Small Family Nanking University Collection, 1907-2004, bulk 1907-1928

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Summary

Title:
Small Family Nanking University Collection
Dates:
1907-2004, bulk 1907-1928
Creators:
Small, Alexander and Mary and Schurman, Jacqueline W.
Abstract:
The Small Family Nanking University Collection consists of a family history, a map of Nanking, copied correspondence, newspaper clippings, and other materials on Nanking University, Lex's career as an architect, and the Nanking Incident, compiled by Jaqueline Schurman, the Smalls' granddaughter.
Extent:
0.23 linear feet
Language:
English, Chinese
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 Small Family Nanking University Collection consists of a family history, a map of Nanking, copied correspondence, newspaper clippings, and other materials on Nanking University, Lex's career as an architect, and the Nanking Incident,compiled by Jaqueline Schurman, the Smalls' granddaughter.

Biographical / historical:

Alexander and Mary Small, also known as Lex and Polly, travelled to China in 1912 shortly after being married. Lex initially worked at the Fati Language School in Canton, where he was the school's engineer, involved in various small building and maintenance projects. After one year he was assigned to be the Superintendent of Construction for the Nanking University, part of the China Union Universities, created and administered by four US missions in New York. For over thirteen years, Lex supervised the construction of 66 buildings on campus, and he and Polly hosted numerous visiting missionaries. In 1927, the Smalls fled down the Yangtsze River with few of their possessions in the midst of the Nanking Incident, an uprising of Nationalist and Communist soldiers in which foreign residents were attacked and their property looted and destroyed. The family left China for the United States, eventually settling in Pasadena, California, where Lex worked for an architectural firm and then the Los Angeles Board of Education

Acquisition information:
Jacqueline Schurman, 2006
Processing information:

Ellen Jarosz and Tim Kauffler, 2012

Indexed terms

Subjects:
Documents

About this collection guide

Date Encoded:
This finding aid was produced using ArchivesSpace on 2020-03-27 23:41:09 +0000 .

Access and use

Restrictions:

The 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
Website