William White Collection, 1914-1962

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Summary

Creators:
White, William
Abstract:
The William White Collection is comprised of four photograph albums primarily documenting the British military experiences of White family members serving in China in the 1920s, and their family life in China through the late 1940s.
Extent:
12.3 Gigabytes
Language:
English
Preferred citation:

For information about citing items in this collection consult the appropriate style manual, or see the Citing Archival Materialsguide.

Background

Scope and content:

The William White Collection is comprised of photographs and ephemera related to the White family's work and lives in China, especially the British military and Shanghai Municipal Police career of Robert "Bob" John White. The photographs depict Shanghai, Peking, Soochow, Tsingtao, Penang, Mokanshan, and Hangchow in China. Many Shanghai locations are depicted, including Jessfield Park, Hongkew Park, French Club Park, Race Course, Nanking Road, the Bund, Hong Kong and Shanghai Bank, Whangpoo River, Sinza Station, Soowchow Creek, Stone Bridge, general street scenes, and depictions of corporal punishment for crimes. There are many photographs related to the Anti-Foreign Riots, also known as the May Thirtieth Movement, which began after the British Shanghai Municipal Police opened fire on Chinese protestors in the International Settlement on May 30, 1925. Photographs of locations outside of China visited during White's British military service include Hong Kong, Suez Canal, Aden, Port Said, and Singapore. A limited number of photographs document the White family's social activities in China and their lives in the United States.

Biographical / historical:

Robert John White was born in 1902 in Athlone, Ireland to William Robert White and Elizabeth Wolstencroft. His father William was in the British Army Royal Horse Artillery and was stationed in India before serving in World War I. Robert joined the Shanghai Municipal Police in 1924 and remained with the SMP until 1943 during the occupation of Shanghai by Japanese troops. He married Bella Gertzman in 1928 in Shanghai, China, and they had two children together, Ethel Elizabeth and William. They emigrated first to Hong Kong, and then to the United States in 1950, where Robert worked for the Los Angeles Times until his retirement in 1967. He passed away in Los Angeles in 1975.

Acquisition information:
William White, 2003
Processing information:

Mallory Furnier, 2020

Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Indexed terms

Subjects:
Photographs
Albums (Books)

Access and use

Restrictions:

This collection is open for research use.

Terms of access:

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.

Preferred citation:

For information about citing items in this collection consult the appropriate style manual, or see the Citing Archival Materialsguide.

Location of this collection:
18111 Nordhoff Street
Northridge, CA 91330, US
Contact:
(818) 677-4594
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