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Snow, Helen Foster, 1907-1997

 Person

Dates

  • Existence: 1907 - 1997

Biography

Helen Foster Snow (1907-1997) was an American journalist, photographer, and activist in China.

Helen Foster Snow was born on September 21, 1907 in Cedar City, Utah. She attended West High School. After graduating, she attended the University of Utah. She took the civil service exam, gained a position in China, and moved to Shanghai in August 1931. After arriving in China Helen met Edgar Snow, a reporter also from the U.S. The two were married on December 25, 1933 in Tokyo, Japan. The couple moved to Peking where Helen Foster Snow attended and Edgar taught at Yanjing University. From there they published information regarding the Manchurian incident. Helen Foster and Edgar Snow sympathized with the students who protested the government and its complacency toward Japanese invasion. They helped plan the December movements, and covered events censored in Chinese papers.

Helen published an interview with Zhang Xueliang, a general, who expressed support for communists, contradicting Chiang Kai-shek. In 1937 Edgar and Helen published the magazine Democracy. She worked on the editorial board to editor, and then the editor while Edgar wrote Red Star over China.

Snow entered the communist camp in April 1937, where she interviewed leaders, women, and children of the camp. She would publish her findings in her book Inside Red China in 1938. Helen later toured the Chinese Industrial Cooperatives and wrote to raise support of the initiatives. Helen returned to the United States, living in Madison, Connecticut and travelling the world. Helen died on January 11, 1997.

Citation:
OCLC 17967705: Stanley, M. Foreigners in areas of China ... 1987 (hdg.: Snow, Helen Foster, 1907- ; usage: Helen Foster Snow)

LC data base, 11/19/90 (hdg.: Wales, Nym, 1907- ; usage: Helen Foster Snow; Helen Foster Snow (Nym Wales); Hai-lun Fu-ssu-tʻe Ssu-no; Nym Wales; Nym Wales (Helen Foster Snow))

Pseuds. and nicknames dict., c1987 (Snow, Helen Foster, 1907- ; American author and poet; pseud.: Wales, Nym)

Bridging, 1997: t.p. (Helen Foster Snow) p. xxxvii (died 1/11/97)

Women in modern China, 2004: t.p. (Helen Foster Snow) colophon (海伦斯诺 = Hailun Sinuo = Snow, H.)

Familysearch.org, Dec. 6, 2011 (Helen Foster; b. Sept. 21, 1907 in Cedar City, Utah; d. Jan. 11, 1997 in Guilford, Conn.; m. Dec. 25, 1932 in Tokyo, Japan to Edgar Parks Snow)

Wikipedia, Dec. 6, 2011 (taught at Yenching University)

Helen Foster Snow, 2006: p. 13 (b. Cedar City, Utah; b. September 21, 1907); p. 15 (Hannah and John Foster); p. 16 (parents civically engaged); p. 18 (frequent moves in childhood); p. 19 (move to Salt Lake City, UT, West High School, yearbook, student gov't); p. 20 (graduated West High, University of Utah); p. 23 (secretary w/ A.G Mackenzie of American Silver Mining Commission in Utah; wanted Europe; decided on China); p. 24 (to China in August 1931); p. 25 (secretary to an American company in China); p. 31 (secretary for bankers); p. 34 (wrote on Manchurian incident); p. 36 (Shanghai refuge for leftist intellectuals and reformists); p. 38 (developed left leaning political opinions; social secretary at U.S. consulate; p. 39 (m. 1933 Edgar Snow); p. 42 (m. Dec. 25, Tokyo); p. 41 (honeymoon in Formosa, the Philippines, Borneo, the Dutch Indies, and Bali); p. 45 (move to Peking); p. 47 (modelling in Peking); p.50 (student of philosophy, religion, and esthetics at Yanjing University); p. 52 (student movement December 1935); p. 55 (rose awareness of fascist threat in China; helped plan December 1935 movement); p. 58 (home as anti-Japanese salon); p. 61 (poem calling students to action; planned Dec. 9 movement in home); p. 62 (press coverage of events censored by Chinese papers; pen names Nym Wales and Hsueh Hai-lun); p. 64 (December 16th movement); p. 69 (foreign correspondence); p. 70 (worked with artists); p. 71 (Chinese short stories published for West); p. 73 (published Living China); p.74 (poetry); p. 76 (Korea trip alone); p. 77 (Communist territory invitation, returned to Peking; interviewed Zhang Xueliang, support for communists against Japan); p. 80 (editorial board, Democracy); p. 81 (editor, democracy); p. 86 (Xian April 23, 1937); p. 87 (journals in the camp, women and children, leaders); p. 94 (observed visitors, GMD reps); p. 97 (Ding Ling); p. 99 (Kang Keqing; wife of Zhu De); p. 100 (divorce and marriage among communists); p. 107 ("The Passing of the Chinese Soviets."); p. 109 (Inside Red China, 1939); p. 117 (Shanghai); p. 125 (children in labor organizations); p. 126 (women in cooperatives); p. 132 (U.S. policy towards China); p. 135 (photographs); p. 136 (Song of Ariran, Korea and Japan interactions); p. 137 (Indusco inspection tour, Chinese Industrial cooperatives campaign); p. 140 (China Builds for Democracy); p. 144 (Dec. 1940 United States); p. 144 (vc American Committee in Aid of Chinese Industrial Cooperatives; China, Indusco II, 1979, founder of I)

UPB files, July 25, 2018 (1931, American consulate; Living China, short stories, 1935; photojournalism; Song of Ariran)

Found in 15 Collections and/or Records:

Helen Foster Snow books, 1938-2000

 Sub-Series — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSS 2219 Series 8
Scope and Contents

Contains items in Chinese written by Helen Foster Snow (as herself and under her pseudonym, Nym Wales) such as the Chinese editions of Song of Ariran, Inside Red China, and Return to China- and by Wu Jiliang. Also items in English, by various authors (one by Nym Wales: "China Builds For Democracy"), on Chinese history, tourism, government, and other subjects related to the country. Includes biographies of Americans with connections to China. Dated from 1938-2000.

Dates: 1938-2000

Helen Foster Snow collection addendum, 1925-2000

 Series — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSS 2219 Series 9
Scope and Contents

Contains materials added later to the Helen Foster Snow collection, including documents, books, and pamphlets. Materials span much of her life, and represent many of her experiences both in the United States and in China. Dated from 1925 to 2000.

Dates: 1925-2000

Helen Foster Snow documents written in Chinese, 1927-1997

 Sub-Series — Box 35: Series 2 [Barcode: 31197227637748]
Identifier: MSS 2219 Series 2 Sub-Series 4
Scope and Contents Contains essays by Helen Foster Snow, a Chinese translation of one of her novels, articles and reports on Helen Foster Snow, papers on Edgar Snow, letters to Helen, articles about Helen's friends and Indusco, copies of articles Helen collected, essays by Edgar, a film on Helen, and letters about Helen and her book. Materials range from 1927 to 1997.This sub-series contains manuscripts in Chinese that deal with a number of various subjects. Only the titles have been translated to...
Dates: 1927-1997

Helen Foster Snow files on New China, undated

 Sub-Series
Identifier: MSS 2219 Series 3 Sub-Series 10
Scope and Contents note

Contains an introduction, copy of "Biographical Notes and a Comprehensive Bibliography of the Yenan Hui by Magaret Stanley," clipped reviews, edited and annotated drafts, and proofs of "Women in Modern China."

Dates: Other: undated

Helen Foster Snow files on Song of Ariran, approximately 1941

 Sub-Series
Identifier: MSS 2219 Series 3 Sub-Series 2
Scope and Contents note

The Song of Ariran was a book published in 1941 by Helen Foster Snow that related Korea's fight for independence from Japan. Contains essays and miscellaneous articles about The Song of Ariran, annotated drafts in sections, foreword, preface, preparatory notebooks, correspondence, and copies of Korean essays about the book.

Dates: Other: approximately 1941

Helen Foster Snow files on The Chinese labor movement, approximately 1945

 Sub-Series
Identifier: MSS 2219 Series 3 Sub-Series 4
Scope and Contents note

The Chinese Labor Movement was a book written by Helen Foster Snow under the pseudonym of Nym Wales in 1945. Contains letters, reviews, annotated drafts, carbon copies, extracts, and miscellaneous papers.

Dates: Other: approximately 1945

Helen Foster Snow files on The Root and the Branch, undated

 Sub-Series
Identifier: MSS 2219 Series 3 Sub-Series 14
Scope and Contents From the Series:

Contains manuscripts and associated materials produced by Helen Foster Snow, both inside the United States and in China. Includes non-fiction and fiction writings on China and other topics. Materials date from between 1919 and 1995.

Dates: undated

Helen Foster Snow manuscripts published inside the United States, 1936

 Sub-Series
Identifier: MSS 2219 Series 3 Sub-Series 1
Scope and Contents note

"Inside Red China" was Helen's first published book. The material for this book was collected during Helen's trip to Yan'an in 1936. During her time in Yan'an she conducted interviews with many people including Mao Zedong, Zhou Enlai, and Zhu De. Included are book reviews and publication information, drafts of parts of the book (preface, contents, chapters, foreword, glossary), proofs and corrections, and carbon and annotated drafts (partial).

Dates: 1936

Helen Foster Snow manuscripts published outside the United States, 1923-1980

 Sub-Series
Identifier: MSS 2219 Series 3 Sub-Series 11
Scope and Contents note Contains drafts and other materials (bound and annotated copies, drafts in sections, etc.) for My Yenan Notebooks, An American Experience in China, Return to China, Mao Country, Notes on the Chinese Student Movement, Notes on the China Experience, Old Impressions and Memoirs of Yenan, Profiles from China, The Chinese-American Special Relationship, The Gung Ho Papers, Totemism, the T'ao-T'ieh and the Chinese Ritual Bronzes, Unbound Feet, Women in Traditional China, and others. Dated...
Dates: Other: 1923-1980

Helen Foster Snow pamphlets, 1928-1994

 Sub-Series — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSS 2219 Series 9 Sub-Series 4
Scope and Contents

Contains pamphlets authored by Mao Zedong, as well as items published by China's Foreign Languages Press. Additional topically-arranged pamphlets are also included.

Dates: 1928-1994

Filtered By

  • Subject: Books X

Additional filters:

Type
Archival Object 14
Collection 1
 
Subject
Books 12
China -- Politics and government -- 1912-1949 11
China -- Politics and government -- 1928-1937 11
Photojournalism -- China 11
Photojournalists -- China 11