Register of the James A. Rabbitt papers
Finding aid prepared by Sarah Ainsworth
Hoover Institution Library and Archives
© 2000, 2022
434 Galvez Mall
Stanford University
Stanford, CA 94305-6003
hoover-library-archives@stanford.edu
Title: James A. Rabbitt papers
Date (inclusive): 1895-1967
Collection Number: 71005
Contributing Institution: Hoover Institution Library and Archives
Language of Material: In English, Chinese, and Japanese
Physical Description:
62 manuscript boxes, 3 oversize boxes, 3 oversize folders
(29.2 Linear Feet)
Abstract: James Aloysius Rabbitt was an American engineer who worked in China and Japan in the first half of the twentieth century and
specialized in the mining of metals. The collection includes correspondence, memoirs, lectures, reports, surveys, patents,
clippings, sketches, and photographs, relating to economic, scientific, and technological developments in the mining and metallurgical
industries of China, Japan, and the Far East, with emphasis on nickel, China labor and dockyard projects, cultivation of rice
in Japan, and related governmental policies of China and Japan.
Creator:
Rabbitt, James Aloysius, 1877-1969
Access
Boxes 19, 24, and 62 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.
Use
For copyright status, please contact the Hoover Institution Library & Archives.
Acquisition Information
Acquired by the Hoover Institution Library & Archives in 1971.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], James A. Rabbitt papers, [Box no., Folder no. or title], Hoover Institution Library & Archives.
Processing Information
In 2022, archivist Sarah Ainsworth reprocessed this collection. The majority of the original description has been retained
with 4 boxes added. Box numbers may have changed during reprocessing.
Biographical Note
James Aloysius Rabbitt (1877-1969) was an American engineer who worked in China and Japan in the first half of the twentieth
century and specialized in the mining of metals. In addition to his engineering business ventures, Rabbitt conducted research
into various industries in the far East, including agriculture. Rabbitt's newsclippings, personal photographs and personal
correspondence reveal what it was like to live as an expat in China and Japan at that time. Rabbitt also dabbled in the arts,
and his papers contain some of his sketches, calligraphy, and poetry. His poetry was published under the pseudonym Shamus
A'Rabbitt.
Rabbitt was born in Stamford, Connecticut, on August 4, 1877 and trained as an engineer at the Rochester Athenaeum and Mechanics
Institute (now the Rochester Institute of Technology), graduating in 1901.
Rather than pursue further education at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Rabbitt chose to take a job as an engineer
in Osaka, Japan. He remained in that position until 1909.
From 1911 through 1917, he worked for the Nipponophone Laboratories company, where he helped develop various inventions and
filed patents in both Japan and the United States.
In December of 1917, Rabbitt traveled back to the United States for World War I military service. He served as the Special
Assistant to the Department of State at Washington and as War Trade Attache. Through May 1919, he continued to serve as both
the Commercial Attache and War Trade Attache to the American Embassy at Tokyo.
In July 1919, Rabbitt opened an engineering consulting business in New York City. In December of that year, this business
took him to Canton, China, where he advised on the rebuilding of the Kwangtung Military Arsenal, the Kwangtung Provincial
Mint and the Kwangtung Dockyard. After a trip back to the United States to establish the James Rabbitt Engineering Corporation,
Rabbitt journeyed back to China to work on the mining and railway projects in the Province of Kwangsi.
Rabbitt completed the plans for the Canton Delta Railway System and the Inner and Outer Canton Harbors in 1921, however, because
of the Civil War in South China, was forced to abandon his engineering projects as well as his business.
Back in the United States by 1924, Rabbitt was hired as a consulting engineer for the Asia Development Corp. to write a report
on the Hakata-Wan Harbor and Daibu Railway Project at Hakata, Fukuoka Province, Japan. From 1925 to 1929, Rabbitt continued
to work as an engineer, including in the areas of high temperature combustion, industrial waste, and industrial plant design.
In 1932, Rabbitt founded the Japan Nickel Information Bureau and in 1933 he started the "Japan Nickel Review" scientific magazine,
serving as the publication's first editor.
In January of 1941, Rabbitt and his family were forced to leave Japan. Later that year, he wrote a report on Nickel in Japan
for the U.S. government. He became a technical consultant to the War Department in New York City in 1944 and helped create
a report on the Industrial Disarmament of Japan.
From 1948 to 1952, Rabbitt returned to live in Japan while he worked on projects for the Inco company and on matters related
to ductile cast iron.
In 1952, he returned to Inco's New York office to finish reports on Asia's Industrial Potential. In 1955, he retired from
the Inco company and lived the rest of his years on Water Island, St. Thomas Harbor, U.S. Virgin Islands. He died in July
1969.
Scope and Contents of Collection
The collection includes correspondence, memoirs, lectures, reports, surveys, patents, clippings, sketches, and photographs,
relating to economic, scientific, and technological developments in the mining and metallurgical industries of China, Japan,
and the Far East, with emphasis on nickel, China labor and dockyard projects, cultivation of rice in Japan, and related governmental
policies of China and Japan.
The Biographical File spans from 1908 to 1961 and contains newspaper clippings on Rabbitt's life, career, and inventions,
as well as documents related to his family and ephemera from his involvement in amateur theater in China and Japan.
The Correspondence series, largely comprised of bound volumes, contains letters sent and received over the course of business
activities.
Additionally, Rabbitt wrote extensively throughout his life, from poetry to technical articles to a memoir. The Writings series
consists of these both published works and drafts. He titled his memoir "Yankee Engineer in Asia" and he collected material
related to this memoir in volumes numbered 1-23, though it should be noted that a few volumes are missing. For these volumes,
we have retained the original order as the materials were received by the Library and Archives.
Records related to Rabbitt's engineering career and research endeavors can be found in the Reports and Surveys series, which
spans from 1918 to 1950. These files include engineering projects in Canton, railway projects, data on industries in Asian
countries, and an in-depth survey of the industries of Japan.
The Miscellaneous series features artwork by Rabbitt, his journal and daybook, and a guestbook for his residence in Japan
in the 1930s.
In the Photographic Materials series, there are a significant amount of prints depicting rice cultivation. Additionally, there
are five photo albums with photographic prints from Rabbitt's life and travels.
Arrangement Statement
This collection is organized in six series: Series I. Biographical File, 1908-1961; Series II. Correspondence, 1901-1951;
Series III. Writings, 1903-1967; Series IV. Reports and Surveys, 1918-1950; Series V. Miscellaneous, 1906-1949; Series VI.
Photographic Materials, 1895-1960. Series II through V are arranged chronologically.
Original order has been retained for the Yankee Engineer in Asia Sub-Series within Series III: Writings, as well for the Surveys
of the Industries of Japan Sub-Series within Series IV: Reports and Surveys.
Related Materials
The Hoover Library holds two volumes of Rabbitt's poetry, published under his pseudonym Shamus A'Rabbitt: Ballads of the East
(1937) and China Coast Ballads (1938).
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Engineers
Agriculture -- Japan
Engineering -- China
Mines and mineral resources -- China
Mines and mineral resources -- East Asia
Mines and mineral resources -- Japan
Nickel mines and mining
Biographical File
1908-1961
box 61, folder 3-8
Diplomas, awards, and certificates
1917-1955
box 1, folder 1
General career material
1908-1952
box 1, folder 3-4
Invention clippings
1910-1961
box 2, folder 1
Amateur theater and clubs
1914-1932
box 2, folder 2
Children's immigration documents
1919
box 2, folder 3
Career clippings
1935-1952
Physical Description: Bound volume
Correspondence
1901-1951
Arrangement
Arranged chronologically, original titles retained
Scope and Contents
Letters sent and received over the course of business activities. Most correspondence consists of bound volumes
box 3, folder 1
Miscellaneous Letters Received
1901-1939
box 3, folder 2
Morris, Roland S.
1918-1919
box 3, folder 3-5
Peppermint leaves and menthol data
1919-1921
os_folder 2
Peppermint and menthol charts and blueprints
1920-1921
Scope and Contents
Contains charts and blueprints, 13 items
box 55, folder 2
General business
1921-1923
box 7, folder 1
Chronological Outward File
1932 May-December
box 7, folder 2
Letters
1932
Scope and Contents
Concerns business related to nickel
box 8, folder 2
Asano Agency Termination
1932
box 7, folder 3
Letters on Rotary Steel-making process
1932-1933
box 8, folder 1
Mitsui Correspondence and Legal
1932-1933
box 9, folder 1
Chronological Outward File
1933
box 10, folder 1
China and Miscellaneous Letters
1933
box 10, folder 2
American European Trip
1934
box 11, folder 1-4
Commercial File
1934-1936
box 12, folder 1
American European Trip, A-L
1936
box 13, folder 1
American European Trip, M-Z
1937
box 14, folder 1-3
Commercial File
1937-1939
box 55, folder 3-5
International Nickel Company
1941-1961
box 57, folder 1-2
International Nickel Company
1947-1951
Writings
1903-1967
Arrangement
Arranged chronologically
Scope and Contents
Includes published and unpublished works by Rabbitt, including a memoir, articles, lectures, and poetry.
Yankee Engineer in Asia
1903-1965
Scope and Contents
Volumes 1, 12, 14, 15, 19, and 20 missing. The remaining volumes contain patent documents, legal and business correspondence,
and newspaper clippings.
box 15, folder 1-4
Manuscript drafts
undated
box 19, folder 1
Volume 4
1919-1924
Conditions Governing Access
Box 19 may not be used without the permission of the Archivist
box 19, folder 2-5
Volume 5
1919-1922
Conditions Governing Access
Box 19 may not be used without the permission of the Archivist
box 21, folder 6
Volumes 10 and 11
1943-1949
box 21, folder 8
Volumes 16 and 17
1924-1944
Scope and Contents
Newspaper clippings from China and Japan
box 22, folder 1-3
Volume 18
1921-1932
Scope and Contents
Canton newspaper clippings regarding Sun Yat-sen
box 25, folder 1
Volume 18
1921-1922
Scope and Contents
Bound volume titled "Canton newspaper clippings"
box 24, folder 1-4
Volume 21
1921-1923
Conditions Governing Access
Box 24 may not be used without permission of the Archivist
os_folder 2
Kwang Tung Province Highway Department Diagram for Determining Width of Roads
1921 October
os_folder 3
Kwang Tung Province Highway Department Diagram for Determining Width of Roads
1921 October
box 24, folder 5
Volume 22
1921-1924
Conditions Governing Access
Box 24 may not be used without permission of the Archivist
box 62, folder 1-2
Volume 22
1921-1924
Conditions Governing Access
Box 62 may not be used without permission of the Archivist
box 62, folder 3
Volume 23
1921-1922
Conditions Governing Access
Box 62 may not be used without permission of the Archivist
box 26, folder 4
Lectures and articles on Japanese silk industry
1916-1939
box 25, folder 3
"Rice in the Cultural Life of the Japanese People" manuscript
1919
os_folder 2
A Conspectus of Japanese History and Notes
undated
box 25, folder 2
"Rice and Social Policy" manuscript
1919-1938
box 29, folder 1-2
"Nickel: Mining, Smelting, Refining and Applications"
1930-1931
Physical Description: Two bound volumes
box 27, folder 2-5
"History of Rice in Japan"
1931-1940
box 23, folder 2
"Mining and Metallurgy of Nickel"
1934
box 23, folder 6
Poetry Clippings and Drafts
1938-1939
box 27, folder 1
Writings on history of silk
1939
box 22, folder 5
"Historical Background of Government in Japan"
1941 April
box 23, folder 3
Articles on economies of China and Japan
1947 October-November
box 23, folder 7-8
"Trailing the Moon" poetry manuscript
1960s
box 23, folder 1
"Prolonged Youth" manuscript
1967
box 26, folder 2
"History of the Japanese Tea Industry"
undated
box 22, folder 6
"Tea Leaves" manuscript
undated
box 22, folder 4
"History of Japan Under the Shoguns"
undated
Reports and Surveys
1918-1950
Arrangement
Arranged chronologically.
Economic Reports
1918-1950
box 31, folder 1
Economic Reports for Trade Board, Washington
1918
box 31, folder 2-3
Monthly Trade Reports: Japan Trade and Economic Letters
1934-1936
Physical Description: Two bound volumes
box 32, folder 1-2
Monthly Commercial Reports: Japan
1935-1936
Physical Description: Two bound volumes
box 33, folder 1-2
Monthly Activity Reports: Japan Nickel Information Bureau
1936-1937
os_folder 3
Japan Nickel Information Bureau Organization Flow Chart
undated
os_folder 3
Flowchart of Nickel Industries of Japan
undated
box 51, folder 4
The Economic Position of Japan Report
1947-1950
box 57, folder 6-7
Report on Industrial Reparations Survey of Japan to the United States of America
1948 February
box 47, folder 1
Economic Orientation of the Far Eastern Crisis
1941 July-August
Mining, Metal, and Scientific Reports
1920-1950
box 54, folder 1
Reports on Steel
1920-1932
box 51, folder 1
4 Days at the Huntington Mills
circa 1930
box 54, folder 3
Rotary Steel Process and Casting Machine
1932
box 51, folder 2
Nickel Deposits in Japan and Korea
1932-1933
box 53, folder 1
Nickel News and Reports
1936-1937
box 53, folder 2
Commercial Distribution of Nickel, Japan
1937
box 51, folder 3
Commercial Distribution of Nickel, Japan
1938
box 57, folder 4-5
China's Iron and Steel Industries, ore sites, coal fields, and coal mines
1944
box 48, folder 2
Scientific and Technological Societies of Japan Report
1947 October
box 48, folder 3
Iron and Steel Industries in Japan
1948-1949
box 48, folder 4
Postwar Reorganization and Research Activities in Metal and Alloys by Japanese Government and Industries
1950 March
box 54, folder 4-7
Ductile Cast Iron in Japan
1950 May-June
box 54, folder 8
Nickel and Economic Civilization
undated
Engineering Projects
1921-1924
box 34, folder 1-3
Canton Delta and West River Railways Project: Preliminary Report
1921 October
os_folder 3
Proposed West River Railroad System
undated
box 34, folder 4
Canton City Waterfront and Inner Harbor Improvements
1921 May
box 34, folder 5
Canton Outer Harbor and Dockyard Development
1921
os_folder 2
Canton Outer Harbor and Dockyard Development blueprint
1921 October
box 55, folder 1
Canton Project Business Documents
1921-1923
box 54, folder 2
Canton Project Business Documents
1921-1923
box 35, folder 1
Report on Hakata-Wan Harbor and Daibu Railway Project
1924
box 35, folder 2
Appendix to Report on Hakata-Wan Harbor and Daibu Railway Project
1924
Surveys of the Industries of Japan
circa 1929
box 40, folder 3
Volume 1: Textiles
circa 1929
box 48, folder 1
Volume 2: Industrial Chemicals, Pharmaceuticals, Artificial Fertilizers
circa 1929
box 50
Appendix to Volume 2: Industrial Chemicals, Pharmaceuticals, Artificial Fertilizers
circa 1929
box 49, folder 1
Volume 3: Dyes, Paints, Oils and Fats, Petroleum, Toilet Articles
circa 1929
box 50, folder 1
Volume 4: Cement, Porcelain, Glass, Bricks
circa 1929
box 50, folder 2
Volume 4 supplement: Porcelain
circa 1929
box 41
Volume 5: Rubber, Leather, Paper, Celluloid, Explosives, Matches
circa 1929
box 41
Volume 6: Beverages, Sake, Beer, Soy, Miso, Vinegar, Wines, and Liquors, Soft Drinks
circa 1929
box 42
Volume 7: Canning, Salt, Fisheries, Ice and Refrigeration
circa 1929
box 43
Volume 8: Dairies, Stock Farms, Agricultural Products, Sugar, Confectionery, Tea and Tobacco
circa 1929
box 44
Appendix to Volumes 6, 7, and 8
circa 1929
box 45
Volume 9: Mining - Cold, Silver, Platinum, Copper, Lead, Zinc etc., Iron, Coal, Oil, Sulphur
circa 1929
box 46
Volume 10: Metals - Iron, Steel, Copper, Zinc, Brass, Lead, Alloys, Castings, Bolts, Nuts, Chains, Plating, etc.
circa 1929
box 47
Appendix to Volumes 9 and 10
circa 1929
box 52
Supplement A: Trade and Industrial Leaders
circa 1929
box 28, folder 1-2
Translation of Naoji Suzuki's Bibliography on Rice
1938
box 28, folder 3-6
Newspaper clippings on rice
1933-1940
box 30, folder 1-2
Newspaper clippings on rice
1933-1940
os_folder 1
Untitled Invention Sketch
undated
Industrial Potential of Asia Surveys
1936-1946
Arrangement
Arranged alphabetically by name of country or region
box 36, folder 1-6
Asia's Industrial Potential
1930s
box 37, folder 1
Asia's Industrial Potential
1930s
box 37, folder 2
Australia's Industrial Potential
circa 1939
box 37, folder 3-4
China's Industrial Potential
1940s
os_folder 1
Important Mines, Oil, and Metallurgical Plants of Manchuria map
1945 October
os_folder 3
Dr. Sun's railway map
undated
box 37, folder 5-7
China's Industrial Potential Appendices
1940s
box 38, folder 1
Formosa and Korea's Industrial Potential
1944-1946
os_folder 1
Important Mines, Oil, and Metallurgical Plants of Korea
1945 July
box 38, folder 2-3
India's Industrial Potential
1938
box 38, folder 4-6
Japan's Industrial Potential
1936-1947
box 39, folder 1
Japan's Industrial Potential
1936-1947
box 57, folder 3
Japan's Industrial Potential
1936-1947
os_folder 1
Charts of Japanese industries and oversize maps of Japan
1936
Physical Description: 23 items
os_folder 3
Flowchart of Survey of Industrial Potential of Japan
1941
os_folder 3
National Geographic Map of Asia and Adjacent Areas
1942
box 39, folder 2-3
Southeast Asia's Industrial Potential
1936-1940
box 39, folder 4
Southwest Asia's Industrial Potential
1936-1940
box 39, folder 5
Philippine's Industrial Potential
1944 October
box 40, folder 1-2
Soviet Union's Industrial Potential
1940s
os_folder 2
Soviet Union Basic Industries chart and map
1940
Miscellaneous
1906-1949
Arrangement
Arranged chronologically
box 54, folder 9
Business Documents and Contracts
1906-1949
box 51, folder 5
Preparatory Work for Japan
1928
box 49, folder 2
Articles on Agricultural Problems, Farm Machinery, Food Review
1938
box 49, folder 3
Newspaper clippings on silk and tea
1938
box 52, folder 2-3
Rehabilitation of the Mining Industry in the Philippines manuscript by H. Foster Bain
1938
box 54, folder 10
Japan Food Review
circa 1930s
box 65
War Department, Military Intelligence Division, New York Office, History and Operation Manual
1944
box 56, folder 6-7
Pen and Ink Sketches
undated
box 63, folder 1
Pen and Ink Sketches
undated
box 56
Guest books
1933-1940
Scope and Contents
Three guest books for Rabbitt residence in Japan
Photographic Materials
1895-1960
Photographic prints
1927-1930s
box 60, folder 3
1927
Scope and Contents
Photographs of tea flowers
box 60, folder 4-5
circa 1930s
Scope and Contents
Photographs of rice cultivation
box 58, envelope 1-56
circa 1930s
Scope and Contents
Photographs of rice cultivation
Photographic albums
1895-1924
box 60, folder 1-2
1921-1924
Physical Description: 2 unbound photographic albums
box 59
1895-1920
Physical Description: 2 bound photographic albums
box 64
undated
Physical Description: 1 unbound photographic album
box 60, folder 6
Miscellaneous photographs
1940-1960