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Snow, Edgar, 1905-1972

 Person

Dates

  • Existence: 1905 - 1972

Biography

Edgar Snow (1905-1972) was a journalist and foreign correspondent in China.

Edgar Snow was born on July 10, 1905 in Kansas City, Missouri. Snow moved to China as a correspondent for the Consolidated Press Association. Edgar met Helen Foster Snow when she came to China. The two were married on December 25, 1933 in Tokyo, Japan. They moved to Peking, where Edgar taught at Yanjing University. At the University, Edgar and Helen sympathized with the students protesting the government’s allowance of Japanese invasion. The two helped organize movements like the December 9th movement of 1935, and provided press coverage of events censored by Chinese papers.

In June of 1936 Edgar left Peking for Xian, and into the communist camp as the first foreign journalist in that territory. He composed the first biographical account of Mao during this time. Mao asked Ed to set peace terms between the Nationalists and the Chinese Government. An interview with Mao published in Life magazine in 1936 gained a great amount of attention. Edgar Snow became the editor to his new magazine Democracy. Red Star Over China, Edgar’s book on his time with the communists was published in 1938. Edgar Snow died on February 15, 1972 in Eysins Switzerland.

Citation:
Helen Foster Snow: An American Woman in Revolutionary China, 2006: p. 32 (b. July 19, 1905; Kansas City, Missouri; Shanghai correspondent for Consolidated Press Association); p. 39 (m. Helen Foster Snow 1933); 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. 49 (move to Manchuria to investigate, 1933); p. 50 (job teaching at Yanjing University); p. 55 (helped plan December 1935 movements); p. 58 (moved to more neutral area; p. 62 (press coverage of events censored by Chinese papers); p. 64 (December 16th movement); p. 67 (June 1936 Xian then Baoan to communist camp); p. 70 (worked with artists); p. 71 (short stories published to West); p. 73 (published Living china); p. 79 (October 1936, interview with Mao Zedong; published in Life, journal Democracy, editor); p. 87 (controversial exposure of communist ideas); p. 109 (Red Star Over China, 1938); p. 110 (long march reports; first foreign journalist in communist territory); p. 111 (left Peking June 1936, Xian; 92 day tour, Zhou Enlai); p. 113 (first biographical account of Mao; set terms for peace between CCP and GMD); p. 114 (return to Peking Oct. 1936, write book); p. 117 (Shanghai)

FamilySearch, July 12, 2018 (d. February 15, 1972; Eysins, Switzerland)

Found in 13 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 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

Helen Foster Snow unpublished manuscripts, 1982-1991

 Sub-Series
Identifier: MSS 2219 Series 3 Sub-Series 15
Scope and Contents note

Contains folios, various drafts and copies, and other materials for Book Ends: A Reader's Notes; Ethics and Energism, the Bridge to the Future; Lines of Communication; Long Thoughts; Longer Thoughts; More Long Thoughts; People I Have Known; Primitives and Pastorals; Why is a Classic?, and other works; also sections of unidentified works, and information about the author. Materials date from 1982 to 1991.

Dates: Other: 1982-1991

Filtered By

  • Subject: China X
  • Subject: Books X

Additional filters:

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