Guide to the Norman Filman Collection
Special Collections & Archives
University Library
California State University, Northridge
18111 Nordhoff Street
Northridge, CA 91330-8326
Contributing Institution:
Special Collections & Archives
Title: Norman Filman Collection
Creator:
Filman, Norman J., 1920-2010
Identifier/Call Number: OCH.NFC
Extent:
1.30 linear feet
Date (inclusive): 1889-2006
Abstract: The Norman Filman Collection consists
of papers saved by Old China Hand Norman Filman, mostly consisting of materials related to
his uncle J. Arthur Duff and Old China Hands reunions. Materials in the collection include
correspondence, news clippings, essays, a family tree, and audiovisual materials on
China.
Language of Material: English
Biographical Information:
Norman J. Filman was born on November 23, 1920, in Calgary, Canada, and was taken to China
soon after to live with his grandparents, John L. and Margaret Duff who had served as
missionaries in the country since the early 1890s. He grew up in Kuling, China before
attending the Western District Public School in Shanghai. He returned to Canada after
graduating high school, where he attended the University of British Columbia and graduated
as an electrical engineer in 1944. He moved to Los Angeles in 1949, where he worked for
Hughes Aircraft for 31 years. He was also very involved in Old China Hands Reunions, and
maintaining contacts with other Old China Hands. He passed away in 2010.
Scope and Contents
The
Norman Filman Collection consists of papers saved by Old
China Hand Norman Filman. Materials in the collection, which range from 1889 to 2006,
document two generations of Old China Hands living in and escaping from China, and consist
mainly of correspondence, news clippings, essays, and reunion materials. The collection is
divided into two series:
J. Arthur Duff Materials (1889-1988),
and
Personal Papers (1930-2006).
Series I,
J. Arthur Duff Materials, primarily contains items
written by Filman's uncle, James Arthur Duff. Duff was born in Kuling, China in 1899, and
settled in Shanghai with his family. During World War II, he escaped from occupying Japanese
forces in Hong Kong, and soon after was recruited to work for the Office of Strategic
Service (OSS) in China. He also traveled the world, and retired to California before passing
in 1996. The materials in the series include a number of writings by Duff reminiscing on his
times in China and discussing various political, religious and philosophical topics. Also
included are news articles, family correspondence, and photocopies of documents from Duff's
life in China.
Series II,
Personal Papers, consists of items saved by Norman
Filman related to his experiences in China as well as numerous Old China Hands Reunions he
participated in and in some cases helped to plan. These materials include correspondence,
postcards, news articles, school report cards, brochures, videos, reunion programs, and
reunion attendee rosters. Also included are photographs and home videos from other Old China
Hands that took trips back to China in the 1980s to visit.
Arrangement of Materials:
Series I: J. Arthur Duff Materials, 1889-1988
Series II: Personal Papers, 1930-2006
Related Material
Conditions Governing Access:
The collection is open for research use.
Conditions Governing Use:
Copyright for unpublished materials authored or otherwise produced by the creator(s) of
this collection has not been transferred to California State University, Northridge.
Copyright status for other materials is unknown. Transmission or reproduction of materials
protected by U.S. Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.C.) 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 owners. Responsibility for any
use rests exclusively with the user.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Virginia Edwards. 03/12/2014.
Preferred Citation:
For information about citing items in this collection consult the appropriate style manual,
or see the
Citing Archival Materials
guide.
Processing Information:
Jessica Geiser, 2014
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Documents
Photographs
Audiovisual materials
Series I: J. Arthur Duff Papers, 1889-1988
Box 1, Folder 1
Filman's Notes on J. Arthur Duff's Papers
Box 1, Folder 3
News Articles on J. Arthur Duff,
1942-1987
Box 1, Folder 4
J. Arthur Duff's Papers at the Hoover Institution,
1984-1987
Box 1, Folder 5
Far Away and Long Ago: Some Random Reminiscences of
J.A. Duff
,
1982
Box 1, Folder 6
Correspondence from John L. Duff to Charles D. Duff,
1889-1894
Box 1, Folder 7
Correspondence from Margaret Ostler Duff to Elizabeth (Lizzie) Ostler
Duff,
1899, 1945
Box 1, Folder 8
Letter from J. Arthur Duff to Margaret Kyte,
1976 Feburary 10
Box 1, Folder 9
William A. Duff Obituary,
1977
Box 1, Folder 10
Letter Seeking Vital Documents for Margaret Kyte,
1981
Box 1, Folder 11
Letter from J. Arthur Duff to Patricia,
1982
Box 1, Folder 12
General Writings on China
Box 1, Folder 13
General Stories from China ca. 1910-1930,
1980-1987
Box 1, Folder 14
General Stories from China ca. 1931-1945
Box 1, Folder 16
Writings and Information on Kuling, China
Box 1, Folder 17
The Duff Family in Kuling, China
Box 1, Folder 18
Fairy Glen Hotel in Kuling, China
Box 1, Folder 19
Kuling Community Hospital Association Shares Certificate,
1931
Box 1, Folder 20
Bruno Arndt Kuling Property Statement
Box 1, Folder 21
Character Statements for Kuling Property Claim,
May 1981
Box 1, Folder 22
Escape From Hong Kong to Free China
Box 1, Folder 23
OSS (Office of Strategic Services) Files,
1943-1945
Box 1, Folder 24
Correspondence and Essay about Trip to Africa,
1971
Box 1, Folder 25
Writings on U.S.S.R. and Russian Turkestan,
1971
Box 1, Folder 27
Correspondence and Writings on Duff's Life,
1978-1988
Box 1, Folder 28
Barbara Tuchman,
1980-1984
Box 1, Folder 29
Letters to Duff from Pearl Buck and Indira Gandhi,
1980-1983
Box 1, Folder 30
Writings on the Cold War,
1980-1986
Box 1, Folder 31
Letters Regarding British Relations with China,
1981-1984
Box 1, Folder 32
Letters to World Leaders on Nuclear Policy,
1982
Box 1, Folder 33
Philosophical Writings,
1980-1983
Box 1, Folder 36
Gracie Kingham - The Nanchang Riots of 1906
Box 1, Folder 37
Annie and Emily Hunter - Missionaries to China
Box 1, Folder 38
Generals George C. Marshall and A.C. Wedemeyer
Box 1, Folder 39
Excerpts from
Borodin: Stalin's Man in China by
Dan M. Jacobs
Box 1, Folder 40
Excerpts and Notes on
China Called Me: My Life
by Percy Chen,
1979
Box 1, Folder 41
Notes on
Marshall in China by John Robinson
Beal,
1970
Box 1, Folder 42
Notes on Time-Life Books on China, Burma and India,
1981
Box 1, Folder 43
"Canada at War"
The Magazine,
1983
Series II: Personal Papers, 1930-2006
Box 2, Folder 2
News Articles on Shanghai,
1941-1949
Box 2, Folder 5
Western District Public School Documents,
1938-1939
Box 2, Folder 6
Nanking Theatre Programme - "Stablemates",
1939
Box 2, Folder 7
St. Francis Xaviers College Crest
Box 2, Folder 8
Bacon Family Correspondence,
2005-2006
Box 2, Folder 9
Correspondence with Virginia Duff,
1988
Box 2, Folder 10
Correspondence with Katherine Moore,
2000-2003
Box 2, Folder 11
Correspondence with Other Old China Hands,
1990-1995
Box 2, Folder 12
Correspondence with Zoya Slyke (Shlakis),
1990-1997
Box 2, Folder 13
China Society of Southern California,
1995-2004
Box 2, Folder 14
International Settlement of Shanghai Brochure - Prepared by the American
Association of Shanghai
Box 2, Folder 15
Old China Hands Merchandise
Box 2, Folder 16
Shanghai Memories from Old China Hands,
1990
Box 2, Folder 17
Civilian Internees Reunion - England,
1988
Box 2, Folder 18
Old China Hands and Former Camp Internees Reunion - Anaheim,
California,
1990
Box 2, Folder 19
Old China Hands Reunion - Hong Kong,
1990
Box 2, Folder 20
Old China Hands Reunion - Vancouver, Canada,
1991
Box 2, Folder 21
Old China Hands Reunion - San Francisco, California,
1994
Box 2, Folder 22
Old China Hands Reunion - Las Vegas, Nevada,
1996
Box 2, Folder 23
Old China Hands Reunion - San Diego, California,
1998
Box 2, Folder 24
Old China Hands Reunion - Scottsdale, Arizona,
2000
Box 2, Folder 25
Old China Hands Archival Materials at Various Institutions
Box 2, Folder 26
Old China Hands Archives at Calfornia State University Northridge,
2002
Box 2, Folder 27
Delores Metcalf Photographs from China Trip: Hong Kong, Forbidden City and
Great Wall,
1982
Box 2, Folder 28
Delores Metcalf Photographs from China Trip: Kweilin, Shanghai, School
Kids,
1982
Box 3, Item 1
Old China Hands Reunion, Anaheim CA - VHS,
March 1990
Box 3, Item 2
Old China Hands Reunion '96: Highlights - VHS,
1996
Box 3, Item 3
Old China Hands Reunion '96: Speeches - VHS,
1996
Box 3, Item 4
The Dragon and the Eagle Series: Program One -
Westward to China - VHS,
1990
Box 3, Item 5
The Dragon and the Eagle Series: Program Two -
The China Call - VHS
Box 3, Item 6
Kuling Reunion Trip Tape 1: Hong Kong, Chung King, Yangtze Gorges, Kuling,
Jingdezen - VHS,
October 1989
Box 3, Item 7
Kuling Reunion Trip Tape 2: Hangzhau, Shanghai, Xian, Beijing, Gulin, Lee
River - VHS,
October 1989
Box 3, Item 8
China Update - Dick Eastman/Wes Wilson - Audiocassette
