Moninger, Mary Margaret, 1891-1950

Mary Margaret Moninger was born near Marshalltown, Iowa on September 23, 1892 to two farmers, William Ringland Moninger and Mary Helen Kellogg. Moninger graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Grinnell College in 1913. She received her M.A. from Grinnell in 1922. She left for Hainan, China in 1915 as a member of the Presbyterian Board of Foreign Missions. Her duties included teaching and acting as a principal at several girls' schools throughout the island of Hainan. She served as secretary, treasurer, and agent of her missionary organization. Moninger was a prolific writer with a keen eye for the unique culture of Hainan. She compiled an unpublished dictionary of the Hainese colloquial dialect. She wrote articles for religious publications and newspapers in the United States and anthropological essays for scientific organizations. Moninger edited her community's publication, The Hainan newsletter. While in China, Moninger experienced periods of civil unrest. She witnessed the military actions of the Nationalist party in the 1920s, communist and anti-Christian uprisings, and struggles between Hainese tribes. Her missionary service ended when the United States entered World War II. Moninger died March 21, 1950 in Marshalltown, Iowa.

From the description of Margaret Moninger papers [microform], 1915-1939. (University of Oregon Libraries). WorldCat record id: 55500640

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