The collections
Westerners in East Asia: microfilms acquired
The National Library has considerable strengths in Asian and European languages relating to Western contacts with East Asia. For example the Library holds rare and valuable Chinese language works acquired from the London Missionary Society, the first Protestant movement active in China from the beginning of the nineteenth century. The Harold S. Williams Collection of books, papers and other materials is regarded as one of the world's finest resources on early Western contacts with Japan. Jessie McLaren, an Australian missionary who lived in Korea from 1911 to 1941 acquired a number of rare Korean books, which were later donated to the Library. These collections are supplemented by many facsimile editions, reprints and microfilmed archives.
The Library has recently added to these resources by purchasing several important collections on microfilm. They include a further instalment of China through Western Eyes: Manuscript Records of Traders, Travellers, Missionaries and Diplomats, 1792_1942; as well as specifically mission-related works such as Chinese Missionary Gleaner, 1853_59; Christian Literature Society for China Annual Report, 1887_1947 and China Church Yearbook, 1914_36.
Particular efforts are being made to improve holdings on Korea in response to the Survey of Users of Korean Materials report published last year. The Library has recently ordered the microfilmed Board of Foreign Missions: Korea Mission Records, 1903_1957. These are from the Presbyterian Historical Society in the USA. They supplement the Library's Korea mission materials from the nineteenth century.
Please address any comments and enquiries to The Editor, Gateways: lkirwan@nla.gov.au