Old China Hands Oral History Project Collection, 1996-2019

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Summary

Creators:
California State University, Northridge. University Library
Abstract:
The Old China Hands Oral History Project Collection consists of oral histories of "Old China Hands," foreigners who lived and worked in China before or shortly after the Communist takeover of the country in 1949. The experiences of Old China Hands are particulary valuable to historians studying modern Chinese history and world history, as well as those interested in intercultural communications.
Extent:
94.6 Gigabytes
Language:
English , Chinese , German , Russian .
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 Old China Hands Oral History Project Collection consists of nearly 200 audio interviews with "Old China Hands," foreigners who lived and worked in China before or shortly after the Communist takeover of China in 1949. Interview topics include daily life in China, impressions of local culture and business, and experiences related to World War II such as the Japanese occupation and internment of Allied country citizens residing in China. Transcripts are available for all interviews.

Many of the interviews were recorded at Old China Hands reunions, beginning with the 1996 reunion in Las Vegas, Nevada.

The collection is divided into seven series arranged chronologically, Las Vegas, Nevada Reunion, (1996), Northridge, California (2002), Independent Interviews (2004-2019), Portland, Oregon Reunion(2006), Fremont, California (2011), Shanghai, China (2012), and China Marines (2014). Interviews are arranged in alphabetical order by the last name of the narrator for all series.

Series I, Las Vegas, Nevada Reunion contains oral histories conducted at the Las Vegas Old China Hands Reunion by a team led by Sue Fawn Chung, professor of history at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.

Series II, Northridge, California contains interviews conducted in 2002 at Northridge.

Series III, Independent Interviews contains interviews unconnected with a particular event.

Series IV, Portland, Oregon Reunion contains interviews conducted by the Old China Hands Archives at the Portland Old China Hands Reunion.

Series V, Fremont, Californiacontains oral history interviews conducted by the Old China Hands Archives primarily at the Macau Cultural Center in Fremont, California. The bulk of these interviews are with descendents of Portuguese emigrants.

Series VI, Shanghai, China contains oral history interviews conducted by the Old China Hands Archives during a trip to Shanghai.

Series VII, China Marines Reunion contains oral histories recorded at the China Marines Reunion in Charleston, South Carolina by the Old China Hands Archives.

Biographical / historical:

The library created this collection of materials for study and research.

Processing information:

Jessica Geiser, 2014

Arrangement:

Series I: Las Vegas, Nevada Reunion, 1996

Series II: Northridge, California, 2002

Series III: Independent Interviews, 2004-2019

Series IV: Portland, Oregon Reunion, 2006

Series V: Fremont, California, 2011

Series VI: Shanghai, China, 2012

Series VII: China Marines Reunion, 2014

Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Indexed terms

Subjects:
Audiovisual materials

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