Original 1947 Friends Mission Air Letter – Ramallah, Palestine – Pre-1948 War Historical Document

Offered here is an original folded air letter sent from the Friends Mission in Ramallah, Palestine on December 30, 1947, during the final months of the British Mandate period.

This historically important document was written by members of the Quaker (Religious Society of Friends) mission and signed by mission secretary A. Willard Jones. The letter was mailed to the United States and still retains its original postal format and handwritten notes.

The text reflects the tense situation in Palestine immediately following the UN Partition vote of 1947. It discusses the Mission’s humanitarian and educational work among the Arab population, condemns ongoing violence, mentions the killing of former students, and offers emergency medical assistance including ambulance transport and conversion of mission buildings into hospital facilities.

Such documents are scarce firsthand sources from Ramallah just months before the outbreak of the 1948 Arab-Israeli War, and they provide valuable insight into the role of Quaker missions as neutral humanitarian actors during the conflict.

Details:
• Date: December 30, 1947
• Location sent from: Ramallah, Palestine (British Mandate period)
• Organization: Friends Mission (Quaker Mission)
• Signed by: A. Willard Jones, Mission Secretary
• Copied to: Paul Sturge (noted Quaker relief worker)
• Addressed to: Syracuse, New York, USA
• Format: Original air letter sheet, folded as mailed
• Condition: Shows age, folds, edge wear and small tears consistent with period use (see photos)

A rare historical Palestine Mandate postal history item, suitable for collectors of Middle East history, missionary archives, wartime correspondence, or Quaker historical material.

Please review all photos carefully for condition and completeness.

People mentioned in the letter

Several identifiable individuals are referenced in the document, adding historical context and authenticity:

• A. Willard Jones – Secretary of the Friends Mission in Ramallah and signatory of the letter, responsible for mission administration and external correspondence.
• Paul Sturge – Listed in the carbon copy; a known British Quaker relief worker involved in international humanitarian work during and after World War II.
• Richard H. Jones – The recipient in Syracuse, New York, likely a supporter or member of the wider Quaker network connected to the mission.
• Emma Cadbury – Mentioned in the covering note; likely part of the Cadbury Quaker family circle known for supporting missionary and relief work.

The letter also names three former students of the Friends schools who were killed during the unrest of 1947, illustrating the real impact of the conflict on the local community:

• Isa Chanaim (Ramallah)
• Charles Moghanam (Ramallah)
• Thabit Su’udi (from nearby Bireh)

These references reinforce the document’s value as a firsthand historical source from Ramallah during the final months of the British Mandate period.