Biographical and Historical Note

Virginia Faye (Faye) Tunmire, later Fincannon and Comer, was born on April 11, 1924, in Granite Falls, N.C., to John William and Hettie Wilson Tunmire. She attended Baylor University, where she obtained her bachelor's degree in 1950. She worked in education (1952-1954) before being a home missionary (1954-1956) and an international missionary in the Philippines (1956-1975).Tunmire was referred to as "Say Faye" or "Manag Faye" by local Philippine people. She was married twice: to Lin Fincannon (1975-1992) then to Paul Comer (2006- ). Tunmire is also occasionally spelled "Turnmire."

Collection Overview

These records document Faye Tunmire's work as a missionary in the Philippines over the course of about 20 years. Materials in this collection include letters, financial reports, photographs and maps. She would often write letters addressed to her mother and/or her father; other regular correspondents include other family members and friends. A small number of materials are books written by people indirectly related to the mission. The collection is arranged in chronological order.

Collection Inventory

• Writings by Tunmire  (1947 June 17-August 11) box 1 folder 25
• Letters and materials to her parents regarding her experiences during the mission (1948 November 29-1961 December 31) box 1 folder 19
• Mother Daughter Banquet program  (1949 August 18) box 1 folder 24
• "Fields of Reaping: Philippine Tribes" by A. J. Broomhall, book   (1955) box 1 folder 40
• Letters to her parents regarding mission costs and operations  (1956) box 1 folder 26
• Letters by Tunmire, postcards, and pamphlets  (1956 October 27-December 17) box 1 folder 23
• Letters to her parents and coworkers regarding mission operations and activities (1957 January 2-1958 October 7) box 1 folder 22
• "The Torch of the Malayan Race," book by Esteban A. De Ocampo  (1958) box 1 folder 39
• General correspondence to her parents  (1958 January 2-December 20) box 1 folder 20
• Letters to her parents regarding mission costs and operations  (1959 January 16-December 31) box 1 folder 21
• Devotionals and "Ten Commandments for New Missionaries" booklets   (1960-1973) box 1 folder 34
• Maps and guide pamphlets to Manila, Tagaytay, and Baguio  (circa 1960) box 1 folder 32
• Letters to her mother (1960 January 10-1975 January 15) box 1 folder 4
• Empty envelopes for letters written to Mr. and Mrs. J. W. Tunmire  (1961-1963) box 1 folder 41
• Philippines mission annual reports  (1961-1962) box 1 folder 27
• Letters from Tunmire and newspapers (1961 July 3-1962 December 26) box 1 folder 18
• Letters to her mother about missionary classes (1961 July 23-1966 October 31) box 1 folder 16
• "Gleanings from Reaping: Phillipine Mission Statistical Report" booklet  (1962-1963) box 1 folder 29
• Mission meeting minutes  (1962 May-June) box 1 folder 28
• Mission meeting minutes  (1963) box 1 folder 30
• Missionary Intercom newsletters vol. 4, no. 7 (July 1963) and vol. 9, no. 1 (January 1974)   (1963-1974) box 1 folder 36
• Letters to her mother and friends about her experience in Davao  (1963 January 10-October 6) box 1 folder 17
• Letters to her mother about her missionary classes  (1966 January 24-December 10) box 1 folder 14
• Letters and medical information (1966 August 9-1967 July 29) box 1 folder 15
• Letters to her mother regarding differnet people on the mission  (1967 January 3-December 27) box 1 folder 13
• Correspondence regarding James A. Foster and Keith Parks (1967 January 19-1973 February 23) box 1 folder 5
• Correspondence with her mother regarding religous converts  (1968 January 5-December 16) box 1 folder 12
• Letters to her mother while in Manila, Davao City, and M'lang (1970 January 6-1972 December 22) box 1 folder 8
• Letters to her mother while in M'lang regarding packages received (1970 January 8-1971 December) box 1 folder 9
• Letters to her mother as she travels through Asia-Pacific countries  (1970 February 22-August 29) box 1 folder 10
• Correspondence with friends regarding Typhoon Titang  (1970 October 21-23) box 1 folder 11
• "A Goal to Challenge US" reports  (1972-1974) box 1 folder 33
• Letters to her mother while in Mt. Carmel Manila   (1972 January 5-December 14) box 1 folder 7
• Letters to her mother while in Davao City  (1973 January 4-December 21) box 1 folder 6
• Focus Philippines magazine, vol. 2, no. 43  (1974 September 14) box 1 folder 38
• SBC Courier magazine  (1974 September-October) box 1 folder 37
• Home mission week of prayer programs  (1974) box 1 folder 35
• Letters regarding her marriage to Lin Fincannon (1975 July 1-1978 August 29) box 1 folder 3
• Correspondence (1989 August 14-2006 April 14) box 1 folder 2 (Letters and related materials between Faye Tunmire and Ester, Harold and Joyce, or others regarding international ministry and general life)
• Book donation list  (circa 2009) box 1 folder 1
• "The Philippines: A Goodly Pearl for Christ," "Land of Promise," and "Here is Seed.. Sow Ye the Land" books and pamphlets  (1961-1963) box 1 folder 31

Summary Information

Repository

Z. Smith Reynolds Library Special Collections and Archives

Title

Faye Tunmire Papers

ID

MS696

Date [inclusive]

1947-2009

Quantity

1 record carton

Extent

1.3  Linear Feet

Administrative Information

Publication Information

Z. Smith Reynolds Library Special Collections and Archives, 2022 October

Access Restrictions

Collection is open for researchers. 

Copyright Notice

The nature of the WFU Z. Smith Reynolds Library Special Collections and Archives means that copyright or other information about restrictions may be difficult or even impossible to determine despite reasonable efforts. The Archives and Special Collections of ZSR Library claims only physical ownership of most materials. The materials from our collections are made available for use in research, teaching, and private study, pursuant to the U.S. Copyright Law. The user must assume full responsibility for any use of the materials, including but not limited to, infringement of copyright and publication rights of reproduced materials. Any materials used for academic research or otherwise should be fully credited with the source. 

Preferred Citation

Faye Tunmire Papers (MS696), Z. Smith Reynolds Library Special Collections and Archives, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC, USA. 

‹ Staff view ›