The collections
Microfilm acquisitions for researchers in East Asian studies
Australians were prominent among Presbyterian missionaries in Korea. They included Jessie McLaren and her husband, a doctor, who worked in Korea between 1911 and 1941. Jessie is pictured here with her daughter, Rachel, in Korea in the 1920s. Rachel donated her mothers collection of old and rare Korean books to the Library in 1984
A number of significant microform titles in Chinese, Japanese and Korean were added to the Librarys extensive Asian collection recently.
Among the items is a microfilm collection of monographs and periodicals on Chinese women. It is a selection of famous works relating to women, love, marriage, and family written by renowned Chinese scholars in the Republican period (191149).
Research relating to Christianity in China should also be enhanced by the acquisition of eight reels of a microfilm collection on the subject. Titles include History of Christianity in China; Christian Missionary Work in China; Chinese Civilization and Christianity; Christianity and Chinese Culture; Jesus through the Eyes of the Chinese People; Revolution and Religion; History of the Catholic Church in China; and History of Catholic Missionary Work in China.
For those interested in Japanese politics, 90 titles of Japanese leftwing periodicals and 76 titles of Japanese rightwing periodicals have been purchased by the Library. These cover the period 191943 and are valuable additions to existing holdings on these topics.
The Japanese occupation of Taiwan lasted from the late nineteenth century until the end of the Second World War. Newly acquired titles such as Taiwan Sotokufu Tokeisho (Taiwan Statistical Abstracts) 18971942; Kokusei Chosa (Taiwan National Census) 18951945 and Minami Shina Oyobi Nanyo Chosasho (South China and Southeast Asia Report) 18951945 are valuable research materials for this period of history.
Presbyterian mission work in Korea began in 1884 and was complicated by several factors not common to other missions. The presence of the Japanese from 1910 until 1945, for example, did much to undermine the work of the missionaries, especially during the 1930s, and the Korean War caused a period of retrenchment for the Church. The 31 rolls of a microfilm collection of the Board of Foreign Missions: Korea Mission Records, 19031957 acquired by the Library includes mission reports, field correspondence, Board of Foreign Missions circular letters, educational and medical work records, and personal missionary correspondence. These records will provide invaluable information on social conditions in Korea and on efforts to spread the gospel during the first half of this century.
Please address any comments and enquiries to The Editor, Gateways: lkirwan@nla.gov.au