The Papers of Mary Abbott and Julia Chester Emery primarily consist of correspondence documenting major events in the lives of the sisters. Julia Emery’s correspondence documents her travels, retirement, and death, leading to a rather unbalanced picture of her life. Mary Emery’s correspondence is much more prolific, with letters existing for almost every year between 1862 and 1901. Also included in the collection are manuscripts, printed material, clippings, and memorabilia. Limited correspondence, biographical information, and literary works relating to other family members, including their father, John Emery, are also present.

The records of the Overseas Department document the missionary endeavors of The Episcopal Church in China from 1835 to 1954 and include correspondence, reports, financial records, publications, and visual records. The three geographic districts in which Episcopal missions were located, Shanghai, Hankow, and Anking, as well as Chung Hua Sheng Kung Hui, the Holy Catholic Church in China, are represented.