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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 17 Collections and/or Records:

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 papers, 1925-2000

 Sub-Series — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSS 2219 Series 9 Sub-Series 1
Scope and Contents

Contains unpublished works, drafts, and other writings by Helen Foster Snow. Also includes correspondence, genealogy papers, biographical information about Helen and Edgar, newspaper clippings, miscellaneous papers, and assorted Asia-related pamphlets, including many related to cooperatives. Materials date from 1925 to 2000.

Dates: 1925-2000

Helen Foster Snow papers on family history, genealogy, and early life, 1924-1999

 Sub-Series — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSS 2219 Series 1 Sub-Series 1
Scope and Contents

Contains manuscripts and drafts of historical prose, poetry, music, photographs, postcards, correspondence, newspaper clippings, maps, notes, conference papers, and pamphlets compiled by Helen Foster Snow, many related to genealogical research in New England. The section of correspondence is in roughly chronological order. Materials date from 1924 to 1999.

Dates: 1924-1999

Helen Foster Snow poetry, 1925-1995

 Sub-Series
Identifier: MSS 2219 Series 3 Sub-Series 16
Scope and Contents note

All folders contain poetry written by Helen Foster Snow. "The nomenclature of Helen Foster Snow and Nym Wales are used intermittently in ascribing the author." Drafts with and without annotations, bound volumes, award-winning items, poetry for music, limericks, and other humorous material. Materials date from 1925 to 1995.

Dates: Other: 1925-1995

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

Helen Foster Snow writings and correspondence from Beijing, 1931-1949

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

Contains research materials, correspondence (with family and friends, readers, and between other individuals), drafts of Beijing-related articles, translations, and writings on the Chinese Revolution, fascism, and student organizations. Written by Helen Foster Snow while working in Beijing. Dated 1931 to 1949.

Dates: 1931-1949

Helen Foster Snow papers

 Collection
Identifier: MSS 2219
Scope and Contents Contains materials pertaining to the life and career of Helen Foster Snow. Includes interviews, correspondence, articles, essays, reviews, drafts, photographs, negatives, artifacts, audiovisual recordings, and other materials concerning the political climate in China during the Japanese invasion, the lives of Communist leaders and followers, and the Chinese Cooperative movements. Although materials were mainly created during the course of Helen Foster Snow's time as a foreign correspondent...
Dates: 1726-2000; Majority of material found within 1930-1980

Filtered By

  • Subject: Drafts (Documents) X

Additional filters:

Type
Archival Object 16
Collection 1
 
Subject
Yan'an Shi (China) 14
Beijing (China) 13
China -- Politics and government -- 1912-1949 13
China -- Politics and government -- 1928-1937 13
India 13