Guide to the John Fryer Papers

Processed by The Bancroft Library staff.

The Bancroft Library

University of California

Berkeley, CA 94720-6000

bancref@library.berkeley.edu

URL: http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/libraries/bancroft-library

Language of Material: English

Contributing Institution: The Bancroft Library

Title: John Fryer Papers

creator: Fryer, John

creator: University of California (1868-1952). Department of Oriental Languages and Literature

Identifier/Call Number: BANC MSS C-B 968

Physical Description: 8 linear feet Number of containers: 1 box, 6 cartons

Date (inclusive): approximately 1861-1921

Physical Location: For current information on the location of these materials, please consult the Library's online catalog.

Abstract: Correspondence (including letters from George Davidson, Benjamin I. Wheeler and Charles W. Woodworth); MSS of his writings and lectures; lecture notes and course material; and clippings. relating to his study of China and the Chinese and to his career as professor of oriental languages and literature, University of California, Berkeley.

Language of Material: English

Access

Collection is open for research. RESTRICTED Letterpress copies in Box 1; use microfilm or published transcripts. UNARRANGED and UNAVAILABLE, Cartons 4-6.

Publication Rights

Copyright has not been assigned to The Bancroft Library. All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Head of Public Services. Permission for publication is given on behalf of The Bancroft Library as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained by the reader.

Preferred Citation

[Identification of item], John Fryer papers, BANC MSS C-B 968, The Bancroft Library, University of California, Berkeley.

Biography

John Fryer was born in England in 1839. In 1860 he was graduated from St. James' School at Bristol. The following year he received his teachers certificate from Highbury College in London and was appointed principal of St. Paul's College at Hong Kong. From 1863 to 1865 he was professor of English at Tung-Wen College in Peking. He then became head of the new Anglo -Chinese School at Shanghai. During the period he also edited the first Chinese newspaper published in Shanghai.

In 1868 Fryer entered the service of the Chinese government as translator of scientific books into Chinese. In addition to his work he took an active interest in the many educational innovations that were carried on in China during this period. In 1884 he founded the Chinese Scientific Book Depot. This company, which he owned until 1911, printed and sold books on scientific subjects, and later, on general subjects also.

He left China in 1896 to accept the position of first Agassiz Professor of Oriental Languages and Literature at the University of California at Berkeley but visited China yearly to oversee his business interests and in 1911 he founded the Institute for the Chinese Blind at Shanghai. Under his direction the Department of Oriental Languages was expanded and his active interest in the department and in Chinese student affairs continued after his retirement in 1914. He also gave illustrated lectures on China and the Chinese and was a member of the Philological Society, Hung Tao Society, and president of the Oriental Institute of California. Professor Fryer died in 1928.

Scope and Content

The John Fryer papers were transferred to the Manuscripts Division from the University Archives in 1965 and relate mainly to his studies and writings on China and the Chinese and to his professorship.

Subjects and Indexing Terms

Fryer, John

University of California (1868-1952). Department of Oriental Languages and Literature

China -- History

China -- Description and travel

Series 1: Outgoing correspondence 1861-1915

Scope and Contents

Original letters written to his brother George W. Fryer and other relatives; and letterpress copies of professional and business letters.

Arrangement

Arranged chronologically.

box 1

Outgoing correspondence 1861-1915

Series 2: Incoming correspondence approximately 1896-1921

Scope and Contents

Relate mainly to his Chinese studio and writings.

Arrangement

Arranged alphabetically.

box 1

California. University. Regents. Written by Victor H. Henderson, secretary. Dec. 15, 1915

box 1

Condit, Ira M. Dec. 15, 1896.

box 1

Davidson, George, 1825-1911. Aug. 24, 1898

box 1

San Francisco. Chamber of Commerce. Written by E. Scott, secretary Nov. 5, 1902.

box 1

Wheeler, Benjamin Ide, 1854-1927. 3 letters (copies), 1900

box 1

Woodworth, Charles William, 1865-1940. Nov. 14, 1921

Series 3: Essays and lectures

Scope and Contents

Mainly typescripts.

Arrangement

Arranged alphabetically by subject.

Subseries 3.1: China - general

Carton 1

Anniversary of the Chinese Republic, 1914

Carton 1

The China of Today

Carton 1

The Chinese Problem

Carton 1

The Commerce of China

Carton 1

The Future of China

Carton 1

Our Relation with the Reform Movement of China

Carton 1

The Outlook for China 1902

Carton 1

The Political and Financial Position of China

Carton 1

The Reciprocal relation of the Anglo-Saxon and the Oriental

Carton 1

Sketch of the T'ai P'ing Rebellion

Carton 1

Trade with the Orient passing through San Francisco

Carton 1

Why Japan has Developed Differently from China

Subseries 3.2: Education

Carton 1

Can Western Knowledge Be More Effectually Imparted to the Chinese Nation ... by ... Translations of Foreign Books, or by Teaching Them to Speak and Read Foreign Languages

Carton 1

The Chinese Normal Essay

Carton 1

Education in China

Carton 1

The Education of the Chinese Blind

Carton 1

[The Recent Educational Reform]

Subseries 3.3: The Great Men of China

Carton 1

The 3 Great Founders of Chinese Civilization (Fu-hsi, Shen-nung, Hwang-ti)

Carton 1

The 3 Great Chinese Buddhist Travelers to India (Fa-hsien, Hsuan-chuang, I-ching)

Carton 1

The 3 Great Reformers of China (Wang-an-shih, Chu-yuan-chang, Kang-yiu-wei)

Carton 1

The 3 Great Chinese Viceroys of the Last Dynasty (Tseng-kuo-fan, Li-hung-chang, Chang-chih- tung)

Carton 1

The 3 Great Philosophers of the Confucian School (Confucius, Mencius, Chu-hsi)

Carton 1

The 3 Great Poets of China (Li-tai-po, Tu-fu, Su-tung-po)

Subseries 3.4: Language

Carton 1

A Contribution to Chinese Philology

Carton 1

Introduction to the Mandarin Language

Carton 1

One Language for all China

Carton 1

Philology of the Chinese Language

Subseries 3.5: Literature

Carton 1

Chinese Drama

Carton 1

Chinese Poetry

Carton 1

Chinese Literature and Libraries

Carton 1

Literature of China

Subseries 3.6: Religion and Philosophy

Carton 1

Ancient Oriental Conceptions and Modern Occidental Thought

Carton 1

Chinese Buddhism

Carton 1

Chinese Symbology

Carton 1

The Chinese System of Ethics

Carton 1

Christian Missionary work in China

Carton 1

The Confucian Divinatory or Diagram Philosophy

Carton 1

The Confucian Ethical Philosophy

Carton 1

Confucianism

Carton 1

The Divinatory Philosophy of the Chinese

Carton 1

The Fifth Century Buddhist Mission to America

Carton 1

The Future Religion of China

Carton 1

The Influence of the Religions of the Far East on Palestine at the time of Christ

Carton 1

The Jews in China

Carton 1

Missionary Work in China

Carton 1

Numerical or Mathematical Philosophy of the Chinese

Carton 1

Roman Catholicism in Shanghai and the Vicinity

Carton 1

Taoism

Carton 1

Three Great Religions of China

Subseries 3.7: Miscellany

Carton 1

Across China from Shanghai to the Borders of Tibet

Carton 1

Ancient Chinese Sacrificial Vessels

Carton 1

Chinese Architecture

Carton 1

Chinese Home and Social Life

Carton 1

Chinese Myths

Carton 1

The Flowers of China

Carton 1

The Mission of the Japanese and the Anglo-Saxon Peoples

Carton 1

Women in China

Carton 1

Misc. fragments, etc.

Series 4: Lecture notes and other course material

Scope and Contents

Materials for classes he taught at the University of California at Berkeley.

Carton 2

Course 1

Carton 2

Language and literature

Carton 2

The Commerce of China

Carton 2

The History of China

Carton 2

Miscellany

Carton 2

Course 2

Carton 2

Confucian and Taoist Philosophies

Carton 2

Miscellany

Carton 2

Course 3

Carton 2

Mandarin Language

Carton 2

Course 11

Carton 2

Economic Features of the Commerce of China and Japan

Carton 2

Introduction

Carton 2

Chinese Imperial Maritime Customs; Tariff

Carton 2

The Exports and Imports of China

Carton 2

Commercial Methods and Banking Systems; Coinage

Carton 2

Tenure and Transfer of Land and Property; Taxation

Carton 2

Weights and Measure; Revenue Population

Carton 2

Commercial Characteristics of the Chinese; land and water transportation

Carton 2

Railway Transit; Postal and Telegraph Systems

Carton 2

Army and Navy

Carton 2

The Commerce of China and Japan

Carton 2

Famous Women of Chinese History

Carton 2

The War between China and Japan

Carton 2

Productions and Manufactures of China

Carton 2

Education in China

Carton 2

Government, Laws and Social Conditions of China

Carton 2

The Outlook for American and European Enterprise in China

Carton 2

Treaty Ports and Spheres of Influence

Carton 2

Miscellany

Carton 2

Course 12

Carton 2

The Religions of China

Carton 2

Chinese System of Ethics

Carton 2

Buddhist and Taoist Eschatology

Carton 2

Buddhism and other religions in China

Carton 2

Philosophies and Religions of Japan

Carton 2

Miscellany

Carton 2

Course 102 B

Carton 2

Chinese language and literature

carton 3

Course 108-B

Carton 3

The Great Men of China

Carton 3

Course 111

Carton 3

Politics and Commerce in China

Carton 3

Course 126 B

Carton 3

Chinese Music

Carton 3

Exams and class lists

Series 5: Travels. Typescripts, arranged as follows:

Carton 3

Diary of Voyage to China 1861

Carton 3

First Impressions of Hongkong and the Chinese People 1861

Carton 3

Account of 3 days excursion on the mainland of China 1862

Carton 3

Account of a trip to the Hills 1883

Carton 3

Recollections of Peking, (outline only) 1863

Carton 3

A Fortnight's Adventures in China and Mongolia 1865

Carton 3

An Account of a trip to the "Snowy Valley" 1880

Carton 3

Yosemite 1905

Carton 3

Trip to the Great Wall of China undated

Carton 3

Account of an Excursion in China undated

Carton 3

Reminiscences of life in China

Series 6: Fiction. Mainly annotated typescripts.

Carton 3

A Buddhist Legend of the Inland Sea of Japan

Carton 3

Israel in China - A Story of the Chinese Jews of a Thousand Years Ago

Carton 3

Miscellany

Series 7: Miscellaneous manuscripts (grouped roughly by subject)

Carton 3

Commerce

Carton 3

History and Government of China

Carton 3

Japan

Carton 3

Language and Literature (Chinese)

Carton 3

Religion and Philosophy

Carton 3

Translations of articles, poems, etc.

Carton 3

Miscellaneous manuscripts re China (education, Chinese proverbs, Social and Political Aspects of Chinese Jews, Chinese Agriculture)

Carton 3

Fragments and unidentified

Carton 3

Miscellaneous manuscripts (Oriental Studies in American and European Universities, Chicago Worlds Fair)

Series 8: Miscellaneous materials

Carton 3

Announcements of lectures; manuscript lists

Carton 3

Articles not written by Fryer

Carton 3

Book lists

Carton 3

Genealogy of the Fryer family (includes biographical sketches)

Carton 3

Lists of slides accompanying lectures

Carton 3

Material re Chinese Scientific Terminology

Carton 3

Material regarding education in China

Scope and Contents

Report to the Regents of the University of California on the Educational Reform in China, 1909, by Fryer; two pamphlets re the Institution for the Chinese Blind, founded by Fryer; articles for incorporation of the Oriental Institute of California.

Carton 3

Papers re the Chinese Exclusion Act

Carton 3

Papers by Edward James

Scope and Contents

The Religion of China before Confucius; Reflections from a Mirror 3 Milleniums Old, a Study of Ancient China, from the Shi King; Lao Tzu of the Tao Teh Ching.

Carton 3

Papers by S. C. Kiang Kand Hu (1 folder)

Carton 3

The Shu Ching of "Book of History"

Carton 3

The Shih Ching of "Book of Poetry"

Carton 3

The Li Chi of "Book of Rites"

Carton 3

The Ch'un Ch'iu of the "Annual History of the Lu State"

Carton 3

The Examination System in China

Carton 3

Lectures on the "Four Books"

Carton 3

Lectures on the "Five Canons"

Carton 3

Syllabus of 60 lectures on Chinese Culture

Carton 3

Why is the Chinese Language Useful and Important to an American Businessman?

Carton 3

Photograph and Diagrams

Carton 3

The Pi-Pa-Chi (English translation of Chinese drama, 1404)

Carton 3

Reprints of Articles by Fryer

Carton 3

Material written in Chinese. Mainly unidentified

Carton 3

Miscellany

Series 9: Clippings

Carton 4

Clippings

Carton 5

Clippings

Carton 6

Clippings