MS 585
Promise, Inc.
Records, 1937-1998, n.d.

Special Collections Department
403 Parks Library
Iowa State University
Ames, IA 50011-2140
Descriptive summary  |   Administrative information  |  Biographical/Historical note
Collection description  |  Organization  |  Description of series/container list

 

Descriptive summary
creator: Promise, Inc.
title: Records
dates: 1937-1998, n.d.
extent: 7.38 linear feet (18 document boxes and 2 half-document boxes)
collection number: MS 585
repository: Special Collections Department, Iowa State University.

 

Administrative information
access: Open for research
publication rights: Consult Head, Special Collections Department
preferred citation: Promise, Inc., Records, MS 585, Special Collections Department, Iowa State University Library.

 

Historical note
Promise, Inc. was incorporated as a non-profit non-denominational organization in May 1955 by Dr. Pak-Chue Chan and was disbanded in 1998.  Dr. Chan (1895-1991) was a Physician at the Iowa State Student Health Service.

Promise, Inc. had four objectives: to provide modern medical facilities, to provide schools for the underprivileged, to create a self-sufficient agriculture program to feed the hungry, and to teach the Christian spirit.

Promise's first clinic was located in the Philippines Islands in the 1950's. This clinic was not successful due to inability to acquire land in the Philippines, and due to political upheaval in the country. A new clinic was established in Hong Kong in 1967. This building contained medical facilities, an elementary school, and a church, and has been self sufficient since 1988. Finally, a clinic was founded in Piste, Yucatan (Mexico) in 1974, containing an operating room, housing for nurses, maternity care, a nursery, a delivery room and a chapel.

Ronald C. "Cap" Bentley, after his retirement in 1965 from the Agricultural Extension Service at Iowa State University, established the offices of Promise, Inc. in Ames, Iowa. Bentley served as the Executive Director or Promise, Inc., and Director of Fund Raising.


Collection description
This collection contains administrative files, correspondence, minutes, reports, newspaper clippings, historical files, newsletters, project files, posters, writings, financial reports, audiotapes, photographs, black and white negatives, color negatives, maps, slides, films, and scrapbooks.

The bulk of these records document the work of Promise, Inc. in China, Mexico, and the Phillippines, and there are also files containing information about the founder, Dr. Pak-Chue Chan and his books, The Marvelous Promises: The Miracle of a Chinese Doctor (1974) and "Whence Comes This Stranger" (unpublished).

Organization
This collection is organized into four series:
Series 1, Administrative Files
Series 2, Project Files
Series 3, Dr. Pak-Chue Chan Writings
Series 4, Oversize Materials

 

Description of series

Series 1 Administration Files 1945-1998, n.d.
extent: 7.14 linear feet (17 document boxes)
description: Correspondence, minutes, reports, and news clippings are placed in chronological order. The collection also includes historical files, newsletters, and financial reports. Also, correspondence and files from Campus Chest at Iowa State University; affiliated chapters; applications for field service; mailings and contributions; and brochures, announcements and proposals. Photographs, negatives, slides, films, audio tapes, and a filmstrip are also included.

Container list

Box Folder Title Dates
1 1 Correspondence and by laws 1955-1980
1 2 Background of Promise, Inc. 1965, 1969, n.d.
1 3 Legal documents 1963-1977, n.d.
1 4 Promise, Inc., time line 1961-1972
1 5 Administrative file 1955, n.d.
1 6 Administrative file 1956
1 7 Administrative file 1956
1 8 Administrative file 1957
1 9 Administrative file, January-August 1958
1 10 Administrative file, September-December 1958
1 11 Administrative file, January-September 1959
1 12 Administrative file, October-December 1959
1 13 Administrative file 1960
1 14 Administrative file 1961
1 15 Administrative file 1962
1 16 Administrative file 1963
1 17 Administrative file 1964
2 1 Administrative file, January-September 1965
2 2 Administrative file, October-December 1965
2 3 Administrative file, January-February 1966
2 4 Administrative file, February-April 1966
2 5 Administrative file, May-September 1966
2 6 Administrative file, September-December 1966
2 7 Administrative file, January-April 1967
2 8 Administrative file, May-July 1967
2 9 Administrative file, July-December 1967
2 10 Administrative file, January-April 1968
2 11 Administrative file, May-August 1968
2 12 Administrative file, September-December 1968
2 13 Administrative file, January-April 1969
2 14 Administrative file, April-August 1969
2 15 Administrative file, September-October 1969
3 1 Administrative file, October-December 1969
3 2 Administrative file, January-April 1970
3 3 Administrative file, April-July 1970
3 4 Administrative file, August-December 1970
3 5 Administrative file, January-April 1971
3 6 Administrative file, April-June 1971
3 7 Administrative file, June-December 1971
3 8 Administrative file, January-July 1972
3 9 Administrative file, August-December 1972
3 10 Administrative file, January-May 1973
3 11 Administrative file, May-October 1973
3 12 Administrative file, November-December 1973
4 1 Administrative file, January-April 1974
4 2 Administrative file, May-September 1974
4 3 Administrative file, October-December 1974
4 4 Administrative file, January-June 1975
4 5 Administrative file, July-December 1975
4 6 Administrative file 1976
4 7 Administrative file 1977
4 8 Administrative file, January-April 1978
4 9 Administrative file, May-July 1978
4 10 Administrative file, August-September 1978
4 11 Administrative file, October-December 1978
4 12 Administrative file, January-March 1979
5 1 Administrative file, April-June 1979
5 2 Administrative file, July-September 1979
5 3 Administrative file, October-December 1979
5 4 Administrative file, January-March 1980
5 5 Administrative file, April-May 1980
5 6 Administrative file, June-August 1980
5 7 Administrative file, September-November 1980
5 8 Administrative file, December 1980
5 9 Administrative file, January-February 1981
5 10 Administrative file, March-May 1981
5 11 Administrative file, June-September 1981
5 12 Administrative file, October-December 1981
6 1 Administrative file, January-May 1982
6 2 Administrative file, June-December 1982
6 3 Administrative file 1983
6 4 Administrative file 1984
6 5 Administrative file 1985
6 6 Administrative file 1986
6 7 Administrative file 1987
6 8 Administrative file 1988
6 9 Administrative file, January-September 1989
6 10 Administrative file, October-December 1989
6 11 Administrative file 1990
6 12 Administrative file 1991
7 1 Administrative file 1992
7 2 Administrative file 1993
7 3 Administrative file 1994
7 4 Administrative file 1995
7 5 Administrative file 1996
7 6 Administrative file 1997
7 7 Administrative file 1998
7 8 Newsletters 1956-1964
7 9 Newsletters 1956-1973
7 10 Newsletters 1974-1979
7 11 Newsletters 1980-1985
7 12 Newsletters 1986-1998
7 13 Annual financial statement 1955-1984
7 14 Finances 1970-1975
7 15 Finances 1975-1978
7 16 Finances 1979-1998
8 1 Monthly financial statements for Mexico, in Spanish 1981
8 2 Monthly financial statements for Mexico, in Spanish 1982
8 3 Monthly financial statements for Mexico, in Spanish 1983
8 4 Monthly financial statements for Mexico, in Spanish 1984
8 5 Monthly financial statements for Mexico, in Spanish 1985
8 6 Monthly financial statements for Mexico, in Spanish 1986
8 7 Monthly financial statements for Mexico, in Spanish 1987
8 8 Monthly financial statements for Mexico, in Spanish 1988
8 9 Monthly financial statements for Mexico, in Spanish 1989
8 10 Monthly financial statements for Mexico, in Spanish 1990
8 11 Monthly financial statements for Mexico, in Spanish 1991
8 12 Monthly financial statements for Mexico, in Spanish 1992
8 13 Monthly financial statements for Mexico, in Spanish 1993
8 14 Monthly financial statements for Mexico, in Spanish 1994
8 15 Monthly financial statements for Mexico, in Spanish, 1995 1995
8 16 Monthly financial statements for Mexico, in Spanish, 1996 1996
8 17 Monthly financial statements for Mexico, in Spanish, 1997 1997
8 18 Monthly financial statements for Mexico, in Spanish, 1998 1998
9 1 Campus Chest at Iowa State University 1956-1982
9 2 Campus Chest at Iowa State University 1956-1982
9 3 Affiliate chapter: Richardson, Texas 1969-1972
9 4 Affiliate chapter: Fort Collins, Colorado 1965-1972
9 5 Affiliate chapter: Fort Collins, Colorado 1965-1972
9 6 Applications for field service 1967-1969, n.d.
9 7 Applications for field service 1970-1974
9 8 Old mailing and contributions lists 1963-1978
9 9 Old mailing and contributions lists 1979-1987
9 10 News clippings 1955-1986, n.d.
9 11 Clippings on philosophy of Promise, Inc. (left in order as found in scrapbook) 1955-1973, n.d.
9 12 Brochures, announcements, newspaper articles, proposals, and miscellaneous n.d.
9 13 Brochures, announcements, newspaper articles, proposals, and miscellaneous n.d.
10 1 Letter and photographs of trip to Hong Kong n.d.
10 2 Miscellaneous photographs n.d.
10 3 School children in Hong Kong n.d.
10 4 Photographs of Asia n.d.
10 5 Photographs of buildings in Hong Kong n.d.
10 6 Photographs from Hong Kong n.d.
10 7 Campus Chest at Iowa State University, photographs n.d.
10 8 Photographs at the blind center, Miss Lo, Asia n.d.
10 9 People and housing conditions in Hong Kong and Kowloon n.d.
10 10 Visitors to Hong Kong n.d.
10 11 Photographs of the new building in Hong Kong n.d.
10 12 Photographs from Hong Kong 1962-1967, n.d.
10 13 Agriculture, fishing, and market photographs in Asia 1962-1967, n.d.
10 14 Photographs of school children and teenagers in Hong Kong 1965, 1968, n.d.
11 1 Photographs from Kawloon and Hong Kong 1963-1970, n.d.
11 2 Photographs of Christian services 1962-1970, n.d.
11 3 Photographs of visitors to Hong Kong 1971
11 4 Photographs of school children in Hong Kong 1968, 1971, n.d.
11 5 Photographs from Asia 1971-1974, n.d.
11 6 Photographs from Asia 1945-1981, n.d.
11 7 Scrapbook of Promise in Hong Kong, # 1 n.d.
11 8 Scrapbook of Promise in Hong Kong, # 1 n.d.
11 9 Scrapbook of Promise in Hong Kong, # 1 n.d.
11 10 Scrapbook of Promise in Hong Kong, # 1 n.d.
11 11 Scrapbook of Promise in Hong Kong, # 1 n.d.
11 12 Scrapbook of Promise in Hong Kong 1953-1959
11 13 Scrapbook of Promise in Hong Kong, #2 1962-1970, n.d.
12 1 Scrapbook of Promise in Hong Kong, #2 1962-1970, n.d.
12 2 Scrapbook of Promise in Hong Kong, #2 1962-1970, n.d.
12 3 Scrapbook of Mexico n.d.
12 4 Scrapbook of Mexico n.d.
12 5 Scrapbook of Promise in Mexico, complied by Dr. and Mrs. Eggleton (negatives) 1982-1987, n.d.
12 6 Scrapbook of Promise in Hong Kong, #2 1962-1970, n.d.
12 7 Scrapbook of Promise in Hong Kong, #2 1962-1970, n.d.
12 8 Scrapbook of Promise in Hong Kong, #2 1962-1970, n.d.
12 9 Scrapbook of Promise in Hong Kong, #2 1962-1970, n.d.
12 10 Scrapbook, Promise, Inc., Piste Yucatan, Mexico 1981-1987, n.d.
12 11 Scrapbook, Promise, Inc., Piste Yucatan, Mexico 1981-1987, n.d.
13 1 "Family" photographs and trip photos n.d.
13 2 Photographs of Mexico, miscellaneous n.d.
13 3 Photograph of Promise building and people in Mexico n.d.
13 4 Photographs of Promise Building in Mexico n.d.
13 5 Photographs of ruins in Mexico n.d.
13 6 Photographs and negatives of Mexico n.d.
13 7 Photographs from Mexico n.d.
13 8 Chan's and Dings: Friends of Promise, overseas and in the USA n.d.
13 9 Photographs from Mexico n.d.
13 10 Part of a scrap book, Photographs from Mexico n.d.
13 11 "Promesa" Clinic scrapbook of Mexico n.d.
13 12 Photographs of clinic and patients 1975, n.d.
13 13 Photographs of working on the Promise building in Mexico 1979, n.d.
14 1 Photographs of people in Mexico 1975-1980, n.d.
14 2 Executive committee 1980
14 3 Photographs of clinic and patients n.d.
14 4 Photographs of services in Mexico 1979, n.d.
14 5 Photographs and negatives from Mexico and Westfall, February 1981
14 6 Photographs in Mexico 1974
14 7 Photographs of Houg Isoug 1975
14 8 Photographs of Mexico 1982, n.d.
14 9 Scrapbook, Promise Clinic, Piste Yucatan, Mexico n.d.
14 10 Slides n.d.
14 11 Slides n.d.
14 12 "Meridy and Tom's family" slides n.d.
15 1 Negatives of TMSC, Dinner-Country Club, n.d.
15 2 Negatives of Prince fishermen, Red China boats, Chan with antibiotic, seeds, rooftop, hillside, airport, Los Angeles, home n.d.
15 3 Promise Castle Peak, village tower, school and films, peak near Chan's Kowloon buildings, British Agriculture and Fisheries Farm, Tow Temple, and Old Min. n.d.
15 4 Negatives of friends and patients of our churches and clinic of Promise n.d.
15 5 Negatives of burning of Idol 3 n.d.
15 6 Negatives of dedication of new building n.d.
15 7 Negatives of corn by new building n.d.
15 8 Negatives of Sunday morning service at Walled City (Prince) n.d.
15 9 Negatives of TMSC, Bay Area, Kowloon, San and Farmer, Prince, buildings, chicken farm n.d.
15 10 Negatives of Deaf and Dumb School, clinic, new buildings, Chan family, ivory carving, Blind Music School n.d.
15 11 Negatives of countryside of Kowloon n.d.
15 12 Negatives of Ding and family n.d.
15 13 Negatives of children in new classroom n.d.
15 14 Negatives of school and children n.d.
15 15 Unidentified negatives n.d.
15 16 Unidentified negatives n.d.
15 17 Unidentified negatives n.d.
16 1 Negatives of hillside shacks, twins, school children and new building, new - old clinic, pump n.d.
16 2 Negatives from R. C. "Cap" Bentley n.d.
16 3 Negatives of farm and Promise plan, corn, old village, temple and buildings, fishing village and family, Pok Wai Village - Mi Man n.d.
16 4 Unidentified negatives n.d.
16 5 Unidentified negatives n.d.
16 6 Unidentified negatives n.d.
16 7 Unidentified negatives n.d.
16 8 Unidentified negatives (developed on March 3, 1989) 1989
16 9 "For sheets #1, #2, and #3" negatives 1966
16 10 Easter Service at sunrise negatives 1965
16 11 Corner Stone Lane Breeze Way, TMSC, Kawloon, negative 1966
16 12 R. C. "Cap" Bentley and clinic negatives 1967
16 13 Negatives of dedication of Kowloon Building 1967
16 14 Negatives of new building 1966, n.d.
16 15 Negatives of students and faculty at Kowloon summer school 1965
16 16 Negatives of ground breaking and new building, P. C. Chan 1966
17 1 Film information sheets 1956-1958, n.d.
17 2 Two reel to reel tapes recorded to help Pat Bliss with Chan's life history:

Reel I, side I, gives recent figures on the situation in Kowloon and discusses the Japanese occupation of Canton; Reel I, side II, tells of Chan's early experiences with the Christian mission in his home community. Discusses Chan's return to China after his medical training in the United States. Chan also tells of his escape from Canton War Lord in the early 1930s.

Reel II, side III, return to United States after War World II and of his education experience; Reel II, side IV, is unidentified.

 n.d.
17 3 Unidentified reel to reel tapes, one film strip R. C. "Cap" Bentley n.d.
17 4 Reel to reel tapes:

1. Orion Samuelson interviews Dr. Jack Allen of Michigan State University about Farm Retailer Seminars (n.d.)

2. Promise, Inc., board meeting in Kowloon, May 1, 1997. P. C. Chan.

3. From P. C. Chan to Dr. Gail McChine, Iowa State University Hospital (n.d.)

4. From P. C. Chan to Mr. R. C. "Cap" Bentley, Promise, Inc., Ames, Iowa (n.d.)

 1997, n.d.
17 5 Cassette tapes:

1. Pak-Chue Chan - "History of my family of by brothers and sisters, family life of China" (10 December 1972)

2. Pak-Chue Chan - "My Marriage" (10 December 1972)

3. Pak-Chue Chan - "Family history of the Chans" (11 December 1972)

4. Pak-Chue Chan - "Adventures in faith, experiences told" (12 December 1972)

5. Pak-Chue Chan - "Bibliography of Chan's offspring" (13 December 1972)

6. Pak-Chue Chan - "Bibliography of Chan's offspring" (13 December 1972)

7. "History of the Chan" (n.d.)

8. "Philosophy and thoughts of Clinic" (n.d.)

 1972, n.d.

 

Description of series

Series 2 Project Files 1958-1996
extent: 0.21 linear feet (6 folders, one half manuscript box)
description: project files: from Yucatan and Basak, Philippines, including: maps of buildings, meeting minutes, financial reports, photographs, and the degree of William Perez.

 

Container list

Box Folder Title Dates
18 1 Project files: In Yucatan (with E. A. Guaheich thru 1982) 1978-1982
18 2 Project files: In Yucatan (with E. A. Guaheich thru 1982) 1978-1982
18 3 Degrees of William Perez, M.D. of Yucatan 1996
18 4 Project files: Basak, Philippines Project 1958-1960
18 5 Project files: Basak, Philippines Project 1958-1960
18 6 Project files: Basak, Philippines Project, photographs 1958-1960

 

Description of series

Series 3 Dr. Pak Chue Chan Writings 1937-1974, n.d.
extent: 0.63 linear feet (1 document box and 1 half-document box)
description: Background information about the founder of Promise, Inc., Dr. Pak Chue Chan. Memorabilia from the memorial services for Dr. and Mrs. Chan, and others involved in the organization. Dr. Chan's book, The Marvelous Promises: The Miracle of a Chinese Christian Doctor, USA: Grace Foundation, Inc., 1974. Correspondence on the unpublished book, "Whence Comes this Stranger?" written by Dr. Chan.

Container list

Box Folder Title Dates
19 1 Information about founder, Dr. Pak Chue Chan 1961, n.d.
19 2 Dr. Chan's memorial service and obituary 1991
19 3 Memorial for Tsin Oi-Jen (Dr. Chan's wife), and others involved in the organization 1968-1973, n.d.
19 4 Dr. Chan's book, The Marvelous Promises: The Miracle of a Chinese Christian Doctor, USA: Grace Foundation, Inc. 1974
19 5 Correspondence on the unpublished book, "Whence Comes This Stranger?" written by Dr. Chan. n.d.
19 6 "Whence Comes This Stranger?" first draft from 1937, chapters 1-5, part I 1937, n.d.
19 7 "Whence Comes This Stranger?" first draft from 1937, chapters 6-10, part I 1937, n.d.
19 8 "Whence Comes This Stranger?" first draft from 1937, chapters 9-11, part II 1937, n.d.
19 9 "Whence Comes This Stranger?" first draft from 1937, chapters 12-15, part II 1937, n.d.
19 10 "Whence Comes This Stranger?" second draft, ca. 1965-1975, chapters 1-4, part I n.d.
20 1 "Whence Comes This Stranger?" second draft, ca. 1965-1975, chapters 5-8, part I n.d.
20 2 "Whence Comes This Stranger?" second draft, ca. 1965-1975, chapters 9-11, part II, n.d.
20 3 "Whence Comes This Stranger?" second draft, ca. 1965-1975, chapters 12-14, part II n.d.

 

Description of series

Series 4 Oversize Materials 1968-1979, n.d.
extent: 1 map case folder
description: Posters, photographs, printer proofs, maps of countries, and site plans.

 

Container list

Box Folder Title Dates
Map Case C406 D11 Promise kindergarten students, 1971 1971
Map Case C406 D11 Clinica Promesa-Piste Yucatan poster with color photographs n.d.
Map Case C406 D11 "Sutherland" Nursing School poster with color photographs n.d.
Map Case C406 D11 "A Week Like This," files every bed in Clinica Promise poster with photographs n.d.
Map Case C406 D11 Poster with statistics for 1979 1979
Map Case C406 D11 Poster with photographs of Promise, Inc. in Hong Kong n.d.
Map Case C406 D11 Poster with Promise Inc. school, new and old buildings photographs n.d.
Map Case C406 D11 1968 Promise Act/Highlights poster with photographs 1968
Map Case C406 D11 Worship service at Promise Chapel in Kowloon and Clinic in temporary building at Tom Mei Sun Shen n.d.
Map Case C406 D11 Architect drawing of Clinic for Philippines n.d.
Map Case C406 D11 Map of the Philippines - pictorial map n.d.
Map Case C406 D11 Ground floor plan for Promise, Inc. Community Building, Tom Mei Sun Chuen, Kowloon N.T., Hong Kong n.d.
Map Case C406 D11 First floor plan for Promise Inc., Community Building, Tom Mei Sun Chuen, Kowloon N.T., Hong Kong n.d.
Map Case C406 D11 Article from Des Moines Sunday Register, May 11, 1975, 16E, "The Iowa - Yucatan Connection - it's flourishing" along with 2 proofs 1975
Map Case C406 D11 Proposed doctors/nurses quarters for Promise Inc. Clinic, Mexico n.d.
Map Case C406 D11 Printer proofs n.d.

 

 

 
Iowa State University Library, Ames, IA 50011
Comments: tzanish@iastate.edu
URL: http://www.lib.iastate.edu/spcl/manuscripts/MS585.html
Revised: 23 August 2005.