MS 5189
Papers of Charles Patrick Fitzgerald (1902-1992)



Scope and Content Note

  • Papers
  • 1926-71
  • 1.4 m. (10 boxes)
  • Available for reference

Professor Fitzgerald donated his Papers to the National Library in 1976. The manuscript of Why China? recollections of China, 1923-50 was transferred in 1991. The collection includes correspondence, drafts of books and articles (including Revolution in China, Empress Wu, Communism takes China and Why China?), newspaper cuttings and printed material.

The papers were initially processed in 1976. Further work on the collection was done in 1993.

Biographical Note

Charles Patrick Fitzgerald was born in Londond, England, in 1902, the son of Dr. H Sauer of Cape Town, South Africa. He was educated in England and lived for many years in China before coming to Australia.

Fitzgerald's career include working for the British Council in China (1946-50), Reader in Far Eastern History at Australian National University (1951-53) and Professor of Far Eastern History at the Institute of Advanced Studies, Australian National University (1953-67).

Professor Fitzgerald was the author of a number of books, articles and book reviews. His publications include Revolution in China (1952), The Chinese view of their place in the world (1964), Empress Wu (1955), Communism takes China (1971), The southern expansion of Chinese people (1972), China and South East Asia since 1945 (1973) and Why China? (1985).

C.P. Fitzgerald died in Sydney in 1992.

SeriesL ist

  1. Correspondence, 1951-71
  2. Drafts of books, 1952-73
  3. Drafts of articles, book reviews and radio commentaries, 1926-71
  4. Drafts of lectures and other works, 1945-69
  5. Newspaper cuttings, 1935-69
  6. Miscellaneous
  7. Printed material, 1954-69

Series Description

Series 1. Correspondence, 1951-71

Business correspondence with publishers and other academics concerning Fitzgerald's works and his life long interest in China. The series also includes copies of Fitzgerald's letters.

The correspondents include Hermann Volle, W.L. Holland, Thelma Schofield, René Goldman, Mary F. Healy, George Woodcock, H. Owen Chapman, D.K. Cleaver, Brian Evans and Tom Harrison.

Series 2. Books, 1952-73

Includes drafts and typescripts of four unpublished works; 'Classical China', 'Asia in the twentieth century', 'China resurges' and 'Australia and Asia", and the following published works:

  1. 'The decline of the Manchu Dynasty (1870-1901)', published in the Cambridge Modern History, vol. XI. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1912.
  2. Revolution in China. London: Cresset Press, 1952
  3. The Chinese view of their place in the world. London: Oxford University Press, 1964.
  4. Empress Wu. London: Cresset Press, 1955.
  5. The Horizon history of China. New York: American Heritage, 1969.
  6. Communism takes China. London: B.P.C., 1971.
  7. The southern expansion of Chinese people. New York: Praeger, 1972.
  8. China and south east Asia since 1945. Camberwell, Vic.: Longman Australia, 1973.
  9. Why China? Carlton, Vic.: Melbourne University Press, 1985.

Series 3. Articles, book reviews and radio commentaries, 1926-71

Fitzgerald wrote numerous articles, book reviews and radio commentaries. This series comprises drafts and typescripts.

Series 4. Lectures and other works

Drafts and typescripts of lectures, seminar and conference papers, including 'The Chinese revolutionary tradition' (George Ernest Morrison Lecture, n.d.), 'The origin of the Chinese revolution' (Melbourne Oration Lecture Series, 1969), 'The place of Chinese culture in civilisation, past and present' (talk given at the Sino-British Culture Association, Shanghai, 1948) and 'China in the twenty first century' (Sir John Morris Memorial Lecture, 1968).

Box List

Series     Box
1          1
2          1-6
3          6-7
4          7
5          7
6          8
7          8-10
Guide prepared April 1993. Last revised 9 September 1996.