Pixley, Stephen Clapp (1829-1914) and Louisa Healy (1833-1900). Papers, ca. 1852-2000 (bulk 1852- ca. 1934)

Biographical Sketch

Stephen Clapp Pixley was born in Plainfield, Massachusetts June 23, 1829, son of Noah and Hannah Shaw Pixley. He studied at Williams College, then East Windsor Theological Seminary and was ordained the year he graduated, 1855. He and wife, Lousia, sailed to South Africa as missionaries for the American Board in October, 1855. Pixley's brother, Martin, was planning to go abroad as a missionary, but died shortly after completing his training. Pixley's sister, Alzina, married South African Missionary, David Rood. He remained in South Africa for the rest of his life and died in 1914.

Louisa Healy was born March 16, 1833 in West Chesterfield, Massachusetts to Seth and Martha Alden Healy. Miss Healy, youngest of 9 children, attended Mt. Holyoke Seminary before marrying Stephen and sailing to South Africa. The Pixleys had a total of 7 children, all born in Africa: Mary, Martin, Stephen, Martha, Albert, Louisa, and Sophia. Sons Martin and Stephen died before reaching adulthood. Louisa died in September, 1900.

The Pixleys started in Africa in Amanzimtoti with their relations, and then transferred to Amahlongwa, 43 miles southwest of Port Natal. After a quick jump back to Amanzimtoti from 1871-1874, the family settled in Inanda. They stayed there for the rest of their lives.

This information gathered from genealogical study found within this collection.

Scope and Content

The collection is made up primarily of photographs (2 albums and 1 folder of loose images), frequently undated and sometimes unidentified, from Stephen and Louisa Pixley's time as Missionaries in South Africa. Because photographs make up 3/4 of the collection and so many are undated, the archivist could only estimate at a start date and an end date for the bulk of the material. One of the photo albums has been interleaved with buffered paper, as it was not able to be remade without losing original captions. The second photo album had been made recently. All of the contents were rehoused using acid - free enclosures; the original order was kept as much as possible.

The other part of the collection is a genealogical study of the Pixley family. It pre- and post-dates Stephen and Louisa's years by several generations and includes genealogical charts, medical certificates, letters, pictures, diary entries, news clippings, and biographical sketches.

Despite the genealogical study represents fifteen generations of Pixleys, the archivist identifies this collection as being that of Stephen and Louisa, as their mission work is one of our primary focuses at this institution.

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