Pai (Ch'ung-hsi) papers, 1926-2014

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Summary

Title:
Pai Ch'ung-hsi 白崇禧 papers
Dates:
1926-2014
Creators:
Bai, Chongxi, 1893-1966
Abstract:
The Pai Ch'ung-hsi 白崇禧 papers (1926-2014) include diaries, writings, correspondence, notes, DVDs, photographs, and a videotape relating to the Second Sino-Japanese War and the Chinese Civil War.
Extent:
13 manuscript boxes, 17 oversize boxes, 1 videotape reel, 1 oversize folder, 1 sound tape reel, digital media (25.3 Linear Feet)
Language:
In Chinese
Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], Pai Ch'ung-hsi 白崇禧 papers, [Box no., Folder no. or title], Hoover Institution Library & Archives.

Background

Scope and content:

The Pai Ch'ung-hsi 白崇禧 papers include official files from different stages of his military and political careers; correspondence between Pai and Nationalist Chinese government leaders; family letters and correspondence; personal diaries; materials on the Chinese Muslim Association; notes and writings; decorations and certificates; and documentaries recording his family activities, an inspection tour he took to Taiwan in the spring of 1947, and his funeral. The papers also include over a thousand photographs and DVDs relating to TV documentaries about General Pai and his son, Professor Kenneth Pai.

Biographical / historical:

Pai Ch'ung-hsi 白崇禧 (Bai Chongxi) (1893-1966) was born in Guilin, Guangxi Province, into a Hui Muslim family. In 1921, after graduating from Baoding Military Academy, Pai joined Sun Yat-sen 孫中山's revolutionary movement. During the Northern Expedition (1926-1928), aimed at expelling regional warlords and consolidating power across China, Pai served as the chief of staff for the Nationalist Revolutionary Army under the leadership of Chiang Kai-shek 蔣介石. Pai was considered a great military strategist for his battlefield exploits during the Northern Expetion. From 1930 to 1936, Pai, along with Li Tsung-jen 李宗仁 (Li Zongren) and several other prominent leaders from Guangxi, worked on improving the economic development and administrative efficiency of his home province. During the Second Sino-Japanese War (1937-1945), Pai was made deputy chief of staff of the Nationalist army, responsible for military training and operations. During the war, Pai assisted Li in defeating the Japanese in Tai'erzhuang, Shandong Province, as well as Guangxi Province, and was commander during the Battle of Wuhan.

In 1946, Pai was appointed minister of national defense and assisted Chiang in waging war against the Chinese Communists. Shortly after the riot broke out in Taiwan on February 28, 1947, Pai was sent as Chiang's personal representative on a fact finding mission and to help pacify the populace on the island. In January 1949, after Chiang resigned from the presidency and Li became the acting president, Pai was tasked with building a solid Nationalist defense line along the Yangtze River. As the Nationalist government in most of China was quickly losing ground, Pai continued to fight against the Chinese Communists in Central and Southwest China. In October 1949, Pai planned to make a last stand in his home province of Guangxi, but this failed to materialize. At the end of 1949, Pai fled to Taiwan with the rest of the Kuomintang (KMT), where he spent the rest of his life.

Acquisition information:
Materials were acquired by the Hoover Institution Library Archives in 2017.
Physical location:
Hoover Institution Library & Archives
Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

About this collection guide

Collection Guide Author:
Finding aid prepared by Amanda Robb

Access and use

Restrictions:

Content from this collection has been digitized; originals may not be used without permission of the Archivist. Box FH18 may not be used without permission of the Archivist. The remainder of the collection is open for research; materials must be requested in advance via our reservation system. If there are audiovisual or digital media material in the collection, they must be reformatted before providing access.

Terms of access:

For copyright status, please contact the Hoover Institution Library & Archives.

Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], Pai Ch'ung-hsi 白崇禧 papers, [Box no., Folder no. or title], Hoover Institution Library & Archives.

Location of this collection:
Hoover Institution Library & Archives, Stanford University
Stanford, CA 94305-6003, US
Contact:
(650) 723-3563
hooverarchives@stanford.edu
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