Finding aid for the Nak Chung Thun papers 3331
Diann Benti
USC Libraries East Asian Library
2022 October
Doheny Memorial Library
3550 Trousdale Parkway
Los Angeles, California 90089-1825
Contributing Institution:
USC Libraries East Asian Library
Title: Nak Chung Thun papers
Creator:
Chŏn, Nak-ch'ŏng, 1876-1953
Identifier/Call Number: 3331
Physical Description:
2.25 Linear Feet
4 boxes
Date (inclusive): circa 1920s-1990s
Abstract: This collection contains the literary archive of Korean-American writer Nak Chung Thun (1875-1953), including the handwritten
manuscripts for novels, stories, and essays. There are also some family papers including two yearbooks of Samson Thun from
Dinuba Union High School (1924-1925) and the biographical writing of Ellen Thun.
Language of Material:
Korean,
English.
Container: 4
Biographical / Historical
Nak Chung Thun (1875-1953) was born in Pyŏngan Province, Korea (now part of North Korea), and immigrated first to Hawaii and
then to California in 1907. He settled in Riverside and worked as a laborer. Thun wrote dramas and fiction in Korean that
remained unpublished during his lifetime. He was married Ruth (born 1889) and they had seven children including Samson Thun
(1908-1998) and Ellen Thun (1912-2006).
Scope and Contents
This collection contains the literary archive of Korean-American writer Nak Chung Thun (1875-1953), including the handwritten
manuscripts for novels, stories, and essays. The manuscripts are written in an archaic form of Korean hangul, and date from
approximately the 1920s and 1930s. There are also some family papers including two yearbooks of Samson Thun from Dinuba Union
High School (1924-1925) and the biographical writing of Ellen Thun.
Some of the short stories and essays were removed from two binders for preservation purposes. The binder covers are housed
in Box 4.
Conditions Governing Access
Advance notice required for access.
Rights Statement for Archival Description
Finding aid description and metadata are licensed under an Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) license.
Conditions Governing Use
All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the East Asian Library at
eal@usc.edu. Permission for publication is given on behalf of the East Asian 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.
Preferred Citation
[Box/folder no. or item name], Nak Chung Thun papers, Collection no. 3331, East Asian Library, USC Libraries, University of
Southern California.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Authors, Korean -- Archival resources
Korean American families -- California -- Los Angeles -- Archival resources
Korean American men -- California -- Los Angeles -- Archival resources
Korean Americans -- Archives
Essays
Manuscripts
Novels
Chŏn, Nak-ch'ŏng, 1876-1953 -- Archives
Hong Kyŏng-nae chŏn [The tale of Hong Kyŏng-nae]
General
Earlier references to this work use the title: "Hong Kyung Lai."
Box 1, Folder 1-4
Original handwritten manuscript (pp. 7-348)
General
The 6 page introduction (pp. 1-6) are missing.
Box 1, Folder 13-14
Korean translation
Scope and Contents
Photocopy of handwritten translation of Hong Kyŏng-nae chŏn "Manuscript A" and "Manuscript B" into modern Korean.
Hong Chung-nae chŏn [The tale of Hong Chung-nae]
Box 1, Folder 15-18
Original handwritten manuscript (pp. 3-343)
General
The 2-page introduction (pp. 1-2) are missing.
Pudo
Scope and Contents
This manuscript is only available as photocopies in the collection. The original manuscript was returned to the donors, and
its subsequent location is unknown. Earlier references to this work use the spelling "Budo."
Box 2, Folder 1-9
Photocopy of manuscript (pp. 1-869)
Box 3
Photocopy of manuscript (additional copy)
Box 2, Folder 10
English translation (partial)
1988-1989
Scope and Contents
A partial English translation of "Pudo" by Hyun Kim.
Box 2, Folder 11
English translation (partial) (photocopy)
Box 4, Folder 1
Version 1, original handwritten manuscript (7 leaves)
Box 4, Folder 2
Version 2, original handwritten manuscript (6 pp.)
Box 4, Folder 3
[Version 3?], story about Jack Chon, original handwritten manuscript (7 pp.)
Kujejŏk kangdo [Righteous robber]
Box 4, Folder 4
Original handwritten manuscript (82 pp.)
Samgak yŏnae myo [Fatal love triangle]
Box 4, Folder 6
Original handwritten manuscript (34 pp.)
Karyŏnjŏk punmyo [Pitiful grave]
Box 4, Folder 7
Original handwritten manuscript (pp. 1-34)
Silmoji myo [A motherless cat]
Box 4, Folder 9
Original handwritten manuscript (27 pp.)
Chŏngbŏm suya [Who is the main culprit?]
Box 4, Folder 10
Original handwritten manuscript (1 leaf)
Box 4, Folder 11
Original handwritten manuscript (138 pp.)
Box 4, Folder 12
Photocopy of pp. 1-20 only (2 sets)
[Unidentified story fragment with characters Irma and Mary]
Box 4, Folder 22
Original handwritten manuscript (1 leaf)
Yŏnae wa yŏrae [Love and lust]
Original handwritten manuscripts
Box 4, Folder 14
Version 1a (2 pp.)
Scope and Contents
A version of the beginning of "Yŏnae wa yŏrae," similar to version 1.
Kyŏngjejŏk yŏrae [Love in economic terms]
Box 4, Folder 17
Original handwritten manuscript (6 pp.)
[Untitled speech to fellow Korean Americans about fighting for Korean independence]
Box 4, Folder 18
Original handwritten manuscript (4 pp.)
Yagyuk kangsik [The strong prey on the weak]
Box 4, Folder 19
Original handwritten manuscript (1 p.)
Insaenggwan [My outlook on life]
Box 4, Folder 20
Original handwritten manuscript (12 pp.)
Saengsagwan [My view on life and death]
Box 4, Folder 21
Original handwritten manuscript (3 pp.)
Scope and Contents
Missing last pages.
Binder covers and end papers
Box 4, Folder 23
Kujejŏk kangdo [Righteous robber] 3-ring binder cover [manuscripts removed to separate folder for preservation purposes]
Box 4, Folder 24-26
3-ring binder cover and end papers for "Notebook X [essays]"
Box 4, Folder 27-28
Samson Thun yearbooks
1924-1925
Box 4, Folder 36
Thun/Dunn family biographical information and notes
Box 4, Folder 37
Miscellaneous notes and photocopies
