The Tharchin Collection, 1901-1975, bulk 1923-1963

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Series 3, Correspondence

The correspondence listed below was addressed to Gegen Tharchin and in English, unless otherwise noted. About half of the documents were received as photocopies.


Subseries 1, Individuals



Box 5 Aoki, Bunkyo, 1952-1953, in Tibetan cursive

(Request for Tibetan books and language records.)


Box 5 Bacot, J.


Box 5 Bakula, Shri Kushak, 1955 April 7, 1955

(Includes note in cursive Tibetan asking Tharchin to mail books to him in Srinagar.)


Box 5 Bernard, Theos


Box 5 Blo bzang ye shes bstan 'dzin rgya mtsho, Khri byang [Trijang Rinpoche], 1951 ?, 1951, in Tibetan cursive


Box 5 Candlin, G.H. The Commissioner General Office of Singapore, 1956 July 6, 1956


Box 5 Cargay, B.S, 1970


Box 5 Chhowang Lusar, 1953 June 6, 1953

(Telegram to Tharchin regarding the death of his wife's mother, Katok [Dka' zlog].)


Box 5 Craig, Albert


Box 5 Devichandr (from Kazi Poo), 1953 August, 1953, Tibetan handwriting


Box 5 Dilowa (Tilopa) Hutuktu

(Includes notes by Tharchin regarding the lama's background and escape.)


Box 5 F.C.F Mission, 1937 January 12, 1937


Box 5 Geshe Wangyal [Dge bshes Dbang rgyal], 1946

(Regarding imminent departure from Tibet.)


Box 5 Gould, Basil


Box 5 Graham, J.A., 1927-1929

(Letters sent by Tharchin from Lhasa; also includes tribute written by Tharchin.)


Box 5 Gyelsay Rinpoche [Rgyal-sras], letter from Tharchin,1955 April 14

(Cover letter for sending Tibetan primers?)


Box 5 Gygax, A.F, 1951 July 19, 1951

(Request for photos and information on Tharchin for publication.)


Box 5 Hoffman, Helmut, 1954-1956


Box 5 Hopkinson, A.J, 1945-1949


Box 5 Illion, Theodore [a.k.a. Theodore Burung], 1948


Box 5 Inaba, Shoju, 1962 September 12, 1962

(Tharchin writes about new typewriter and his health.)


Box 5 Kanchhi Munsahib, 1953 November 27, 1953


Box 5 Karma Tsering, 1949 March8, 1949


Box 5 Kashopa [Kapshopa], 1944 June 12, 1944


Box 5 Kazi, Sonam T. (Sonam Topgay), 1949-1953 1965, 1949-1953, 1965


Box 5 Kimura, Hisao [a.k.a. Dawa Zangpo], 1955-1967


Box 5 Knox, R. B. [missionary member of Scots Mission in Kalimpong]


Box 5 Liao, C.S. [editor of "The Chinese Journal of India" in Calcutta], in English

(Letter appears to be from Tharchin and gives news about Tibetan delegate headed by Dzasa Liushar and Dingja, the need to distribute his paper in Tibet, and the fleeing of thousands of monks and lamas from Kokonor to Lhasa.)


Box 5 Ludlow, Frank


Box 5 Macdonald, David, 1947 August 8, 1947

(Regarding the price of a banner.)


Box 5 Messman, Dorabji R. and son, 1948 January 23, 1948

(Regarding Tibetan Trade Delegation that might be in India.)


Box 5 Namchula, 1951 February22, 1951

(Tharchin asks about the legal status of his wife.)


Box 5 Needham, Wesley, 1953 August 24, 1953

(Regarding Tilopa [Tilowa] Rinpoche, who was staying with Needham, new temple, and photographs of the 1952 November 23 dedication of the Kalmuk Buddhist Temple in New Jersey.)


Box 5 Negi Jaan? Chand, [1966 ?] March1, in Hindi

(Letter sent from Kinnaur, Himachal Pradesh.)


Box 5 Pallis, Marco, 1948-1956, (24 letters)

(Includes references to Dawa Zangpo, Rigzin Wangpo, Hopkinson, Taktser Rinpoche, H. Richardson, Tilopa [a.k.a. Dilowa] Rinpoche, Geshe Wangyal, etc., and long letter from Tharchin regarding events in Tibet, the likely departure of the Panchen Lama, Khampas capturing the arms of the Chinese communists, Alo Chhonzed, etc ; letters sent from Gyantse, England, and elsewhere.)


Box 5 Paul, K.S, 1933-1953

(Includes letter regarding appointment as Head Lama of the Darjeeling High School.)


Box 5 Pemba Tsewang Yishey, 1947-1952


Box 5 Polhill, 1933 January 15, 1933


Box 5 Prince of Greece,1954 October 1

(Regarding article on Ladakh.)


Box 5 Rahul, R., Indian School of International Studies, 1950-1967


Box 5 Ralla Ram, from United Church of Northern India, 1949

(Series of correspondence asking Tharchin if he could go to Tibet as a missionary.)


Box 5 Richardson, Hugh, 1943-1955, (3 letters)

(See also: Subscriptions and Distribution)


Box 5 Rigzin Wangpo, (several letters)

(Includes draft of telegram to Rigzin Wangpo from Tharchin, 1952 March24; also Ceylon's government's enquiry into Rigzin Wangpo's visa.)


Box 5 Roerich, George, (4 letters)

(According to H. Fader these are "just a few of many letters.")


Box 5 Ross, Walter, 1966 August 29, 1966


Box 5 Shelton, Dorris Still

(See: Box 3, Folder 7 Dictionary Projects]


Box 5 Shelton, Flora Beale (a.k.a Mrs. A.L. Shelton), 1945-1951


Box 5 Singh, Sundar (Sadhu), 1928


Box 5 Sinha, B.P., 1956 February 16, 1956

(Regarding his political ideology and asking if Tharchin requires his service as a Hindi translator.)


Box 5 Snellgrove, David, 1955


Box 5 Tada, Tò„kan [a.ka. Tokwan Tada], 1959-1961


Box 5 Thompson, Loren, 1950 September 30, 1950


Box 5 Thsetan Phunthsog [Tshe tan phun tshog] 1953 June 13, 1953


Box 5 Thubten Jigme Norbu (Taktser Rinpoche), in Tibetan cursive; (2 letters)

(One letter on letterhead of the Hotel George Washington (NYC), perhaps dated February 3, [1950 ?], requesting a copy of the Tibet Mirror. [See related correspondence by Tharchin to the Political Officer in Sikkim, 1950 June 19, Series 2, Sub-series 3, Folder 4]. Second letter, written from Tokyo, Japan and reached Kalimpong in 1953.)


Box 5 Traiback, Redla, 1953 November 18, 1953


Box 5 Tsedung Thupten Chokdup

(Includes seal.)


Box 5 Vitants, Margaret [Tharchin's second wife], bulk, 1956

(Includes biodata and draft of wedding announcement.)


Box 5 Vittoz, Pierre, 1954 October 8, 1954

(Request for several Tibetan books.)


Box 5 Wangdi, T., 1952-1953

(Regarding Tibetan textbooks written by Tharchin.)


Box 5 Ward, Brother, 1920s


Box 5 Wylie, Turrell V., 1956 November 8,, 1956

(See also: Box 3, Folder 7, Dictionary Projects)


Box 5 Yang, Twan, 1946


Box 5 Yuthok, T.D., undated, in Tibetan cursive


Subseries 2, Organizations



Box 6 Folder 1 Church of Scotland Guild Mission


Box 6 Folder 2 Other Organizations


Box 6 Folder 2 Bible Society of India and Ceylon, 1950 July -August ", 1950, (2 letters)

(See also: Box 3, Folder 6)


Box 6 Folder 2 Central Relief Committee for Tibetans, 1961 June 29, 1961

(Letter to Mr. Pradhan, with cc: to Tharchin)


Box 6 Folder 2 Diocese of Darjeeling [a.k.a. Diocesan House]


Box 6 Folder 2 Dalai Lama, Council of Religious Affairs of His Holiness, Office of, 1971 March2, 1971


Box 6 Folder 2 Dalai Lama, Private Office of, 1965 June 10, 1965

(Signed by Tenzin Chonyi, on letterhead of Ganden Phodrang exile government)


Box 6 Folder 2 Government of Tibet, Foreign Affairs, 1933 March18, 1933, in Tibetan


Box 6 Folder 2 Hemis Monastery, 1954 February 28, 1954

(Signed by Stag tshang Ras pa; thanks Tharchin for sending newspaper and requests new books)


Box 6 Folder 2 Indian Mission (Lhasa), 1950 May 10., 1950


Box 6 Folder 2 Indian Trade Agency, 1952 November 4, 1952

(Signed by Khenzong Kazi Tempo Namgyal, chief protocol officer at the last Indian mission in Lhasa)


Box 6 Folder 2 Jacques Marchais, Inc., October 1941


Box 6 Folder 2 Maha Bodhi Society, [in Tibetan], in Tibetan


Box 6 Folder 2 Ockenden Center, 1965


Box 6 Folder 2 Solu Khumbu Sherpa Association, 1954


Box 6 Folder 2 Young Mens' Buddhist Association, 1952


Subseries 3, Miscellaneous Correspondence in Tibetan


Box 6 Folder 3 Letter from So nam las khungs [Office of Agriculture?, Lhasa], 1952

(About not receiving the newspaper; requests Tharchin to please send "by English or Tibetan post" and payment will be forthcoming.)


Box 6 Folder 3 Letter to the Director and staff of Department of Religious Affairs from Tharchin, 1969 April. About the printing of English Tibetan journals., 1969


Box 6 Folder 3 Letter to Tharchin from Dbang mo, 1962 December 26., 1962


Box 6 Folder 3 Letter to the Director of Department of Religious Affairs from Tharchin


Box 6 Folder 3 Note on the decrease in price of Tibet's wool and the search for new markets by Ri pon tshang, March 12


Box 6 Folder 3 Private note by Tharchin on English publication of his newspaper


Box 6 Folder 3 Letter by Ka sbug Bod rigs dang blang mi mang [Kalimpong Tibetan Volunteers] requesting the Indian officials to use the term "Tibetan" instead of "Chinese-Tibetans." 1967 August, 1967


Box 6 Folder 3 Losar greeting to Tharchin


Box 6 Folder 3 Letter to Tharchin from Blo bzang bsam [?], 1959 December 22 about publishing a dpe cha.


Box 6 Folder 3 Letter to Legs bshed from a nun Ye shes sgrol ma about reprinting as the ink was unclear on earlier publications.


Box 6 Folder 3 Letter to Bka chin rig 'dzin [?] 1957 May, 1957


Box 6 Folder 3 Letter to Khuno Yu rgyal Sprul sku on how to behave in Kalimpong


Box 6 Folder 3 Letter about a business transaction


Box 6 Folder 3 Letter to Chhorjie Lama, 1963


Box 6 Folder 3 Letter to Chos rgyal chan po of Sikkim from Tharchin. 1949 December 2. Thanking him for subscription., 1949


Box 6 Folder 3 Letter from an aristocrat regarding business transaction.


Box 6 Folder 3 A note on political conditions in Tibet


Subseries 4, Miscellaneous Correspondence in English and Other Languages


Box 6 Folder 4 Christmas cards

(Includes photocopy of 1944 telegram from Rdo-ring taiji)


Box 6 Folder 4 Letter to daughter Bde chen by mother Dka' zlog


Box 6 Folder 4 Letter to American Consulate General by David L. Tenzin, 1964 August 10, 1964


Box 6 Folder 4 English translation(?) of letter from Thubten Kunphel [Thub bstan kun phel], 1938?

(An appeal to British Government to help so that "we all may go back to Lhasa without any troubles and safely in future")


Box 6 Folder 4 Other, (2 insert folders)


Subseries 5, Unidentified


Box 6 Folder 5 [Unknown] Letter in Tibetan from Yatung, 1954 May 17. On India postal paper with postmark from Yatung (1954 May 17) and Kalimpong (1954 May 19), 1954


Box 6 Folder 5 [Unknown] Handwritten letter in Tibetan cursive


Box 6 Folder 5 [Unknown] Handwritten letter in Tibetan cursive

(Letterhead contains insignia with indecipherable Tibetan letters and the initials "D.W.C.T.L.")


Box 6 Folder 5 Letter from Pharijong, 1949 May 4, 1949


Box 6 Folder 5 Letter to Tharchin from certain Trulku


Box 6 Folder 5 [Unknown] Handwritten letter in Urdu?, 1957


Box 6 Folder 5 Letter regarding Rev. Evan Mackenzie's memorial, 1935 February 6, 1935


Box 6 Folder 5 Letter from Rhenock House, Sikkim, 1947 April 21, 1947


Box 6 Folder 5 Letter from Tripati Building, 1947 July 29, 1947


Box 6 Folder 5 Letter from [Hebbing?] about children at R.K. Vedanta Ashram, 1950 June 19, 1950


Box 6 Folder 5 Letter from Tharchin, 1944


Box 6 Folder 5 Letter from Tharchin [to Political Officer in Sikkim?] requesting a favor on his travel to Tibet, 1946 September 26, 1946


Box 6 Folder 5 Letter from Tharchin, 1948 September 20, 1948

(Recipient is writing a history of Tibet; includes reference to Dge 'dun chos 'phel, Bacot, and [Theos] Bernard; backside of photocopy contains distribution statement.)


Box 6 Folder 5 Letter from Tharchin, discussions missionaries, gramophone records, American officials, Theos Bernard, etc., 1950


Box 6 Folder 5 Note from Tharchin about translation of Guru Rinpoche


Box 6 Folder 5 Envelope from Rimshey Dodey, Pharijong, 1949


Box 6 Folder 5 Envelope with Kalimpong postmark, 1953 November 20, 1953


Box 6 Folder 5 Envelope to Ms. Geeta Gazmere


Box 6 Folder 5 Receipt for letter to Mr. Zigtuk Bhutia with "Rhenock" postmark, 1956 April 26, 1956


Box 6 Folder 5 Letter to Ra Mo Sa Heb. Handwritten in Tibetan


Subseries 6, Letters transcribed by H.L. Fader [biographer]

Hand-transcribed excerpts of letters to and from various correspondents, originally viewed by Fader among the Tharchin papers in Kalimpong, India.


Box 6 Folder 6 Geshe Wangyal, references to, 1948-1953, (1 page)


Box 6 Folder 6 Inaba, Shoju, 1959, (2 pages)

(Regarding study at Otani University, work on the Hu lan Deb ther, and Tibetan Grammar)


Box 6 Folder 6 Lha Tshering


Box 6 Folder 7 Miscellaneous, 1930-1953

(Below are just a few of the names mentioned in these transcribed letters.)


Box 6 Folder 7 David Tenzin


Box 6 Folder 7 Dorje,Y.S. [Migmar?]

(Regarding death of Pandatsang)


Box 6 Folder 7 Gould, Basil


Box 6 Folder 7 Illion, Theodore


Box 6 Folder 7 Kazi S.T.


Box 6 Folder 7 Knox, R.


Box 6 Folder 7 MacDonald, David


Box 6 Folder 7 Mukhi, D. H.


Box 6 Folder 7 Nima Isaacs


Box 6 Folder 7 Pemba Tsewang


Box 6 Folder 7 Roerich, George