| Title |
Documents relating to Joseph Needham's paper entitled 'The Past in China's Present: A Cultural, Social and Philosophical Background for Contemporary China' |
| Reference |
SCC2/362 |
| Covering Dates |
1958–26 May 1966 |
| Extent and Medium |
Paper |
|
| Content and context |
The paper was published in two parts in the 'Centennial Review of Arts and Sciences', (Spring and Summer, 1960) and in French translation in 'Comprendre'. |
| Index Terms |
| Social History |
| Needham/NRI2/SCC2/362 contains: |
|
1
|
Copy of an article by Kingsley Martin entitled 'The Challenge of China', ('New Statesman', 20 December 1958), and related documents. The related documents comprise a copy of a letter from Joseph Needham to Martin, commenting on the article; letter of reply from Martin; copy of a futher letter by Needham commenting on the article and published in 'New Statesman'. The letters discuss the role of the intellectual in China and the concept of uniformity.
Creator: Needham, Joseph; Martin, Kingsley.
5 sheets; Paper. |
20 Dec. 1958–3 Jan. 1959 |
|
2
|
Copy of a published letter from Joseph Needham to the Editor of 'New Statesman', commenting on an article by R. H. S. Crossman on an article summarising conversations he had in Peking and Wuhan, September 1958. Needham describes Crossman's article as 'rich imaginative satire on the Chinese intellectuals' and describes the reasons why a 'great mystique of manual work' is necessary in China'. The documents also include Crossman's published letter of response.
3 sheets; Paper. |
31 Jan. 1959–7 Feb. 1959 |
|
3
|
Published letter from Joseph Needham to the Editor of the 'New Statesman and Nation' [Edmund Luard], responding to a front page editorial on contemporary China which used the phrase 'uniform fanaticism and spiritual intolerance', and related documents. The related documents comprise a draft of Needham's letter; Needham's plan for a lecture on contemporary China for the Oxford Political Study Group, 11 March 1959; Needham's notes on comments by Luard made after his lecture; typescript of Luard's comments. See also SCC2/362/16.
Creator: Luard, Edmund; Needham, Joseph.
21 sheets; Paper. |
8 Dec. 1958–11 Mar. 1959 |
|
4
|
Four letters from Sheila Benson of the Universities and Left Review Club, London, arranging for Joseph Needham to speak on the 'Background to China', 4 May 1959, and related documents. The related documents comprise a Club's programmes of meetings for October - December, 1958, December 1958 - February 1959 and April - June 1959.
Creator: Benson, Sheila.
7 sheets; Paper. |
Oct. 1958–9 Apr. 1959 |
|
5
|
Joseph Needham's notes for a lecture on 'Social and Philosophical Background of Current Changes in Chinese Culture'.
8 sheets; Paper. |
1958–1959 |
|
6
|
Joseph Needham's notes from a 'China No.' of 'Comprendre', (1958), relating to the development of China's new society. Contributors include Wu Shao-Feng, J. Romein, T. Mende, E. S. Kirby, R. Dumont, A.Banfi and U. Campagnolo. Also attached are notes from an article by Wu Shao-Feng, discusing Unesco's East-West Programme, ('Comprendre', 1959).
12 sheets; Paper. |
1958–1959 |
|
7
|
Published extract from Philip Sherrard, 'The Greek East and the Latin West: A Study of the Christian Tradition', (Oxford University Press, 1959). The extract was published in 'The Periodical'.
2 sheets; Paper. |
1959 |
|
8
|
Corresopndence with Jessica Smith of the 'New World Review', New York City, U.S.A., about Joseph Needham's preparation of a discussion of the social and philosophical background to contemporary China. The correspondence comprises 2 letters from Smith; copy of 1 letter from Needham.
Creator: Smith, Jessica; Needham, Joseph.
4 sheets; Paper. |
2 Mar. 1959–2 Nov. 1959 |
|
9
|
Correspondence with Prof. Umberto Campagnolo of 'Comprendre', Venice, Italy, about the publication of a French translation of Joseph Needham's, 'The Past in China's Present: A Cultural, Social and Philosophical Background for Contemporary China'. The correspondence comprises 3 letters from Campagnolo; copies of 3 letters from Needham.
Creator: Campagnolo, Umberto; Needham, Joseph.
9 sheets; Paper. |
21 Oct. 1959–7 Dec. 1959 |
|
10
|
Information card and programme for The William Temple Society, Cambridge University, Lent Term, 1960. 'The William Temple Society studies the application of Christianity in political, social and economic spheres.'.
1 document; Paper. |
1960 |
|
11
|
Correspondence with Liu Pengju of Hong Kong, about the publication of a new periodical 'Eastern Horizon', and other matters. The correspondence comprises 2 letters from Liu; copy of 1 letter from Joseph Needham. Other matters discussed include meeting in Chengtu in 1943; possibility of Needham contributing to the journal.
Creator: Liu Pengju; Needham, Joseph.
4 sheets; Paper. |
28 Nov. 1959–25 Jan. 1960 |
|
12
|
Correspondence with Lim Lian-Teck in London, about a possible Malay translation of Joseph Needham's article 'The Past in China's Present: A Cultural, Social and Philosophical Background for Contemporary China'. The correspondence comprises 2 letters from Lim; copy of 1 letter from Needham.
Creator: Lim Lian-Teck; Needham, Joseph.
4 sheets; Paper. |
11 Jan. 1960–7 Feb. 1960 |
|
13
|
Programme of lectures for the Birmingham & Midland Institute, 1959-60. Joseph Needham presented a paper 'A Cultural Background for Understanding Modern China', 29 February 1960.
1 document; Paper. |
1959 |
|
14
|
Copy of an article by Herbert Passin entitled 'The Ancient Jar of Dahomey: Letter from Black Africa', ('Encounter'). Joseph Needham notes 'position of Africa re great past'.
4 sheets; Paper. |
1959 |
|
15
|
Correspondence with Herbert Weisinger, Editor of the 'Centennial Review of Arts & Science', Michigan State University, U.S.A., about the publication of Joseph Needham's paper on the 'Social and Philosophical Background of Cultural Changes in China Today'. The correspondence comprises 7 letters from Weisinger; copies of 3 letters from Needham. The documents also include Michigan State University 'Payment Vouchers' for Needham's contribution; leaflet advertising the 'Centennial Review..'.
Creator: Weisinger, Herbert; Needham, Joseph.
15 sheets; Paper. |
13 Feb. 1959–18 May 1960 |
|
16
|
Correspondence with P. K. O'Brien of the Oxford Political Study Circle, about a Joseph Needham talk on 'The Social & Philosophical Background of Current Changes in Chinese Culture'. The correspondence comprises 6 letters from O'Brien; copy of 1 letter from Needham. See also SCC/362/3.
Creator: O'Brien, P. K.; Needham, Joseph.
7 sheets; Paper. |
13 Jan. 1959–25 Apr. 1959 |
|
17
|
Letter from Milton Covensky of Wayne State University, Michigan, U.S.A., praising Joseph Needham's article 'The Past in China's Present', ('Centennial Review', 1960).
Creator: Covensky, Milton.
1 document; Paper. |
27 July 1960 |
|
18
|
Letter from Prof. W. J. H. Sprott of the Department of Philosophy, University of Nottingham, referring Joseph Needham to his book on 'Human Groups'.
Creator: Sprott, W. J. H.
1 document; Paper. |
21 July 1959 |
|
19
|
Joseph Needham's notes of related comments made by LR [Ludwik Rajchman] at Chenu, Pay de la Loire, France.
1 document; Paper. |
13 July 1959 |
|
20
|
Correspondence with Kingsley Martin of 'New Statesman', London, about a Joseph Needham lecture on the social and philosophical background for understanding contemporary China. The correspondence comprises copies of 2 letters from Joseph Needham; 1 letter from Martin. The 'New Statesman' had described Needham's lecture to the Britain-China Friendship Association as 'wholly uncritical and propagandist' and Needham calls for a public apology. Needham's second letter provides a summary of points covered in the lecture.
Creator: Martin, Kingsley; Needham, Joseph.
3 sheets; Paper. |
25 Oct. 1959–27 Oct. 1959 |
|
21
|
Documents relating to Joseph Needham lecture on the social and philosophical background for understanding contemporary China given to the Britain-China Friendship Association, 21 October 1959. The documents comprise a letter from J. R. M. Brumwell of London, enquiring about publication of the lecture; 2 letters from Virginia Penn of the Britain-China Friendship Association, commenting on Needham's 'brilliant address' and listing people requiring reprints'.
Creator: Brumwell, J. R. M.; Penn, Virginia.
4 sheets; Paper. |
22 Oct. 1959–10 Nov. 1959 |
|
22
|
Letter from Bernard Hughes of Stevenage, Hertfordshire, commenting on Joseph Needham's lecture on the social and philosophical background for understanding contemporary China given to the Britain-China Friendship Association, 21 October 1959. The documents also include a copy of Needham's letter of reply.
Creator: Hughes, Bernard; Needham, Joseph.
5 sheets; Paper. |
13 Nov. 1959–8 Dec. 1959 |
|
23
|
Letter from Hung-Ying Bryan of London, about a Joseph Needham talk at the Caxton Hall [Manchester].
Creator: Bryan, Hung-Ying.
1 document; Paper. |
23 Jan. 1960 |
|
24
|
Letter from Victor Purcell of Cambridge, commenting on the draft of Joseph Needham's paper entitled 'The Past in China's Present: A Cultural, Social and Philosophical Background for Contemporary China'.
Creator: Purcell, Victor.
1 document; Paper. |
14 Feb. 1960 |
|
25
|
Letter from Liu Pengju of Hong Kong, about the possibility of publishing Joseph Needham's paper entitled 'The Past in China's Present: A Cultural, Social and Philosophical Background for Contemporary China' in the journal 'Eastern Horizon'.
Creator: Liu Pengju.
1 document; Paper. |
6 Apr. 1960 |
|
26
|
Joseph Needham's notes from a related talk with Peter Dronke.
3 sheets; Paper. |
1 Mar. 1960 |
|
27
|
Joseph Needham's notes from a related talk with Roy and Fanya [?].
2 sheets; Paper. |
1 Mar. 1960 |
|
28
|
Letter from Prof. Jean Chesneaux of the école Pratique des Hautes études, Paris, France, about the possible publication of Joseph Needham's article on the historical background to contemporary China in 'Chaiers franco chinois'. The documents also include a copy of Needham's reply.
Creator: Chesneaux, Jean; Needham, Joseph.
2 sheets; Paper. |
13 Feb. 1960–28 Mar. 1960 |
|
29
|
Letter from Ernest Graves-Abayie of London, commenting on Joseph Needham's 'The Past in China's Present', and related document. The related document is a copy of an article by Graves-Abayie entitled 'An African's View of Christianity', ('Humanist').
Creator: Abayie, Ernest Graves-.
2 sheets; Paper. |
1960–2 Oct. 1960 |
|
30
|
Letter from M. Bouvier of 'Comprendre', Venice, Italy, about proofs of the French translation of Joseph Needham's article 'The Past in China's Present'.
Creator: Bouvier, M.
1 document; Paper. |
20 Sep. 1960 |
|
31
|
Leaflet advertising Maurice T. Price, 'Christian Missions and Oriental Civilizations: A Study in Culture Contact', (Originally published in China, 1924).
1 document; Paper. |
1950–1959 |
|
32
|
Printed statement headed 'Challenge to the 'Times' Music Critic' by Géryke Young. The statement was written in response to a 'Times' article entitled 'Style and the Bounds of Nationalism', (21 April, 1961) and talks about Eastern and Western cultures and the creation of music. The documents also include a leaflet produced by Young headed 'European Music in Perspective: East and West'.
2 sheets; Paper. |
Apr. 1961 |
|
33
|
Letter from K. Sunnuga Sunthanan in London, praising Joseph Needham's work and the 'liberality and lattitude' of his mind.
Creator: Sunthanan, K. Sunnuga.
2 sheets; Paper. |
5 Feb. 1961 |
|
34
|
Part of a letter from Helen F. Snow of Madison, Connecticut, U.S.A., about the characteristics of Western thinking which gave rise to modern science. The was written in response to Joseph Needham's article 'The Past in China's Present'.
Creator: Snow, Helen F.
2 sheets; Paper. |
24 June 1961 |
|
35
|
Cutting of a newspaper article entitled 'Greek Church under the Turks'.
1 document; Paper. |
22 Nov. 1961 |
|
36
|
Cutting of a 'New Statesman' article by M. I. Finley entitled 'Exemplaria', about Greek culture.
1 document; Paper. |
20 Apr. 1962 |
|
37
|
Reprint of an article by H. F. Schurmann entitled 'The Roots of Social Policy', ('Survey').
3 pieces; Paper. |
Oct. 1961 |
|
38
|
Correspondence with Keith Buchanan of the Geography Department, University of Wellington, New Zealand, about the publication of Joseph Needham's article 'The Past in China's Present' in 'Acific Viewpoint'. The correspondence comprises 3 letters from Buchanan; copy of 1 letter from Needham.
Creator: Buchanan, Keith; Needham, Joseph.
4 sheets; Paper. |
22 July 1963–9 Aug. 1963 |
|
39
|
Correspondence with William Robson, Edtior of 'The Political Quarterly', London, about a special issue of the journal to be devoted to 'Communist China', and related document. The correspondence comprises 2 letters from Robson; copy of 1 letter from Joseph Needham. The related document is a copy of Robson's plan of contents for the issue.
Creator: Robson, William; Needham, Joseph.
6 sheets; Paper. |
5 Dec. 1963–20 Dec. 1963 |
|
40
|
Copy of a 'New Statesman' article by Denis Donoghue entitled 'A Note on Swift'.
1 document; Paper. |
13 Dec. 1963 |
|
41
|
Letter from Alan Mannion of 'Main Currents in Modern Thought', New York City, U.S.A., about permission to publish an abstract of Joseph Needham's 'The Past in China's Present', ('The Centennial Review', 1960), and related documents. The related documents comprise a copy of a letter from Mannion to the Editors of the 'Centennial Review', requesting permision to publish an abstract; copy of the proposed abstract to be published; letter from Herbert Weisinger of 'The Centennial Review', recommending Needham approve the publication of the abstract.
Creator: Mannion, Alan; Weisinger, Herbert.
10 sheets; Paper. |
12 Sep. 1960–15 Sep. 1960 |
|
42
|
Cutting of a 'Times' article entitled 'Judge's Eye View of Divide Between Morals and Law'. The article is a review of Patrick Devlin, 'The Enforcement of Morals', (1965).
1 document; Paper. |
18 Mar. 1965 |
|
43
|
Joseph Needham's notes from a lecture by C. F. Brandt entitled 'Early Development of Marxism in China'. Needham notes 'Pulleybankary No Tea!'.
2 sheets; Paper. |
18 Oct. 1965 |
|
44
|
Letter from Hanna Kobylinski of Copenhagen, Denmark, asking for help to obtain a copy of Joseph Needham's 'The Past in China's Present', ('The Centennial Review', 1960).
Creator: Kobylinski, Hanna.
1 document; Paper. |
17 Feb. 1966 |
|
45
|
Joseph Needham's notes for a lecture based on his article 'The Past in China's Present' given to SACU at Holborn Central Library, London.
1 document; Paper. |
26 May 1966 |
|
46
|
Typescript and manuscript draft of Joseph Needham's article, 'The Past in China's Present: A Cultural, Social and Philosophical Background for Contemporary China'. The draft is heavily annotated.
1 bundle; Paper. |
1959–1960 |
|
47
|
Typescript draft of Joseph Needham's article, 'The Past in China's Present: A Cultural, Social and Philosophical Background for Contemporary China'. The draft has minor annotations and is marked 'standard copy in use'.
113 sheets; Paper. |
1960 |
|
48
|
Typescript draft of Joseph Needham's article, 'The Past in China's Present: A Cultural, Social and Philosophical Background for Contemporary China'.
120 sheets; Paper. |
1960–1969 |
|
49
|
Reprint of Joseph Needham's article, 'The Past in China's Present: A Cultural, Social and Philosophical Background for Contemporary China', ('The Centennial Review'). The article was published in 2 parts, Spring and Summer 1960.
31 sheets; Paper. |
1960 |
|
50
|
Notes.
21 sheets; Paper. |
1959–1960 |
|
51
|
Joseph Needham's original file title.
1 document; Paper. |
1959–1960 |
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