Parker Fountain Pen Owned by Watchman Nee
Parker Fountain Pen Owned by Watchman Nee
OBJ.000431
Object
Mid-1900s
Wisconsin, (United States)
N/A
Metal, plastic, and ink
5.1 × 0.3 in.; C: 1.9 in. (13 × 0.8 cm; Circ. 5 cm)
Not on View
This pen was owned by Watchman Nee, founder of the largest indigenous Christian church movement in China. In 1952, during the Cultural Revolution, Nee was imprisoned as a reactionary by the Chinese Communist Party. While in captivity, Nee was given this pen by his wife, Charity, who managed to sneak it into the prison undetected. Nee kept the pen hidden for years. Had it been discovered, he would have been punished. Nee even scratched out the English brand name, Parker, so his punishment would be less severe if the pen were discovered, since English in any form was forbidden.
When Nee was transferred to Baimaoling labor camp in 1970, he reunited with his former cellmate, You Qi Wu, giving him the pen for safekeeping. Wu kept it hidden and took it with him upon his release in 1982.
It is one of the only items owned by Nee to survive from his time in prison. He would remain in captivity until his death in 1972. He is considered a martyr for the Christian faith.
Created in the mid-1900s by the Parker Pen Company, Wisconsin, United States.[1] Purchased in 1964 or 1965 by Charity Chang, Shanghai, China;[2] Gifted in 1964 or 1965 to Watchman Nee, Shanghai, China;[3] Gifted in 1970 to You Qi Wu, Baimaoling, China;[4] Donated in 2022 to Museum of the Bible, Washington, DC.[5]
Notes: [1] Date of creation is assumed, but not definitive. The pen is likely a version of the Parker 51 model, which was the most popular pen made by Parker and which was in production since 1941. [2] The pen was likely purchased from a store or a vendor in Shanghai after distribution from the company manufacturer warehouse, but details are unknown. [3] Writing tools like this were not allowed at Tilanqiao Prison, where Nee was being held, so Charity must have hidden it and given it to him in secret when she went to visit him. The details of this exchange were told to a curator of Museum of the Bible by You Qi Wu. [4] Nee was transferred from Tilanqiao Prison to Baimaoling labor camp in 1970. He took the pen with him, then gave it to his friend and cellmate, You Qi Wu. Wu kept it hidden and took it with him upon his release from captivity in 1982. The details of this exchange were told to a curator of Museum of the Bible by You Qi Wu. [5] In March 2022, You Qi Wu brought the pen to Washington, DC, and donated it to Museum of the Bible.
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