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Contact Information:
Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections
2B Carl A. Kroch Library Cornell University Ithaca, NY 14853 (607) 255-3530 Fax: (607) 255-9524 rareref@cornell.edu http://rmc.library.cornell.edu |
Compiled by:
M.E. Warren
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Date completed:
Sept. 1987, rev'd Mar. 1990
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EAD encoding:
Ann Hubert, Aug. 2002
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Last modified:
RMC Staff, March 2013
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© 2002 Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections, Cornell University Library
Calendar of the letters Brill wrote to his aunt, Mrs. Statia Dodge, approx. 75 items, 1897-1901; Letters dated Sept. 24, 1897-Nov. 27, 1897 describe arrival and first experiences |
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| Aug. 30, 1897 | - On Steamer Peru to Pacific | |
| Sept. 24, 1897 | - Japan | |
| Sept. 24, 1897 | - Shanghai | |
| Oct. 10, 1897 | - Difficulties of learning the language; walled cities, crowded streets; abundance of unexploited resources - coal, iron, coffee, tin, gold | |
| Nov. 5, 1897 | - Comment of background and character of Sidney Partridge; foods available; lack of patriotism among people, French, British, German rivalry; difficulty of working for improvements | |
| Dec. 5, 1897 | - Trip on Yangtze - homes, daily activites of people living along river; fish-traps, hooks, nets, spears, cormorants; reaction of peasants to foreigners; use of cash for transactions in hinterland | |
| Jan. 2, 1898 | - Administrative difficulties encountered by the Viceroy; plans for experimental farms - 50 acres; unrealistic plans of Viceroy; more on French-German-British rivalry; corruption in government - justice only to be bought; RR building; Religion - much superstition and ceremony; disregard of Confucian and Buddhist ethics - need for Christian example; Model farm - change in plans for | |
| Jan. 25, 1898 | - Formalities involved in getting pay for foreign dinner; first Chinese dinner - foods, serving practices, etc; New Year's celebrations - lanterns, firecrackers, gay costumes; begging - "It is a regular profession and the merchants pay them a certain amount each month and then they paste up a slip and the rest will keep away; but if they are not paid all will come until it is a great nuisance;" foot binding; need of China to borrow money for RR construction; inter-power rivalry [see earlier letters] | |
| Mar. 3, 1898 | - Unfavorable conditions around Wuchang - inundation of 1,000's of acres; request of Viceroy to be near city - need for strong government; workers stealing parts of machinery in Shanghai cotton mills - variety of troops; city, provincial, Viceroy's, military schools; resistance to innovation | |
| Mar. 22, 1898 | - Comment on various cliques in Eurpoean and American colony in Hankow - gloomy outlook for school; unreliable Chinese aids | |
| Mar. 31, 1898 | - Hope for land about seven miles from city - could get more and better land in Szechwan Province or near Nanking; tax and multifarious customs duties paid - to be turned over to foreign customs to secure loan; what will Viceroy do for money?; difficulties Viceroy having with military school; indifference to Brill's urgings that work be started; foreign goods available; protection against anti-foreign riots afforded by English gunboat; death and burial customs | |
| Apr. 16, 1898 | - Extreme heat - how Chinese dress for it; work at standstill; no land - no funds because taxes being paid to foreign customs to secure loan; possibility of war - English fleet - Russian troops - restlessness among Chinese becasue of crediting land to foreign countries; no danger in Wuchang: English gunboat | |
| Apr. 24, 1898 | - Hankow's preparation for visit of Prince Henry of Germany, brother of Emperor; Dowager Empress' proclamations; contrasts Japan and China - Japan cleaner, but more dishonest | |
| May 8, 1898 | - Has formal agreement with Chinese; German interest in provincial affairs | |
| May 14, 1898 | - Riots in Sha Si - foreign buildings burned - due to foreign customs taking over salt and other tax proceeds - places blame on literate and officials; Chinese women - smoking pipes, check corruption and graft in government | |
| June 6, 1898 | - First interview with Viceroy; work being done on school, but useless without land; corrupt practices in customs, etc.; friendly terms between Viceroy and British Commissioner of Customs; dance in Hankow - international society; anti-foreign feeling | |
| June 18, 1898 | - Superstitions - small pox epidemic, 6 pp. Mss. | |
| June 27, 1898 | - Status of married women; funeral customs; misfortune of no sons | |
| July 7, 1898 | - Dismissal of Professor R(?); would not submit to "tricks" of Viceroy' aides; extreme heat | |
| July 19, 1898 | - Viceroy's plan for soap and candle factory; silk mill idle | |
| Aug. 7, 1898 | - p. 2 missing? routine letter | |
| Aug. 21, 1898 | - Heat, drought; Viceroy went daily to the dragon temple to pray for rain-punishing gods for not sending rain; other superstitions: serpent hill, spirit's liberty | |
| Sept. 9, 1898 | - Routine | |
| Sept. 13, 1898 | - Empress Dowager squeezing Viceroy for 1 million taels ($750,000); Viceroy wants Brill to be able to run school on paying basis; very pessimistic about government doing anything; British customs with Sir Robert Hart OK; Chinese RR building - Sheng, Hankow-Canton RR; resignation of the Emperor so Dowager Empress, "6th concubine of Emperor's father," can place 9 year old boy on throne; possibility of Japanese, Russian, other foreign interference; sex mores - Oriental mistresses, etc.; Japanese-Russian animosity; Japanese encroachments on China | |
| Sept. 19, 1898 | - Difficulties plowing with oxen; city boys with no knowledge of farming | |
| Oct. 5, 1898 | - Comment on Dowager Empress - beheading six of most progressive men; escape of leading reformer to English protection; conservatives completely in power - but reform must come or China will disintegrate; H.E. Chang Chi Tung not yet touched; fire in Hankow - missionary aid for the destitute | |
| Oct. 21, 1898 | - Skill of Chinese flower gardeners - their sprinkling methods!; Viceroy on guard because of Empress - no progress - no certainty of getting desired land; comment on foot binding; superstition; more fires | |
| Nov. 13, 1898 | - Haggling with boatmen on six mile trip on lake, walk back - gates of city closed - let in for 20 cents!; arsonists in Hankow fires caught and beheaded - heads exposed in public | |
| Nov. 27, 1898 | - More on Empress (Manchu); RR's progressing; English survey line to run to Berma; Americans - Wuchang-Canton lines; political anarchy, crop failures; superstitions | |
| Dec. 14-15(?), 1898 | - French in Nanking - demands for extensions of Shanghai concessions; visit of American party to Wuchang; [part of letter missing] | |
| Jan. 1, 1899 | - Chirstmas at Wuchang; continued drought; bridal procession | |
| Jan. 15, 1899 | - Status in Chinese society; Hankow and Wuchang street scenes; firecracker industry | |
| Jan. 30, 1899 | - "We started the first Agriculture School in China..."; Crop failures - plans for dykes and windmills - high price of rice; organized and hereditary begging class; discrimination against admitting sons and grandsons of coolies, barbers, etc. to civil service jobs | |
| Feb. 10, 1899 | - Chinese New Year ceremonies and celebrations | |
| Mar. 5, 1899 | - Rebels - French priest incident; transportation difficulties - no RR's to transport troops; Americans interested in RR's having reached Canton; missionary activities | |
| Mar. 26, 1899 | - 500-600 applications for school, only 5 or 6 can speak English; "...any Irishmen with blackthorn sticks..." Sir Robert Hart; Russian brick tea factory | |
| May 4, 1899 | - Visit of Prince Henry, brother of German Emperor to Wuchang, gala decorations - banquet; French-German rivalry; parition of French-Catholic missionaries; new rumors re: land appropriations | |
| May 27, 1899 | - Position of Eurasians; grand opening next week (June 3); wheat harvest; drill ground, which is being used as farm, to be returned to Viceroy; Catholic missionaries - own property where largest line of river and coast steamers land | |
| June 30, 1899 | - Difficulties of learning language; superstitions re: eclipse of moon; anti-foreign riots; Roman Catholic; French influence around Peking | |
| July 9, 1899 | - Looking over more land - same difficulties | |
| July 12, 1899 | - Dragon boat festival; drought | |
| July 16, 1899 | - (from Shanghai) about to leave for Japan; comment on life in Shanghai | |
| Aug. 3, 1899 | - (Tokyo) style of dress - meeting with Schurmans in Tokyo; impressions of city | |
| Sept. 2, 1899 | - (Shanghai) contrasts Japan with China in favor of the former | |
| Sept. 27, 1899 | - More confusion re: land | |
| Oct. 6, 1899 | - Hopes to influence Viceroy indirectly through United States Consul; Roman Catholic activity - dependence on French influence; difficulties with Chinese over discipline of students | |
| Oct. 17, 1899 | - Difficulties with translators of reports of Viceroy; expects new Chinese director for school | |
| Oct. 27, 1899 | - Funeral-death customs; Chinese fire fighting | |
| Nov. 5, 1899 | - Attempts to get American Consul to push things with Viceroy; erroneous reports in Occidental press re: China: foot binding still common, etc. | |
| Nov. 20, 1899 | - Drill hall and German-trained drill master for boys; Mrs. Little's lectures against foot binding | |
| Nov. 26, 1899 | - Requests coming in for Chinese students trained in foreign methods to manage farms in other areas - no one to recommend yet; "Foreign Devil" incident - Japanese infiltration - Brill and Gilmore asked to resign | |
| Dec. 12, 1899 | - Routine note | |
| Dec. 15, 1899 | - School to close Feb. 1, 1900 - plans for trip home - circumstances of his resignation (Tao Tai's opposition) | |
| Dec. 25, 1899 | - Engagement to Mary Williams; comment on why leaving China | |
| Jan. 21, 1900 | - Has receievd telegrams from United States Department of Agriculture, Washington, D.C.; describes trip to country; 60 miles downstream; describes city - Wuchang, Hsien; relations of missionaries with people; Roman Catholc infl. | |
| Feb. 3, 1900 | - Unusually cold winter for Wuchang - beggars dying; Dowager Empress; if England stays involed in Transvaal, Russia and France may move in China; no further words from Washington | |
| Feb. 11, 1900 | - Viceroy's troubles; Japanese successor to Brill coming | |
| Feb. 11, 1900 | - Postcard: going to country for month | |
| Feb. 26, 1900 | - From Liang [Tiang Jon Wan]; travelling with Wesleyan Missionaries; prices of accomodations; poor roads - travellers met; cotton and wheat country; gathering agricultural information | |
| Mar. 25, 1900 | - Wuchang - contrasts Episcol and Wesleyan proselytizing techniques; desires of many to join Christian Church (especially Roman Catholic) for protection it affords from Chinese officialdom; further describes trip; Sacred Hill of Hupeh - 3,000 ft. above Yangtze; trip down river on house boat; food "poached eggs in sugar syrup;" has made arrangements to stay in China for awhile - going on plant collecting trip | |
| Apr. 4, 1900 | - Living at American mission - expects to leave soon on 8 month trip for Agricultural Department [Brill appointed Agricultural Explorer, Apr. 2, 1900]; fears rioting in No. China; Russian encroachments | |
| Apr. 13, 1900 | - Comment on friends at Episcopal compound, Wuchang; Viceroy's military reviews; partition on China | |
| May 8, 1900 | - Trip to tea country; friction between Japanese and German officers - Japanese in ascendary because they flatter Chinese; riot among workmen on Hankow-Peking RR | |
| May 29, 1900 | - On board ship: trip upstream - hopes to reach Chunking; describes rapids - high narrow gorges; may go to Tibet | |
| June 25, 1900 | - "Just below Chunking;" travel up rapids - "tracking;" (missionary friends); much traffic but no regular tow paths; at 8 miles below Chucking, heard at Customs station that there had been an attack on Taku Forts, July 2nd - staying at China inland mission; precautions being taken against possible uprising at Peking, but not likely | |
| July 6, 1900 | - Preparations for evacuation, if necessary | |
| July 30, 1900 | - Possible evacuation of missionaries at Chucking; French-British rivalry in west China | |
| Aug. 7, 1900 | - Further evacuation preparations, Chucking | |
| Aug. 29, 1900 | - Women and children have left Hankow, Ichang, etc.; all quiet; murder of 100 Roman Catholics and priest - 10 days travel inland - wating for more missionaries to arrive from hinterland before leaving Hankow | |
| Oct. 1, 1900 | - Ichang, explains cancellation of trip beyond Chucking (evacuation of missionaries); whole China buisness has added to Russian prestige - French policy towards Empress; comments on Chinese reactions | |
| Oct. 21, 1900 | - Hankow, [W.W.] Rockhill at Hankow [See Straight Papers, #1260]; Viceroy has new camps, more soldiers, since May; new government very pro-Boxer; war party lead bu Tuan Yung Tu | |
| Nov. 4, 1900 | - Hankow - factions around Empress; preparation for peace negotiations; rebellion in S. spreading - Russia poses as friend of China - but infiltrating Manchuria - thinks atrocity stories in Occidental press exaggerated | |
| Dec. 17, 1900 | - Postcard: leaving soon for Shanghai | |
| Dec. 29, 1900 | - Hankow - delay in leaving; sinking of German steamer abover Ichang (struck rock); famine in Shensi province; Moslem rebellion in Kansuli??; Russia in Manchuria | |
| May 20, 1901 | - Manila, decsription of city ; conditions, etc.; has declined offer to stay on with Superintendent of Public Instruction (last letter) | |
| undated 9 pp. letter | - Characteristics of Chinese people; corrupt civil services; ancestor worship; position of women; confidence of Chinese Viceroy in Mission schools; famines - due to faulty distribution | |
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Date
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Description
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Container
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Writings
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| May 1891, Oct. 1892 |
Correspondence
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Box 1 | Folder 1 |
| Mar.-Aug. 1897 |
Correspondence
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Box 1 | Folder 2 |
| Aug.-Sept. 1897 |
Letters to Molly
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Box 1 | Folder 3 |
| Sept.-Dec. 1897 |
Correspondence
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Box 1 | Folder 4 |
| Oct.-Dec. 1987-Jan. 1898 |
Letters to Molly
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Box 1 | Folder 5 |
| Jan.-Feb. 1898 |
Correspondence
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Box 1 | Folder 6 |
| May-Aug. 1898 |
Letters to Molly
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Box 1 | Folder 7 |
| Mar. 1898 |
Correspondence
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Box 1 | Folder 8 |
| May-Aug. 1898 |
Letters to Molly
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Box 1 | Folder 10 |
| May 1898 |
Correspondence
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Box 1 | Folder 11 |
| June 1898 |
Correspondence
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Box 1 | Folder 12 |
| July-Aug. 1898 |
Correspondence
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Box 1 | Folder 13 |
| Sept.-Dec. 1898 |
Letters to Molly
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Box 1 | Folder 14 |
| Sept.-Oct. 1898 |
Correspondence
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Box 1 | Folder 15 |
| Nov.-Dec. 1898 |
Correspondence
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Box 1 | Folder 16 |
| Jan.-Mar. 1899 |
Correspondence
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Box 1 | Folder 17 |
| Jan.-Apr. 1899 |
Letters to Molly
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Box 1 | Folder 18 |
| Apr.-June 1899 |
Correspondence
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Box 1 | Folder 19 |
| May-Sept. 1899 |
Letters to Molly
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Box 1 | Folder 20 |
| July-Sept. 1899 |
Correspondence
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Box 1 | Folder 21 |
| Oct.-Nov. 1899 |
Correspondence
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Box 1 | Folder 22 |
| Oct.-Dec. 1899 |
Letters to Molly
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Box 1 | Folder 23 |
| Jan.-May 1900 |
Letters to Molly
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Box 2 | Folder 1 |
| Mar.-June 1900 |
Correspondence
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Box 2 | Folder 2 |
| June-Dec. 1900 |
Letters to Molly
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Box 2 | Folder 3 |
| July 1900 |
Correspondence
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Box 2 | Folder 4 |
| Aug.-Dec. 1900 |
Correspondence
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Box 2 | Folder 5 |
| Jan.-May 1901 |
Letters to Molly
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Box 2 | Folder 6 |
| June-Oct. 1901 |
Letters to Molly
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Box 2 | Folder 7 |
| Jan.-Dec. 1901 |
Correspondence
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Box 2 | Folder 8 |
| Jan.-May 1902 |
Correspondence
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Box 2 | Folder 9 |
| Jan.-July 1902 |
Letters to Molly
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Box 2 | Folder 10 |
| July-Dec. 1902 |
Correspondence
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Box 2 | Folder 11 |
| Aug.-Dec. 1902 |
Letters to Molly
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Box 2 | Folder 12 |
| 1903, 1905, n.d. |
Letters to Molly
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Box 2 | Folder 13 |
| Sept. 1903-Dec. 1904 |
Correspondence
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Box 2 | Folder 14 |
| n.d. |
Correspondence
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Box 2 | Folder 15 |
| n.d. |
Correspondence
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Box 2 | Folder 16 |
| n.d. |
Correspondence
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Box 2 | Folder 17 |
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9 paintings (fragile) depicting "justice"/torture
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Box 2 | Folder 18 | |
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Photographs
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Box 2 | Folder 19 | |
| July 1901 |
The Spirit of Missions (cover only)
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Box 2 | Folder 20 |
| 1898, 1899, 1900 |
English and Chinese diary and Almanac include topographical maps and a few botanical specimens
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Box 3 | |
| 1884-1888 |
Cornell Course Work - lecture notes, etc.
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Box 4-6 | |
| 1898-1901 |
Travel Journals and Accounts
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Box 7 | |
| 1898, 1899, 1900 |
English and Chinese Diary and Almanac
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Box 8 | |
| 1898-1902 |
Travel Journals - Agricultural Notes on China
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Box 9 | |
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Large map - Hu-pei Province; Smaller map - Wu-chang, capital of Hy-pei
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Box 10 | ||
| 1897 |
Booklet - Anglican Church (Wu-chang?) dedication ceremony
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Box 10 | |
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Calling cards, Laundry lists, Leave slips, Receipts
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Box 10 | ||
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Governor of province announcement of college for industrial school (12-16)
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Box 10 | ||
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Announcement for ag. college
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Box 10 | ||
| 1899 |
Anti-Opium League in China - printed material
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Box 10 | |
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Miscellaneous Chinese-related
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Box 10 | ||
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Prints, negatives of Peking, China
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A View of the Forbidden City from the Wall
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Box 11 | Photo 1 | |
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Gate House, Forbidden City
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Box 11 | Photo 2 | |
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Island Inside Forbidden City
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Box 11 | Photo 3 | |
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Walk in Forbidden City
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Box 11 | Photo 4 | |
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Inner Gateway, Imperial City
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Box 11 | Photo 5a | |
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Gate to Forbidden City
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Box 11 | Photo 5b | |
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Empress' Palace, Forbidden City
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Box 11 | Photo 6 | |
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Lion in Front of Palace
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Box 11 | Photo 7 | |
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Inside Imperial Palace
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Box 11 | Photo 8 | |
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Eunuchs in the Grounds of the Forbidden City
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Box 11 | Photo 9 | |
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Water Clock in Palace
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Box 11 | Photo 10 | |
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Imperial Throne (3 views)
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Box 11 | Photo 11 | |
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Temple of Heaven (3 views)
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Box 11 | Photo 12 | |
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Temple of Heaven
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Box 11 | Photo 13 | |
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Gateway to Audience Room (3 views)
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Box 11 | Photo 14 | |
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Marble Platform, Temple of Heaven Grounds
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Box 11 | Photo 15 | |
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Altar, Temple of Heaven, Iron Brazier
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Box 11 | Photo 16 | |
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Shrine in Temple of Heavens Grounds
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Box 11 | Photo 17 | |
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Tablet in Temple of Heaven
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Box 11 | Photo 18 | |
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Summer Palace Grounds, Lake, etc., North of Peking
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Box 11 | Photo 19 | |
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Bridge in the Grounds of the Summer Palace Outside the City
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Box 11 | Photo 20 | |
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Photo of a Painting of the Summer Palace near Peking
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Box 11 | Photo 21 | |
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Lake in the Forbidden City
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Box 11 | Photo 22 | |
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Temple on Summit of Hill at Summer Palace, Colored Tile
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Box 11 | Photo 23 | |
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Pavillion on Stone Boat in Lake at Summer Palace near Peking
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Box 11 | Photo 24 | |
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Temple to God of Agriculture
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Box 11 | Photo 25 | |
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Old Throne at Peking
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Box 11 | Photo 26 | |
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Peking - The Drum Tower
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Box 11 | Photo 27 | |
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Wall of Peking
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Box 11 | Photo 28 | |
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Peking Gate and Camel in Left Foreground
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Box 11 | Photo 29a | |
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One of City Gates
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Box 11 | Photo 29b | |
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Gate in Wall, "A very unusual one." Wall to Keep Out Evil Spirits
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Box 11 | Photo 29c | |
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Gate in City Wall
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Box 11 | Photo 29d | |
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One of City Gates
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Box 11 | Photo 29e | |
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One of Gateways to City Partially Destroyed During the Boxer Rising
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Box 11 | Photo 29f | |
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Gate House in Wall of Peking After Boxer Rising
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Box 11 | Photo 29g | |
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Looking South on City Wall Where Much Fighting Occured between Boxers and Americans
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Box 11 | Photo 30 | |
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Cannon on Wall
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Box 11 | Photo 31 | |
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Cannon on City Wall - Iron Barrel Bound with Iron Bands over Wooden Staves to Imitate Bronze (3 views)
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Box 11 | Photo 32 | |
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Gate House
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Box 11 | Photo 33 | |
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Print of G.D. Brill
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Box 11 | Photo 34 | |
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Glass Negatives - prints available in Box 11
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Box 12 | ||
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United States Department of Agriculture document noting Brill, "an Officer of the United States Department of Agriculture
is charged with the investigation of the useful plants of the Yangste Valley in the Empire of China"
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Mapcase | ||
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"Passport" (safe-conduct) of G.D. Brill
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Mapcase | ||