Janus: Papers of Joseph Needham as a historian of Chinese science, technology and medicine

Needham/NRI2/SCC2 contains:
<-- See earlier
183	Joseph Needham's lectures on alchemy
184	'Science and Civilisation in China, Volume 5, Part 2': Concepts, Terminology, and Definitions; Aurifiction, Aurifaction, Macrobiotics
185	'Science and Civilisation in China, Volume 5, Part 2': Concepts, Terminology, and Definitions: Material Immortality, Macrobiotics and Soma (Wasson) etc.
186	'Science and Civilisation in China, Volume 5, Part 2': Concepts, Terminology, and Definitions: Liturgy and Alchemy
187	Mycology, Hallucinogens and Ethno-pharmacology etc.
188	Nomenclature of chemical substances, ores and minerals in the old Chinese literature
189	Alchemy and Chemistry: The metallurgical-chemical background
190	Alchemy and Chemistry: Late notes - Metallurgical - Introduction
191	Alchemy and Chemistry: Physiological background
192	'Science and Civilisation in China, Volume 5, Part 2': Miscellaneous late notes
193	Alchemy and Chemistry: Main History 1
See later -->

Papers of Joseph Needham as a historian of Chinese science, technology and medicine

Title	Paper and printing: Notes
Reference	SCC2/178
Covering Dates	1942-Oct. 1987
Extent and Medium	Paper

Content and context

Joseph Needham noted on his file title that this material was 'gone through by Chhien Tshun-Hsün [??? / Qian Cunxun], Oct 82 and checked.

Index Terms

Paper Technology

Printing

Needham/NRI2/SCC2/178 contains:

Joseph Needham's list of references relating to paper and printing in George Sarton's 'Introduction to the History of Science', (Baltimore, 1927-1947).
2 sheets; Paper.

1950–1959

Joseph Needham notes on the paper mulberry.
1 document; Paper.

1950–1959

Note from Victor Purcell of Cambridge about Carter and the 'chemical and microscopic analysis of the Chinese paper of the second century A.D.'.
Creator: Pucell, Victor.
1 document; Paper.

12 Dec. 1949

Letter from Otto [Otto Van der Sprenkel] in Hampstead, London, about works dealing with the history of paper and printing in China.
Creator: Sprenkel, Otto van der.
1 document; Paper.

26 May 1954

Copy of a Joseph Needham letter to Rudolph [R. C. Rudolph of the University of California, U.S.A.], about his translation of the 'Wu Ying Tien Chü Chen Pan Chheng Shih' [???????? / Wu Ying Dian Ju Zhen Ban Cheng Wu], (1776).
1 document; Paper.

31 May 1955

Copy of a review by Hans H. Frankel of Francis Carter's 'The Invention of Printing in China and Spread Westward', (New York, 1955). The review was published in the 'Far Eastern Quarterly', 1956.
3 sheets; Paper.

1956

Galley proof of Joseph Needham's review of T. F. Carter's 'The Invention of Printing in China and Spread Westwards', (New York, 1955), and attached notes. The review was published in 'New Statesman and Nation'.
2 sheets; Paper.

1955–1956

Letter from Prof. Herbert Franke of Munich, Germany, about his work on the history of ink, and other matters. Other matters discussed include Joseph Needham's approach to mathematics;.
Creator: Franke, Herbert.
2 sheets; Paper.

16 Jan. 1957

Letter from Irene Manton of the Botany Department, Leeds University, asking for Joseph Needham's opinion on two 12th or 13th century printed fragments from the Buddhist sutras, Needham's reply.
Creator: Manton, Irene; Needham, Joseph.
2 sheets; Paper.

30 Apr. 1962–2 May 1962

Correspondence with L. Carrington Goodrich of Columbia University, New York City, U.S.A., about early printed books, and Goodrich's book 'Invention of Printing in China'. The documents comprise 2 letters from Goodrich; copy of 1 letter of reply from Joseph Needham.
Creator: Goodrich, L. Carrington; Needham, Joseph.
8 sheets; Paper.

7 Feb. 1956–11 Sep. 1956

Postcard from Victor Purcell of Cambridge, providing a bibliographical reference.
Creator: Purcell, Victor.
1 document; Paper.

18 June 1964

Lu Gwei-Djen notes on an article by ?? [ Lao Kan / Lao Gan] entitled «?????????», ('Bulletin of the Institute of History and Philology', Academia Sinica, 1948).
Creator: Lu Gwei-Djen.
6 sheets; Paper.

1950–1969

Postcard from Prof. Luciano Petech of Rome, Italy, providing a reference to Nepalese paper.
Creator: Petech, Luciano.
1 document; Paper.

19 Mar. 1957

Joseph Needham notes on a 'Walter Gottschalk print, Istanbul 23/Dec 48'.
1 document; Paper.

23 Dec. 1948

Cutting of an anonymous 'Times' article entitled, 'The Chinese Typescutter'.
1 document; Paper.

25 June 1963

Cutting of a 'Times' article by Harlan W. Hamilton, entitled 'The Laurence Sterne forgeries'. A section of the article referring to logographic printing has been hightlighted.
1 document; Paper.

20 Apr. 1968

Cutting of a «????» article by ?? [Chou Ming / Zhou Ming] entitled, «????????????».
1 document; Paper.

5 July 1964

Letter from Dr. A. G. Drachmann of Denmark, mostly on printing. Drachman also discusses the development of the clock; the sling catapult.
Creator: Drachmann, A. G.
2 sheets; Paper.

17 June 1964

Letter from A. D. Cummings of the Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Nottingham, about the origins of metal type in China, and copy of Joseph Needham's reply.
Creator: Cummings, A. D.; Needham, Joseph.
2 sheets; Paper.

11 Dec. 1964–16 Feb. 1965

Cutting of a 'Times Literary Supplement Review' of David Diringer, 'The Alphabet: A Key to the History of Mankind', and related documents. The review mentions the use of moveable type by the Assyrians. The related documents comprise a copy of a Joseph Needham letter to the reviewer, enquiring about this statement; reply from Arthur Cook of the 'Times Literary Supplement' on behalf of the reviewer.
Creator: Needham, Joseph; Cook, Arthur.
3 sheets; Paper.

14 Aug. 1969–11 Sep. 1969

Typed copy of a letter from L. Carrington Goodrich published in the 'Journal of the American Oriental Society', responding to an article by Robert Schafer, entitled 'Words for 'Printing-Block' and the Origin of Printing'.
1 document; Paper.

1960

Notes on the use of invisible ink from «????» [Tung Nan Chi Wen / Dong Nan Ji Wen], (1270).
2 sheets; Paper.

1950–1959

Photocopied pages from C. & S. McEvely, 'Atlas of World History, Volume 3, The Classical World', (New York, 1973), providing information on early Chinese paper making.
2 sheets; Paper.

1975–1979

Typed information about the 'Tetsugen Tripitaka', a collection of around 60,000 wooden printing blocks of the Buddhist scriptures, and related documents. Joseph Needham notes that the blocks are housed in the Manpukuji Temple, between Kyoto and Uji in Japan. He visited the temple on 2 September 1971. The related documents are an information leaflet for the temple; sample page 'printed off for us at the time'.
7 sheets; Paper.

2 Sep. 1971

Letter from Eithné B. McAulay of Glasgow, asking for help with an essay on 'Tshai Lun and his invention of paper-making'.
Creator: McAulay, Eithné B.
1 document; Paper.

4 May 1976

Letter from Dr. Roy McLeod of the University of Sussex, about Dr. Manfredo Macioti and his planned research on the history of printing, and related documents. The related documents comprise Macioti's research proposal; copy of Joseph Needham's reply to McLeod.
Creator: McLeod, Roy; Macioti, Manfredo; Needham, Joseph.
13 sheets; Paper.

Feb. 1978–7 July 1978

Letter from P. L. Png in New Dehli, India, to Dr Lu [Lu Gwei-Djen], drawing attention to an article by P. K. Gode on the 'History of Ink Manufacture in Ancient India', published in 1946 in the Indian journal, 'Pracyavani', and related documents. The related documents comprise a copy of a letter from Joseph Needham to Dr. A. K. Mukherjee of the Central Reference Library, Calcutta, India, requesting a copy of the paper; letter from A. B. Roy of the Library, about charges for the copy.
Creator: Png, P. L.; Needham, Joseph; Roy, A. B.
4 sheets; Paper.

13 Aug. 1977–2 Nov. 1977

Two booklets of paper samples presented to Joseph Needham by the Secretary of the Broussonetta Paper-makers Cooperative at Kurotani in the Tamba Highlands, Japan.
2 pieces; Paper.

20 Aug. 1971

Letter from T. H. Tsien of the University of Chicago, Illiinois, U.S.A. about materials used in early paper manufacture. The documents also include a photocopy of a paper by Tsien entitled 'Raw Materials for Old Papermaking in China', ('Journal of the American Oriental Society', 1973); typescript draft pages by Tsien on 'Papercraft and Household Use of Paper'.
Creator: Tsien, T. H.
12 sheets; Paper.

1973–19 Sep. 1978

Reproduction of 'Un atelier typographique from a 16th century French manuscript by kind permission of the Bibliothèque Nationale, Paris'. This formed the jacket illustration for Elizabeth L. Eisenstein, 'The printing press as an agent of change', (Cambridge University Press, 1979).
1 document; Paper.

1979

Typescript catalogue of a 'Collection of Literature Concerning Japanese Paper-Making', held at the Museum of Far Eastern Antiquities Library, Stockholm, Sweden.
7 sheets; Paper.

1978–1982

Letter from Alan Parker in Brunoy, France, about the work of Harold A. Innis on the history of communications, copy of Joseph Needham's reply and further letter from Innis.
Creator: Parker, Alan; Needham, Joseph; Innis, Harold A.
5 sheets; Paper.

15 Mar. 1979–12 Apr. 1979

Cutting of a 'Times Literary Supplement' feature on papier mâché. The feature mentions the Chinese use of papier mâché in the second century A.D.
1 document; Paper.

9 May 1980

Letter from Barry Hoberman of Somerville, Massachusetts, U.S.A., about his article on the 'Battle of Talas River' and its relation to the history of paper-making, and copy of Joseph Needham's reply.
Creator: Hoberman, Barry; Needham, Joseph.
3 sheets; Paper.

13 Oct. 1980–27 Nov. 1980

Photocopy of the top of the title page of the newspaper, 'California China Mail and Flying Dragon', (1 January 1867), printed in both English and Chinese. The documents also include a photocopy of an description of the newspaper, prepared by S. Martin of San Francisco in 1939. The documents were sent to Joseph Needham by Michael Rosen.
3 sheets; Paper.

1980–1985

Photocopy of an article entitled, 'History of Printing', ('Scientific American', 18 November 1882). The photocopy was sent to Joseph Needham by Michael Rosen.
1 document; Paper.

1980–1985

Letter from Jean-Pierre Drège of Etiolles, France, about his study of Chinese books and libraries, dating from between the 5th and 10th centuries, and copy of Joseph Needham's reply.
Creator: Drège, Jean-Pierre.
2 sheets; Paper.

14 Nov. 1981–2 Dec. 1981

Greetings card from Don [Donald Wagner of Copenhagen, Denmark] showing a paper-making workshop in East Nepal, taken for The Royal Library, Copenhagen, in 1964.
Creator: Wagner, Don.
1 document; Paper.

28 Sep. 1981

Photocopy of an article on 'The Art of Printing', ('Mining and Scientific Press', 1866). The photocopy was sent to Joseph Needham by Michael Rosen.
1 document; Paper.

1980–1985

Copy of a Joseph Needham letter to John Hall of Cambridge University Library, about the number of books produced pre- and post-printing, and Hall's reply.
Creator: Needham, Joseph; Hall, John.
4 sheets; Paper.

20 Mar. 1982–28 Mar. 1982

Letter from Derek de Solla Price of Yale University, U.S.A., forwarding four photographs of a set of Chinese paintings collected by the botanist Linnaeus (1707 - 1778), showing the material on a Chinese scholars desk.
Creator: Price, Derek de Solla.
6 pieces; Paper and photograph.

23 July 1982

Two letters from Douglass Morse Howell of Riverhead, New York, U.S.A., about his experiments in paper-making, and related documents. The related documents comprise a copy of a letter from Howell to Mrs Marjorie B. Cohn of the Fogg Art Museum, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massuchsetts, U.S.A., about techniques of paper-making; copy of Joseph Needham's reply.
Creator: Howell, Douglass Morse; Needham, Joseph.
7 sheets; Paper.

20 Nov. 1982–10 Dec. 1982

Letter from Douglass Morse Howell of Riverhead, New York, U.S.A., about the study of the technology of paper-making. The letter is typed on a sheet of handmade paper.
Creator: Howell, Douglass Morse.
1 document; Paper.

18 Dec. 1982

Letter from Douglass Morse Howell of Riverhead, New York, U.S.A., about the beating of flax or hemp fibres in the preparation of paper, and related documents. The related documents comprise a typed 'story' by Howell, describing the process of beating hemp; a log sheet for an experiment conducted by Howell on impact pressures in the beating process; set of 6 slides showing Howell's beating machine; diagram to show the construction of the machine.
Creator: Howell, Douglass Morse.
12 pieces; Paper and slide.

12 Dec. 1979–19 Jan. 1983

Letter from Douglass Morse Howell of Riverhead, New York, U.S.A., forwarding a copy of a letter received from Marilyn Fu of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York City, U.S.A., commenting on his paper-making research.
Creator: Howell, Douglass Morse; Fu, Marilyn.
2 sheets; Paper.

10 May 1974–13 Feb. 1983

Two letters from Douglass Morse Howell of Riverhead, New York, U.S.A. about his experiments in paper-making.
Creator: Howell, Douglass Morse.
4 sheets; Paper.

8 Apr. 1983–25 Apr. 1983

Two letters from Douglass Morse Howell of Riverhead, New York, U.S.A., about the possible Chinese invention of the fountain pen, and related documents. The related documents comprise 2 photocopied pages from Dr. L Wieger, 'Chinese Characters', which mentionned the use of such a pen; photocopy of part of a paper by Howell on 'Exterior Ballistics', (1942).
Creator: Howell, Douglass Morse.
7 sheets; Paper.

1942–11 May 1983

Copy of a letter from Douglass Morse Howell of Riverhead, New York, U.S.A., to Dr. L. Carrington Goodrich of Columbia University, New York City, U.S.A., about the technology of paper-maling.
Creator: Howell, Douglass Morse.
2 sheets; Paper.

19 May 1983

Letter from Douglass Morse Howell of Riverhead, New York, U.S.A., about the difficulty of building up a complete picture of the history of paper-making.
Creator: Howell, Douglass Morse.
1 document; Paper.

21 May 1983

Letter from Douglass Morse Howell of Riverhead, New York, U.S.A., about the diploma offered at his 'Educational Center' and related documents. The related documents comprise a photocopy of Howell's certificate as 'Active Member' of The New York Academy of Sciences'; photocopy of a letter from Ann C. Whitman, Personal Secretary to President Eisenhower, to Howell, thanking him for sending prayers 'hand-printed on your specially made paper'.
Creator: Howell, Douglass Morse.
3 sheets; Paper.

7 Jan. 1956–31 May 1983

Copy of a letter from Douglass Morse Howell of Riverhead, New York, U.S.A., to Gerald Taylor, Keeper of the Ashmolean Museum, Oxford, about his studies in paper-making technology.
Creator: Howell, Douglass Morse.
3 sheets; Paper.

30 May 1983

Letter from Douglass Morse Howell of Riverhead, New York, U.S.A., about a book by William J. Abernathy on the 'Industrial Renaissance', and other matters.
Creator: Howell, Douglass Morse.
2 sheets; Paper.

8 June 1983

Letter from Douglass Morse Howell of Riverhead, New York, U.S.A., accompanying the results of a test to make paper from flax. The documents also include a sample of the paper.
Creator: Howell, Douglass Morse.
5 sheets; Paper.

23 June 1983–29 June 1983

Letter from Douglass Morse Howell of Riverhead, New York, U.S.A., about the etymology of papermaking. The documents also include a sample of paper made by Howell.
Creator: Howell, Douglass Morse.
3 sheets; Paper.

2 July 1983

Typed notes made by Douglass Morse Howell of Riverhead, New York, U.S.A., headed 'Visual Acuity'.
1 document; Paper.

21 July 1983

Letter from John Futter of Cambridge University Press, about the galley proofs for the 'Science and Civilisation in China' volume on paper and printing.
Creator: Futter, John.
1 document; Paper.

11 July 1983

Letter from Douglass Morse Howell of Riverhead, New York, U.S.A., about the testing of inksticks, and other matters. The documents also include a typescript by Howell headed 'Rough Draft - Fine Arts - Celebration on 'Paper''.
Creator: Howell, Douglass Morse.
2 sheets; Paper.

29 Aug. 1983–30 Aug. 1983

Copy of a letter from Douglass Morse Howell of Riverhead, New York, U.S.A., to Prof. L. Carrington Goodrich of Columbia University, New York City, U.S.A., about his testing of Chinese and Japanese inksticks, and other matters. Other matters discussed include cross-cultrural transmissions.
Creator: Howell, Douglass Morse.
1 document; Paper.

22 Aug. 1983

Copy of a letter from Tsuen-tsuin Tsien of The University of Chicago, Illinois, U.S.A., to Prof. Gerhard Doerfer of Göttingen University, Germany, about the etymology of paper.
Creator: Tsien Tsuen-tsuin.
1 document; Paper.

12 Dec. 1983

Letter from Douglass Morse Howell of Riverhead, New York, U.S.A., accompanying a copy of a review by L. Carrington Goodrich of Ichisada Miyszaki, 'China's Examination Hell. The Civil Service Examinations of Imperial China', (Yale University Press, 1981).
Creator: Howell, Douglass Morse.
3 sheets; Paper.

18 June 1983

Letter from Douglass Morse Howell of Riverhead, New York, U.S.A., accompanying the results of an experiment to make paper out of flax 'that had fermented a given degree'. The documents also include a sample of the paper.
Creator: Howell, Douglass Morse.
3 sheets; Paper.

23 June 1983–22 Sep. 1983

Letter from Douglass Morse Howell of Hackettstown, New Jersey, U.S.A., about his bibliographical research into the history of papermaking, and related document. The related document is a copy of a letter from Howell to Wen C. Fong of the Department of Art and Archaeology, Princeton University, U.S.A., about our knowledge of the processes in the field of fine art.
Creator: Howell, Douglass Morse.
2 sheets; Paper.

4 Oct. 1984–7 Oct. 1984

Letter from Douglass Morse Howell of Hackettstown, New Jersey, U.S.A, accompanying notes on the 'Impact Force - in the preparation of papermaker's stuff'.
Creator: Howell, Douglass Morse.
3 sheets; Paper.

1 Mar. 1987–5 Mar. 1987

List of books on paper in Japan, available from the Rare Oriental Book CO., Aptos, California, U.S.A.,.
4 sheets; Paper.

Oct. 1987

Photocopy of a letter from Xiangju Zhong of Beijing Institute of Light Industry, China, to Dr. H. T. Huang, about recent Chinese articles on the history of papermaking, and related document. The related document is a letter from the Editor of «????», to Lu Gwei-Djen and Joseph Needham, about recent Chinese articles on the history of papermaking.
Creator: Zhong Xiangju.
2 sheets; Paper.

11 Sep. 1984–12 Sep. 1984

Typescript 'Tentative Outline' headed 'Paper and Printing in Chinese Civilisation'. The 'Outline' corresponds roughly to the contents of 'Science and Civilisation in China. Volume 5, Part 1, Paper and Printing' and so was almost certainly prepared by Tsien Tsuen-Hsuin.
7 sheets; Paper.

1975–1985

Letter from James Mosley, Librarian of the St Bride Printing Library, Corporation of London, about the 'Diamond Sutra' held at the British Museum, and related document. The related document is a copy of a letter from Mosely and Chang-hyun Um of the London College of Printing, to Roderick Whitfield, of the British Museum, about the method of production of the 'Diamond Sutra'.
Creator: Mosley, James.
2 sheets; Paper.

27 Apr. 1984

Letter from N. A. Hudleston of Harrogate, about Chinese wallpaper.
Creator: Hudleston, N. A.
1 document; Paper.

20 July 1985

Photocopy of an article by John Brzostoski entitled 'Douglass Morse Howell: Scholarship, Skill, Vision'.
2 sheets; Paper.

1981

Notes on paper and printing from Chinese sources. The notes are by Wang Ling, Lu Gwei-Djen and Joseph Needham.
103 sheets; Paper.

1950–1969

Related notes and bibliographical references.
1 bundle; Paper.

1950–1969

Joseph Needham's original file title.
1 document; Paper.

Oct. 1982