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Guide to the Trask Family Chinese Correspondence Collection MS 234
MS 234  
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Box-folder 1:1

Hsiou Tseng Wang correspondence, 1946 November 14-1957 October 30 and undated

 

1. Letter from Wang to the Trasks, 1946 November 14

Scope and Content

Trasks concerned about their safety in Nanking. Fall of Manchuria to Communists, Nanking is threatened.
 

2. Christmas card from Wang family to Trask family, circa 1946

 

3. Letter from Wang to Mrs. Trask, circa 1946

Scope and Content

Playing tennis with American major over there (China).
 

4. Letter from Wang to Mrs. Trask, circa 1946

Scope and Content

Stationed in Santa Monica. Receives Life magazine and Reader's Digest subscriptions Trasks bought for them.
 

5. Letter from Wang to Mr. and Mrs. Trask, 1947 January 24

Scope and Content

Information on accident and insurance company settlement. Best wishes to “your new Willard” (newborn).
 

6. Letter from Wang to Mr. and Mrs. Trask, 1947 March 17

Scope and Content

Stationed in Santa Monica. Attended horse race at Santa Anita. Went to Lincoln park, alligator farm, then San Bernardino, Lake Arrowhead. Comments on listening to his new radio (paid $107).
 

7. Letter from Wang to “Pauline and Grover,” circa 1947

Scope and Content

Packing to leave, has been summoned to Washington. Recalls a visit to San Diego.
 

8. Letter from Wang to Mr. and Mrs. Trask, 1947 May

Scope and Content

Thanks Grover for the nice visit and spending time with him. Opened Savings account in the States, leaving bank book with Trasks so they can buy him things while he’s abroad.
 

9. Letter from Wang to the Trasks, 1948 February 29

Scope and Content

Wang's friend Li Shen was called to Washington to receive the airships that China recently obtained from United States. Wang writes of his interest in "American dancing" and its popularity in China, as well as going to the movies.
 

10. Letter from Wang to the Trasks, 1948 April 20

Scope and Content

Discusses Chinese presidential election: Chiang Kai-shek elected. Describes election process in detail. Sending negatives of photos, asks to get them enlarged since there are no enlarging facilities in Nanking.
 

11. Letter from Wang to the Trasks, 1948 July 5

Scope and Content

Reading copies of "Life" and "Time" magazines, and comments on contents as well as his experiences back in China. Writes about the "Very-Moon (?) Festival" celebrated on the 5th day of the 5th month of the Chinese calendar year "commemorating our Ancient great poet and philosopher, Chu-Yuan since his death" -- "people celebrated double fifth by eating Tsung-tze (rice wrapped in leaves—originally to be thrown into water to feed Chu-Yuan).”
 

12. Letter from Wang to the Trasks, 1948 August 29-October 15

Scope and Content

Comments on Chinese government having decreed a new currency system called the ‘gold standard.’ Writes of friend of his, Lt. Col. Wang, who discovered he has cancer, and comments on cancer treatment. Purchase a fan, and bought an additional one which he writes of mailing it to the Trasks.
 

13. Letter from Wang to Mrs. Trask, circa 1949

Scope and Content

Writes about Taiwan. Went to mountains to visit “real natives,” the Kao shan tribe, in Taiwan, and took a picture with the tribe's two princesses, Princess Elizabeth (younger), and Princess Margaret (older). (Two photographs enclosed with letter.) Comments on increasing prices. Wants to withdraw money from his savings account in the U.S., will ask his friend Li Shen about it. Two photographs enclosed with letter.
 

14. Tracing paper with Chinese characters, circa 1949

Scope and Content

Same group of characters repeated, possibly Wang’s address.
 

15. Letter from Wang to Mrs. Trask, 1949 July 31

Scope and Content

Remarks on a $10 check Mrs. Trask had sent him that he sent back. But she sent it back again and it was stolen in the mail. Asked Mrs. Trask to take money out of his U.S. account for him, and a friend will receive it from her to take to him in China. Also inquires on Mrs. Trask’s health.
 

16. Letter from Wang to Mr. and Mrs. Trask, circa 1950s

Scope and Content

Wang is abroad, stationed in barracks with other officers. Played bingo for the first time. Writes he is including pre-addressed envelopes for her (with address written in Chinese characters).
 

17. Letter from Wang to Mrs. Trask, 1951 February 28

Scope and Content

Discusses poultry raising – they have 80 chicks. Respondes to Trasks’ letter about tea he sent and how much they liked it, he will try to send more Long Green and Jasmine tea. Impressed by how much more the Trasks read about China than he reads about U.S. Asks if Mrs. Trask has read anything by Lin YuTang. Writes about a Chinese tradition in which "the parents of the newborn baby always present their friends with Red Eggs (Eggs dyed red)."
 

18. Letter from Wang to the Trasks, 1953 October 26

Scope and Content

Writes about return of Hsieo-Yu (his brother) with stories from San Diego and his visit to Trasks.
 

19. Letter from Wang to Mrs. Trask, 1954 January 11

Scope and Content

Talks about Chinese phrases being used in American conversation. Three photographs enclosed in letter are not labeled. They appear to be of Wang with friends in the U.S., one of Wang with an American woman who is possibly Mrs. Trask. Three photographs enclosed with letter.
 

20.Letter from Wang to Mrs. Trask, 1956 April 7

Scope and Content

Wang has been transferred to Taipei, moving his family there too so not to be separated from wife. Purchased small house in the suburbs.
 

21. Letter from Wang to Mrs. Trask, 1956 October 14

Scope and Content

Received seeds (tomato and corn) for garden from Mrs. Trask in the magazines she sent them. Wan-Ming and "mosquito (little Hwang)" are in Taipei, included in briefing U.S. General. Mentions Wan-Ming's ability to speak English.
 

22. Letter from Wang to Mrs. Trask, 1957 October 30

Scope and Content

Remarks on cancer and treatment. Wang put in his third request for retirement, not sure if it will be granted. Will have to look for a new job and start fresh, but will worry about that when the time comes. Mentions celebrations during October, including national holiday, return of Taiwan to China, and President's 71st birthday.
 

23. Letter from Wang to Mrs. Trask, circa 1950s

Scope and Content

Writes about Su-hua's anticipation of receiving dress material. His brother, Hsieo-Yu departed to United States, first stationed in Washington. Gives contact information to Trasks in case brother's itinerary includes San Diego. Remarks on receiving copies of "Post."
Box-folder 1:2

Li Shen Wen correspondence, 1947 October 21–1948 January 16

 

1. Letter from Wen to Mrs. Trask, 1947 October 21

Scope and Content

Apologizes for not being in touch sooner; packing and preparing for his trip consumed all his time. Expresses gratitude for "entertainment and gift" received from Trasks.
 

2. Letter from Wen to Mrs. Trask, 1948 January 16

Scope and Content

Continuing in the U.S., stationed in Washington. Will be in California soon for new job assignment in Los Angeles.
Box-folder 1:3

Wan Ming Chen correspondence, 1946 March 19–1948 April 15

 

1. Letter from Chen to Mrs. Trask, 1946 March 19

Scope and Content

Returned to St. Louis after trip to nine big U.S. cities with the other men in his group. Comments on his travels and observations, including the high demand for nylons.
 

2. Typed letter from Chen to Mrs. Trask, 1946 March 29

Scope and Content

Writing first letter to Mrs. Trask on a typewriter. Encloses money for Mrs. Trask to buy pairs of nylons for him to give to female relatives in China.
 

3. Letter from Chen to Mrs. Trask, 1947 August 21

Scope and Content

Has been a year since he left San Diego, thinks often of Trasks and their kindness. Mailed them Christmas cards but must have gotten lost in mail. Thanks Mrs. Trask for gifts sent to his wife.
 

4. Letter from Chen to Mrs. Trask, 1947 August 28

Scope and Content

At military base in Sacramento. Plans to attend the California State Fair in Sacramento.
 

5. Letter from Chen to Mrs. Trask, 1948 April 15

Scope and Content

Apologizes for delay in writing. His wife was ill for a month, is now recovered. Apologizes for messiness and informality of letter, and comments on Chinese versus U.S. letter writing customs.
Box-folder 1:4

Po Lin Shen correspondence, 1946 January 18–1947 April 4

 

1. Letter from Shen to Mrs. Trask, 1946 January 18

Scope and Content

Traveled to Chicago, then St. Louis. Enrolled in graduate school at University of Michigan.
 

2. Letter from Shen to Mrs. Trask, 1946 January 31

Scope and Content

Follow-up to two air-mailed letters he sent, hasn’t heard back from Mrs. Trask. Gives new address in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
 

3. Letter from Shen to Mrs. Trask, 1947 April 4

Scope and Content

Received nylons for his "girl" sent by Mrs. Trask, as he'd requested previously. Comments on similarity of California climate to his hometown, Amoy.
Box-folder 1:5

Cheng Li Chou correspondence, 1947 March 22–1956 December 27

 

1. Letter from Chou to Mrs. Trask, 1947 March 22

Scope and Content

Writing from Gloucester, England
 

2. Letter from Chou to Mrs. Trask, 1956 December 8

Scope and Content

Received Mrs. Trask's letter and package but hasn’t opened it yet because he’s waiting for his friend Col. Wang.
At Port Hueneme, California. Weather keeps changing.
 

3. Letter from Chou to Mrs. Trask, 1956 December 27

Scope and Content

Arrived in San Francisco, to Mare Island (naval base).
Would like to visit San Diego again but is not sure when they’ll have the chance.
Box-folder 1:6

Photographs, 1945-1959

Box-folder 1:7

Cloth envelope, undated

Scope and Content

Sent by Mr. H.T. Wang from Taipeh, Taiwan to Mrs. Grover C. Trask in San Diego. Empty of contents.
Box-folder 1:8

Trask Family Memories, 1998 February 14

Includes:

Copy of “Memories – Feb. 14, 1998, Mrs. Willard W. Trask”
Copy of “Memories – Feb. 14, 1998, From Willard and Joyce Trask”