V. K. Wellington Koo papers, 1906-1992, bulk 1931-1966

Collection context

Creator:
Koo, V. K. Wellington, 1888-1985
Abstract:
The V. K. Wellington Koo papers document the diplomatic legacy of Wellington Koo as a Chinese statesman and diplomat of the 20th Century. The papers primarily consist of materials collected during Koo's diplomatic career, relating to the Lytton Commission, 1932-1933; the League of Nations, 1931-1940; the United Nations, 1944-1946; his ambassadorships to France, 1932-1941; to Britain, 1941-1946; to the United States, 1946-1956; as the Senior Advisor to the Republic of China from 1956; and as the Judge on the International Court of Justice, 1957-1966. The materials include correspondence, diaries, memoranda, manuscripts, documents, notes, speeches, maps, photographs, printed material, and audio visual material. The bulk of the materials emphasizes China's domestic and foreign affairs, such as the Sino-Japanese conflict, World War II and the Cold War in the Far East region, as well as the League of Nations and the United Nations.
Extent:
120.5 Linear Feet 266 full manuscript boxes, 34 half manuscript boxes, 3 record cartons, 4 flat boxes (Box 291-294), 1 index card box, 2 tall manuscript boxes
Language:
English , French , Chinese .
Scope and content:

The V. K. Wellington Koo papers document the activities of Wellington Koo, who served as an ambassador in France, London, and the United States under the governance of the Republic of China for 24 years, including his involvement in the League of Nations, the United Nations, and the International Court of Justice, with its bulk dating from 1931 to 1966. Materials are substantially textual, comprising correspondence, diaries, memoranda, manuscripts, maps, meeting notes, speeches, financial documents, news clippings, and related printed material. Other formats include photographs and audio visual materials. The correspondence includes extensive files of telegrams (primarily carbon copies) to and from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of China, as well as letters with relevant correspondents, in Chinese and English, on both Chinese domestic and international affairs. The telegrams mainly composed of communication exchanged between Koo and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as well as other statesmen. The notes of conversation taken during Koo's conversations with world leaders from 1931 to 1956 are also valuable scholarly resources to those who are interested in China's modern history and the history of the 20th Century international affairs. The notes are chronological minutes of interviews or conversations between Koo and various international figures on topics related to Koo's work. The collection overall documents the course of 20th Century international affairs as well as Chinese domestic and foreign affairs under the governance of the Republic of China. The papers also cover various significant historical events and topics such as the Sino-Japanese War, the Chinese Civil War, the Cold War in the Far East Theater, the legacy of the League of Nations, as well as the founding of the United Nations and its affiliated agencies.

Biographical / historical:

Vi Kyuin Wellington Koo (Pinyin: Gu, Weijun; Wade Giles: Ku, Wei-Chun, Koo, Vi Kyuin; Chinese: 顧維鈞, 顾维钧; courtesy name: Shaochuan 少川; English: V. K. Wellington Koo) was born in 1888, Jiading, Shanghai, China. He attended Saint John's University in Shanghai prior to studying abroad in the United States. In 1904, he attended the Cook Academy and later began his college career at the Columbia College in 1905. He received his Bachelors of Arts in 1908 and Master in 1909. In 1912, he completed his PhD in International and Constitutional Law jurisprudence, and received his LL.D. in 1917. He returned to China and served as the English Secretary to President Yuan Shikai, and then as the Counselor in the Foreign office. In 1915, he was appointed as the Minister to Mexico, but was later transferred to Washington to serve as Ambassador to the US.

In 1919, he was appointed as the Plenipotentiary at Paris Peace Conference where he spoke on the behalf of the Chinese Delegation and demanded Shandong to be returned to China in accordance to international law and urged imperialists to end extraterritoriality in China. From 1920 to 1922, he was the Delegate to Assembly and Representative of the League of Nations. He was also the Foreign Minister and Premier. In 1931, he served on the Special Committee on Research of Northeastern affairs in China, the Chinese assessor to the Lytton Commission, and the Chief Delegate to the League of Nations in the investigation of the Mukden Incident and the Sino-Japanese conflict.

From 1936 to 1941, Koo was the Chinese Ambassador to France. From 1940 to 1946, he was the Ambassador to London and then the Ambassador to the United States from 1946 to 1956. He was also the Chinese Delegate to the Dumbarton Oaks Conversation in 1944, and the Acting Chairman of the Chinese Delegation to the San Francisco Conference in 1945. In 1956, following his retirement as the Ambassador to the United States, he was appointed the Senior Advisor to the Republic of China. In 1957, he was elected as a Judge of the International Court of Justice and then later the Vice President of the Court where he remained until 1967. On November 14, 1985, he passed away at the age of 97 in New York.

Access and use

Restrictions:

The following boxes are located off-site: 1-288, 291-293, 295-305. You will need to request this material from the Rare Book and Manuscript Library at least three business days in advance to use the collection in the Rare Book and Manuscript Library reading room.

Cataloged Correspondence Box 1-2 (CC1-2) are located on-site.

Microfilm Onsite in RBML stack 13 Microfilm cabinet: MN#95-2070, MN#95-2071, MN#95-2072, MN#95-2073, MN#95-2074, MN#7268, MN#7269

Microfilm on 4th floor offsite,mmr: Report to President Yuan on Tibet (Box 1) and Box 2-3: MN#94-2021, MN#94-2022. Please request through https://clio.columbia.edu/archives/4078997

Speech scroll in box 306 remain inaccessible until conservation issues are resolved.

All original copies of audio / moving image media are closed until reformatting. Email rbml@columbia.edu for more information.

The following materials are restricted until 2040 based on the agreement with the family. Folder/s were pulled from the boxes and rehoused in a restricted box onsite: Box 59 Folder 2, Box 229 Folder 11-14, Box 231 Folder 5, Box 245 Folder 5 and 9, Box 250 Folder 9, Box 262 Folder 1-3 and 5, Box 273 Folder 4-5, Box 276 Folder 11, 17, 19-20, Box 277 Folder 13, Box 278 Folder 4, Box 285 Folder 8-10, Box 289 Folder 1-3, 10, 13-14, 28, Box 293 Folder 6.

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.

Diaries: may not be quoted or paraphrased in detail, nor may any living person be quoted or mentioned, without the written permission of the donor or his/her heirs. Please contact rbml@columbia.edu for more information.

Preferred citation:

Identification of specific item, Date (if known); V. K. Wellington Koo 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