CHINA THROUGH WESTERN EYES
Manuscript Records of Traders, Travellers, Missionaries & Diplomats, 1792-1942

Part 3: The Papers of J A Thomas, c1905-1923, from the William R Perkins Library, Duke University

CONTENTS OF REELS

The Papers of James Augustus Thomas (1862-1940), tobacco entrepreneur, philanthropist and Sinologist

Thomas was director of the British-American Tobacco Company Ltd and the British Cigarette Company, and was chairman of Mustard and Company Ltd from 1905 until his retirement in 1922. Between 1888 and 1923 he pioneered the introduction of American cigarettes into Australia, Tasmania, New Zealand, India, Japan, China and other Asian countries.

Thomas spent a significant part of his life in China. Initially his interest in China was mainly commercial. However, he soon became involved in a number of projects which broadened his interest and influence in China. For instance, he organised the Chinese-American Bank of Commerce, founded two schools for the Chinese, and played an active role in the Chinese Red Cross. He was also Chairman of China Child Welfare Inc; Treasurer of China Famine Relief USA Inc; Director of the China Society of America; and an Executive Committee Member of the American Asiatic Society.

The collection of his papers at the William R Perkins Library, Duke University comprises 28,845 items, housed in 61 boxes, covering the period 1905-41. We offer complete coverage of his correspondence, c1905-December 1923 (Boxes 1-10). This covers the entire period in which Thomas resided in China and is thus informed by direct experience. We also include complete coverage of his Papers and Articles, 1905-1915 (Box 1), Addresses and Writing (Box 49), and selected items from the Printed Material in Box 57.

We have excluded Boxes 11-46 (Correspondence, 1924-1941) which pertains to the period after Thomas had left China. Whilst this does contain some material relevant to China, the overall extent of the material was so large that it would have extended to a further three parts. We have also excluded the undated papers and printed materials contained within Boxes 47-48 and 50-61 with the exception of a few items from Box 57.

REEL 31
Box 1 Folders 1-4: Papers and Articles, c1905-1915
Correspondence, c1905-1914

REEL 32
Box 1 Folders 5-6: Correspondence, January - May 1915
Box 2 Folder 1: Correspondence, June - July 1915

REEL 33
Box 2 Folders 2-3: Correspondence, August - December 1915

REEL 34
Box 3 Folders 1-2: Correspondence, January 1916 - January 1920

REEL 35
Box 3 Folder 3: Correspondence, February - March 1920
Box 4 Folder 1: Correspondence, April - May 1920

REEL 36
Box 4 Folders 2-3: Correspondence, June - September 1920

REEL 37
Box 5 Folders 1-3: Correspondence, October 1920 - March 1921

REEL 38
Box 6 Folders 1-2: Correspondence, April - June 1921

REEL 39
Box 6 Folder 3: Correspondence, July - August 1921
Box 7 Folder 1: Correspondence, September - October 1921

REEL 40
Box 7 Folders 2-3: Correspondence, October 1921 - January 1922

REEL 41
Box 8 Folders 1-3: Correspondence, February - May 1922

REEL 42
Box 9 Folders 1-2: Correspondence, June - October 1922

REEL 43
Box 9 Folder 3: Correspondence, October - December 1922
Box 10 Folder 1: Correspondence, January - April 1923

REEL 44
Box 10 Folders 2-3: Correspondence, May - December 1923

REEL 45
Box 49: Printed Material. Addresses and Writing

REEL 46
Box 49: Printed Material. Adresses and Writing (continued from previous reel)

REEL 47
Box 57: Printed Material.
Imperial Tobacco Company - Annual Reports, Accounts and other papers, c1918-1937
Institute of Pacific Relations - Reports and other papers, c1927-1934

< Back