This finding aid is made available for public use following the Universal 1.0 Public Domain Dedication Creative Commons designation.
This collection is located on site.
Given to the Chinese oral history project by H. H. Kung between 1958 and 1961 during interview with Julie How. Materials later microfilmed with Dr. Kung's permission. Transfer from the East Asian InstituteChinese oral history project collection in 1980.
Arranged in original order.
H. H. Kung (pinyin: Kong, Xiangxi; Wade-Giles: Kung, Hsiang-hsi, Kung, H. H.; Chinese: 孔祥熙; courtesy name: Yongzhi, 庸之) was born in Shanxi province, 1881. He was a banker and a politician in the early 20th century. He received his B.A from Oberlin College in 1906 and his master's degree in economics from Yale University in 1907. After returning to China, he supported Yan Xishan (閻錫山) to overthrow the Qing imperial government in Shanxi. He married Soong Ailing in 1914. In 1928, he served as the Minister of Industry and Commerce and then later elected to the KMT Central Executive Committee and served from 1929 to 1932. He later served as the commissioner to Europe and assigned to secure foreign aid for China. After returning to China in 1933, he served as the Minister of Finance, the Governor of the Central Bank of China, and the Vice Premier (and Premier from 1938 to 1939) of the Executive Yuan until 1945. In 1944, he resigned from his positions. He later moved to New York in 1948, where he resided till his death in 1967.
H. H. Kung papers, 1917-1949, Hoover Institution Archives.
Identification of specific item; Date (if known); H.H. Kung papers; Box and Folder; Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Columbia University Library.
Separated from the Chinese oral history project collection due to the papers' historical and research value and to allow better discovery and access. Processed in September 2018 by Yingwen Huang.
Chinese oral history project collection, Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Columbia University.
H. H. Kung papers, 1917-1949, Hoover Institution Archives.
The H. H. Kung papers contain an estimate of 21 items in paper format and 10 reels of microfilms in 2 manuscript boxes consist of correspondence, political documents, and chronological event records. The items in paper format consist of correspondence, reports, poems, documents related to various topics such as the Xi'an Incident, agricultural development in China, Sino-Japanese War, loan agreements, and financial matters, etc. Materials in microfilm are correspondence and files relating to the Xi'an Incident, documents on foreign diplomacy, Executive Yuan, KMT Central Standing Committee meeting and plenums, intelligence reports, correspondence and documents relating to the developments in some province such as Fujian, Jiangxi, Anhui, Gansu, Qinghai, and Ningxia. There are also seven reels of chronological records of events prepared by the Ministry of Finance documenting the events of H. H. Kung when he was the Premier and the Vice Premier of the Executive Yuan during the Sino-Japanese War, dating from 1938 to 1943.
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.
This collection has no restrictions.
Materials may have been added to the collection since this finding aid was prepared. Contact rbml@columbia.edu for more information.
More than 600 telegrams originals, copies, or drafts dating from December 12 onward between Dr. Kung and Zhang Xueliang (張學良), Yang Hucheng (楊虎城), Song Zheyuan (宋哲元), Yan Xishan (閻錫山), Han Fuju (韓復榘), He Yingqin (何應欽), and other important Chinese political or military figures at the time. Some are copies of communications between them, or are circular telegrams from regional leader such as the Guangxi clique or from elder statesmen.
Telegrams to and from Chinese diplomatic missions abroad, records of Dr. Kung's conversation with foreign diplomats in Nanking, as well as his activities, letters, reports, and his resolutions on the Xi'an Incident. There are also telegrams from Chinese diplomats abroad to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and to Dr. Kung dating from 1936 to 1944; three work reports of the Executive Yuan between 1938 and 1939 and meeting records from 1941 and 1943; records of three meetings of the KMT Central Standing Committee in November 1939 and resolutions proposed by Dr. Kung to the CEC Plenums from November 1938 to December 1941.
Documents relating to the developments in some province: Fujian from 1934 to 1935, Jiangxi in 1933 and 1938, and undated reports and letters on Anhui, Gansu, Qinghai, and Ningxia. 省份發展的文件: 福建1934年至1935年, 江西1933年和1938年,有關安徽, 甘肅, 青海, 寧夏未註明日期的報告和信件.
Prepared by the Ministry of Finance.