Finding aid to the Vivian Low collection of materials on the Military Intelligence Service Language School, Chinese Division
Lara Michels
The Bancroft Library
2023
The Bancroft Library
University of California
Berkeley, CA 94720-6000
bancref@library.berkeley.edu
Contributing Institution:
The Bancroft Library
Title: Vivian Low collection of materials on the Military Intelligence Service Language School, Chinese Division
Creator:
Low, Vivian
Creator:
Wong, Robert Y., 1915-1980.
Identifier/Call Number: BANC MSS.2023/101
Physical Description:
1 linear feet
(1 box)
Physical Description:
3.97 GB
(8 files)
Date (inclusive): 1945-2017.
Language of Material: Collection materials are in English and Chinese.
COLLECTION STORED OFF-SITE:, Advance notice required for use.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Gift Of Vivian Low in 2022.
Fighting in the Pacific Theater during World War II required the presence of Japanese linguists for translation, interpretation,
and combat purposes. The U.S. military recruited Nisei soldiers to attend the Military Intelligence Service Language School
(MISLS) that was first established in the Presidio in San Francisco and later moved first to Camp Savage in Minnesota and
then to Fort Snelling in the same state. The MISLS played a key role in producing linguists whose service was essential to
both World War II and also the subsequent occupation of Japan. The first language classes were offered to approximately 60
students in 1941 at Crissy Field in San Francisco.The MIS added a Chinese language division and a Korean language class in
1945. Vivian Low's father, Robert (Bob) Wong, served in the Chinese Language Division.
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements
Digital files were received on 2 DVD-Rs and 1 flash drive. The DVDs were duplicates and contained video files which were converted
to .m4v files for access using the video encorder, Handbrake v.1.6.1. The flash drive contained 170 files of which 163 were
identified as system files. The remaining 7 files include various documents and a copy of "Crossing Oceans in Service to Country."
Vivian Low collection of materials on the Military Intelligence Service Language School, Chinese Division, BANC MSS 2023/101,
The Bancroft Library, University of California, Berkeley..
Processed at the box level in 2023 by Lara Michels.
Collection consists of materials relating to the Military Intelligence Service Language School, Chinese Language Division
collected by Vivian Low, whose 2017 film "Crossing Oceans in Service to Country" documents a group of Chinese American Veterans
who served together in the Chinese Language Division at Fort Snelling. Materials include the memoirs of Vivian's father Wong
Y. Kan (Robert Y. Wong), a 1994 booklet commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Fort Snelling Mandarin Class, some papers
and photocopies of photographs of Robert (Bob) Wong and other men at Fort Snelling. Included among these papers is a photocopy
of a 1945 letter certifying that Wong Y. Kan (Robert Y. Wong) had completed the 16 week Chinese course at the Military Intelligence
Service Language School. Also included are a few documents relating to the nomination of George Wong, who also served in the
Chinese Division, for Rockwell Engineer-of-the-Year, three photographic prints (two of Robert Wong in uniform and one of Robert
Wong and his wife Vera), and two DVD copies of Vivian Low's film "Crossing Oceans in Service to Country."
Some materials in these collections may be protected by the U.S. Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.C.). In addition, the reproduction
of some materials may be restricted by terms of University of California gift or purchase agreements, donor restrictions,
privacy and publicity rights, licensing and trademarks. Transmission or reproduction of materials protected by copyright beyond
that allowed by fair use requires the written permission of the copyright owners. Works not in the public domain cannot be
commercially exploited without permission of the copyright owner. Responsibility for any use rests exclusively with the user.
For additional information about the University of California, Berkeley Library's permissions policy please see: http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/about/permissions-policies
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Chinese American veterans
World War, 1939-1945 -- Participation, Chinese American
Military intelligence
Military education
Veterans -- Education -- Minnesota -- Fort Snelling
Language and languages -- Study and teaching -- Minnesota -- Fort Snelling
Camp Savage (Minn.)
Fort Snelling (Minn.)
Minnesota -- Fort Snelling
Born digital
Low, Vivian -- Archives
Wong, Robert Y., 1915-1980.
Wong, Vera, 1923-2008
Wong, George Sowhong, 1924-
Military Intelligence Service Language School (U.S.)
Box 1
Documents, correspondence and photographs
Materials include the memoirs of Vivian's father Wong Y. Kan (Robert Y. Wong), a 1994 booklet commemorating the 50th anniversary
of the Fort Snelling Mandarin Class, some papers and photocopies of photographs of Robert (Bob) Wong and other men at Fort
Snelling. Included among these papers is a photocopy of a 1945 letter certifying that Wong Y. Kan (Robert Y. Wong) had completed
the 16 week Chinese course at the Military Intelligence Service Language School. Also included are documents relating to the
nomination of George Wong (who also served in the Chinese Division) for Rockwell Engineer-of-the-Year, three photographic
prints (two of Robert Wong in uniform and one of Robert Wong and his wife Vera).
digital_folder 001
"Crossing Oceans - in Service to Country," a film by Vivian Low 2018
Physical Description:
1.07 GB
(1 .mp4 file)
digital_folder 002
Files relating to Fort Snelling and the film, "Crossing Oceans - In Service to Country." 2017-2022
Physical Description:
2.90 GB
( 7 files)