, labor, wildlife, weather, religious festivals, disease outbreaks (esp. cholera), and Indian politics. He also wrote about various engine repairs he undertook; transportation; his favorite pastimes (including hunting and playing polo); his various horses and pets; medical and dental treatments; people he met; as well as his activities in the volunteer British military guard, where he participated in military tests, drills, and sports, and served as Farrier Sergeant. His final letters contained extensive commentary on England's role in World War I, as well as the impact of the war on Assam. Includes a few postcards, one photograph, a clipping, and a tea invoice. There is also one undated letter written to Johnson by a native missionary who requested assistance.
- Extent:
- 1 Linear Foot
- Language:
- Materials in English
- Collection ID:
- RL.00245
Background
- Scope and content:
-
Collection comprises weekly letters Johnson wrote to his parents in England while he served as an engineer for a tea estate, and provides commentary written from a late-colonial perspective. There is information regarding the management of the tea estate, tea manufacture, tea prices and trade, and the transformation of work processes and personal lives by mechanization, the introduction of electricity, and brick making. In addition, Johnson wrote about local customs, labor, wildlife, weather, religious festivals, disease outbreaks (esp. cholera), and Indian politics. He also wrote about various engine repairs he undertook; transportation; his favorite pastimes (including hunting and playing polo); his various horses and pets; medical and dental treatments; people he met; as well as his activities in the volunteer British military guard, where he participated in military tests, drills, and sports, and served as Farrier Sergeant. His final letters contained extensive commentary on England's role in World War I, as well as the impact of the war on Assam. Includes a few postcards, one photograph, a clipping, and a tea invoice. There is also one undated letter written to Johnson by a native missionary who requested assistance.
- Biographical / historical:
-
Employee of the Lepetkatta Tea Co., Ltd., in Barbaru, Assam, India. Cole signed his letters "Johnson."
- Acquisition information:
- Purchase, 2008
- Processing information:
-
Processed by: Alice Poffinberger, February 2010
Encoded by: Noah Huffman, February 2010
Accession(s) described in this finding aid: 2008-0054
- Arrangement:
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Arranged chronologically.
- Physical location:
- For current information on the location of these materials, please consult the Library's online catalog.
- Rules or conventions:
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Subjects
Click on terms below to find related finding aids on this site. For other related materials in the Duke University Libraries, search for these terms in the Catalog.
- Subjects:
- Tea plantation workers -- India -- Assam
Tea -- India -- Assam
British -- India -- History -- 20th century
World War, 1914-1918 -- India
Tea trade -- India -- History -- 20th century
British -- India -- Social life and customs - Names:
- Lepetkatta Tea Co., Ltd
Great Britain. Army. Indian division
Great Britain. Army -- Recruiting, enlistment, etc.
Great Britain. Army -- Military life
Cole, William Johnson, b. 1886-
Cole, William Johnson, b. 1886- - Places:
- Great Britain -- Colonies -- Social conditions
India -- Politics and government -- 1857-1919
Great Britain -- Colonies -- History -- Sources
Great Britain -- Colonies -- India
Barbaru (India) -- History
Great Britain -- Colonies -- History
Assam (India) -- Description and travel
Assam (India) -- History -- 20th century
Contents
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Using These Materials
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Collection is open for research.
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- Preferred citation:
-
[Identification of item], in the William Johnson Cole Papers, 1910-1916 and undated, David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Duke University.