Nicholas Publishing Company records, 1971-2003
Summary Information
Abstract
At a Glance
- Call No.:
- MS#1985
- Bib ID:
- 14327474 View CLIO record
- Creator(s):
- Nicholas Publishing Company; Greenfield, Stanley R., 1925-
- Repository:
- Rare Book and Manuscript Library
- Physical Description:
- 0.42 Linear Feet (1 document box)
- Language(s):
- English .
- Access:
- You will need to make an appointment in advance to use this collection material in the Rare Book and Manuscript Library reading room. You can schedule an appointment once you've submitted your request through your Special Collections Research Account.
-
This collection is located off-site. You will need to request this material at least three business days in advance to use the collection in the Rare Book and Manuscript Library reading room.
Description
Content Description
The papers presented in this collection primarily contain Nicholas' correspondence with the aforementioned agencies of the US Government and the China National Publications Import Corporation (CNPIC). The orders Nicholas placed on behalf of the CNPIC, which averaged around 5,000 documents annually, were among the largest technical information purchases recorded by the Department of Commerce. One particular order, for example, was for the 10,000 microfiches (approximately 600,000 pages) of NASA documents from the 1960s. Nicholas' role in this large-scale information transfer was indispensable because at the time the US had not recognized the PRC, and all interaction between the two governments needed to go through private channels. After the two governments established formal diplomatic relations in 1979, CNPIC ceased placing orders through Nicholas and the relationship came to an abrupt stop.
Arrangement
Using the Collection
Conditions Governing Access
You will need to make an appointment in advance to use this collection material in the Rare Book and Manuscript Library reading room. You can schedule an appointment once you've submitted your request through your Special Collections Research Account.
This collection is located off-site. You will need to request this material at least three business days in advance to use the collection in the Rare Book and Manuscript Library reading room.
Conditions Governing Use
Single photocopies may be made for research purposes. Permission to publish material from the collection must be requested from the Curator of Manuscripts/University Archivist, Rare Book and Manuscript Library (RBML). The RBML approves permission to publish that which it physically owns; the responsibility to secure copyright permission rests with the patron.
Preferred Citation
Identification of specific item; Date (if known); Nicholas Publishing Company Records; Box and Folder; Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Columbia University Library.
Accruals
Materials may have been added to the collection since this finding aid was prepared. Contact rbml@columbia.edu for more information.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Gift of Rachel Greenfield, 2019.
About the Finding Aid / Processing Information
Columbia University Libraries, Rare Book and Manuscript Library
Biographical / Historical
Nicholas Publishing Company was founded by Stanley R. Greenfield in 1973. That year, Nicholas proposed to the People's Republic of China that it act as its acquiring book and document agent in the United States. From 1975-1979 Nicholas, as a registered foreign agent, was the sole representative of the PRC for the acquisition of all scientific and technical bibliographic materials from the United States, including serials, patents, US government documents, technical reports, juridical materials, and commercial databases. Nicholas performed its function with the concurrence of the White House, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Departments of State and Commerce.
Subject Headings
The subject headings listed below are found in this collection. Links below allow searches for other collections at Columbia University, through CLIO, the catalog for Columbia University Libraries, and through ArchiveGRID, a catalog that allows users to search the holdings of multiple research libraries and archives.
All links open new windows.