Guide to the Eric J. Schmidt Collection
Special Collections & Archives
University Library
California State University, Northridge
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Northridge, CA 91330-8326
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Contact: https://library.csun.edu/SCA/Contact
© Copyright 2020 Special Collections & Archives. All rights reserved.
Contributing Institution:
Special Collections & Archives
Title: Eric J. Schmidt Collection
Creator:
Schmidt, Eric J.
Identifier/Call Number: OCH.EJS
Extent:
0.06 linear feet
Date (inclusive): circa 1941-1945
Abstract: Eric J. Schmidt is an Old China Hand
that taught at the Shanghai American School and was interned by the Japanese in the Chapei
camp outside of Shanghai. The collection contains drawings done by Schmidt, including pencil
portraits of fellow internees at Chapei, as well as a pastel drawing of the camp buildings.
Also included is a poster made by Schmidt with photographs of internees recreating their
daily routine at Chapei taken after the Japanese abandoned the camp in 1945.
Language of Material:
English
Eric J. Schmidt was born on December 4, 1915 in Hillsborough, Illinois. He attended UC
Berkeley, and graduated in 1940 after taking some time off of school to work on ships.
In November of 1940, he and a friend went on a ship headed to Australia, as they had plans
to travel around the country. The ship made a stop in Shanghai on the way to pick up
departing American citizens, and Schmidt and his friend decided to jump ship and stay in the
city. Schmidt began working for an advertising company as the head of the art department,
and arranged for his fiancée to come to China from America as well. They were married in
Hong Kong in 1941, and shortly after they both began teaching at the Shanghai American
School.
In 1943, the Schmidts were placed by the Japanese into the Chapei Civil Internment Center
outside of Shanghai, where they lived for two and half years. The internees were able to
convince the Japanese to let them continue to run the Shanghai American School for children
in the camp, so Schmidt continued to teach and eventually became principal of the school
while interned. He and his wife also had a daughter who was born at the camp.
After the war, Schmidt found work with the U.S. Army and the State Department in China,
before returning to the United States with his family. He eventually settled in the San
Francisco area.
The
Eric J. Schmidt Collection contains drawings done by
Schmidt, including pencil portraits of fellow internees at the Chapei internment camp
outside of Shanghai, as well as a pastel drawing of the camp buildings. Also included is a
poster made by Schmidt with photographs of internees recreating their daily routine at
Chapei taken after the Japanese abandoned the camp in 1945.
Related Material
The collection is open for research 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
Eric J. Schmidt, 2003
For information about citing items in this collection consult the appropriate style manual,
or see the
Citing Archival Materials
guide.
Jessica Geiser, 2013
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Documents
Photographs
Folder 1
Pencil Drawings - 5 Portraits of Unnamed Internees at the Chapei Internment Camp
Folder 2
Pastel Drawing - Buildings of the Chapei Internment Camp
Folder 3
Poster - Chapei Civilian Assembly Center Photographs, 1945