Shih-hui Hsiung (Shihui Xiong) papers, 1907-1974, bulk 1930-1948

Collection context

Creator:
Xiong, Shihui, 1893-1974
Abstract:
The Shih-hui Hsiung (Shihui Xiong) papers consist of materials documenting Hsiung's life and political career from 1907 to 1974. The highlights of the papers are the manuscripts, which include six volumes of Hsiung's memoir, seven volumes of diaries over 43 years, and approximately 440 original handwritten speech scripts. The photographs and political and military affairs related documents focus on Hsiung's active involvement in the northeast region and abroad from 1930 to 1948. The papers overall consist of correspondence, calligraphy scrolls, diaries, a diploma, documents, letter books, manuscripts of published and unpublished works, maps, newspaper clippings, notes, oversize military notices, poems, photographs, photograph albums, reports, and other materials.
Extent:
10 linear feet (14 manuscript boxes, 1 flat box, 4 mapcase folders, and 5 scroll boxes)
Language:
Chinese .
Scope and content:

The Shih-hui Hsiung (Shihui Xiong) papers mainly document the political life of Hsiung. The collection contains papers, photographs, and calligraphy scrolls by him, dating from 1907 to 1974, with the bulk of the materials focusing on his involvement in the northeast region from 1930 to 1948. The papers, including correspondence with prominent political figures such as Chiang Kai-shek, T.V. Soong, and Ho Ying-chin, typewritten and handwritten manuscripts of Hsiung Shih-hui's memoir, diaries, speeches, notes, and documents provide perspectives on his life, his colleagues, and his politics. The photographs and albums mainly depict Hsiung's family and friends, his political and military engagement in China, and his visits in other countries. The collection also contains two calligraphy scrolls by Hsiung.

Biographical / historical:

Hsiung, Shih-hui (Wade-Giles: Hsiung, Shih-hui, Hsiung, Shi-fei; Pinyin: Xiong, Shihui; Traditional Chinese: 熊式輝; Simplified Chinese: 熊式辉; Courtesy name: Tianyi 天翼; Pseudonym: Xuesong 雪松) was born on May 19th, 1893, in Anyi, Jiangxi Province of China. He attended Baoding Military Academy in 1915. He later attended the Japanese Army War College and graduated on November 29th, 1924. He returned to Canton and became the Chief Instructor at the Yunnan Army Military Officers School. When the Northern Expedition began in 1927, Hsiung was appointed the Deputy Commander of multiple military divisions and a member of the Jiangxi provincial political committee. In 1930, Hsiung directed military operations against Communist forces in the Northeast (also known as Manchuria). In the following years, he was appointed by Chiang Kai-shek as the Chief-of-Staff in the Nanchang headquarters and the Governor of Jiangxi province where he was responsible for the civil affairs, education, and peace preservation in the province. After a decade of Hsiung's provincial governance in Jiangxi, he was assigned to be the Chief of the Chinese Military Mission to the United States in 1942. After returning to China in 1943, he was appointed the Secretary General of the Central Planning Board, which was responsible for wartime and postwar reconstruction and affairs. In 1945, he accompanied T.V. Soong to Moscow for negotiation and the signing of the Sino-Soviet Treaty of Friendship and Alliance. As the conflict between the Chinese Communists and the Nationalists escalated in the Northeast, Chen Cheng was assigned to replace Hsiung as the Director of the Northeast headquarters in 1947, while Hsiung was given a post as the Strategy Adviser in Nanjing. After the nationalist power collapsed in mainland China in 1949, Hsiung and his family moved to Hong Kong, Macao, and then later to Bangkok. Hsiung moved to Taiwan in 1954, where he lived until he died in 1974.

Access and use

Restrictions:

This collection is located on-site.

This collection has no restrictions.

Terms of access:

Reproductions may be made for research purposes. The RBML maintains ownership of the physical material only. Copyright remains with the creator and his/her heirs. The responsibility to secure copyright permission rests with the patron.

Preferred citation:

Identification of specific item; Date (if known); Shih-hui Hsiung (Shihui Xiong) papers; Box and Folder; Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Columbia University Library.

Location of this collection:
6th Floor East Butler Library
535 West 114th Street
New York, NY 10027, USA
Before you visit:
Researchers interested in viewing materials in the RBML reading room must must book an appointment at least 7 days in advance. To make the most of your visit, be sure to request your desired materials before booking your appointment, as researchers are limited to 5 items per day.
Contact:
rbml@library.columbia.edu