The University of Michigan National Archive on Sino-American Relations is a comprehensive historical collection documenting the informal relations between China and the United States from 1971 through 1980. Established in July 1977 through a grant from of the Henry Luce Foundation, the Sino-American Archive was a product of the vision of two University of Michigan professors: the late Alexander Eckstein, professor of economics, and the late Michel Oksenberg, professor of political science. During its formative years, the Archive benefited greatly from the support of Albert Feuerwerker, professor of history and director of the Center for Chinese Studies at the University of Michigan, and of Allen Whiting, professor of political science at the University of Michigan.
The Archive was established to collect two types of documentation. The first consisted of diaries, reports, notes, memoranda, and other written materials of select Americans who visited China, 1971-80. The second included oral history tapes and transcripts on the reciprocal table tennis visits in 1971 and 1972 and tapes and notes from the visit to China of the Philadelphia Orchestra.
In developing the archive, the project leaders knew that it would not be possible or desirable to locate and contact all of the tens of thousands of Americans who traveled to China from 1971-80. The Archive stressed the acquisition and preservation of unique or nearly unique research materials from individuals who participated in two kinds of exchanges: (1) government facilitated exchanges sponsored by the Committee on Scholarly Communication with the People's Republic of China, the National Committee on U.S.-China Relations and the U.S.-China Trade Council; and (2) ad hoc visits of groups of eminent scientists, businessmen, journalists, scholars, civic leaders and others. The Archive also contacted prominent Americans who traveled to China independently, rather than as members of groups organized by profession or interest. Individuals were contacted, however, not simply because they had traveled to China, but because they had special training, expertise or interests which enabled them to offer unique insights into Chinese society and politics and into Sino-American relations.
Once identified, the individuals were encouraged to deposit their original documents in the National Archive or other such repository where they would be available for research use. Because of the topical nature of these materials and the danger than many of them would be lost, the Archive departed somewhat from standard archival practice and agreed to accept photocopies.
From the guide to the National Archive on Sino-American Relations records, 1971-1984, (Bentley Historical Library, University of Michigan)
