Compiled by
Elizabeth Johnston Lipscomb
Catherine Ehrman Thoresen '
23 and William E. Thoresen Professor of English, Emerita
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Introduction to the Collection
Contents of Box 1
Contents of Box 2 (restricted access)
Folder labeled "PSB letters":Note that letters and photographs from this collection are filed in restricted access location
Folder labeled "PSB articles/pamphlets":
Typescript: Stulting family genealogical information, including children of Caroline Stulting Sydenstricker
Pages from May 1937 issue of Asia containing articles by Mohandas Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, and Rabindrath Tagore
Pages from March 1939 issue of Asia containing "The Birth of a New China" by Lin Yutang
Typescript of "The Miracle," headed "Story number four" "Pearl S. Buck." 10 pages, last page or pages missing
Folder with drawing of Green Hills Farm on cover, text of PSB commentary, "transcribed from a tape made by Pearl S. Buck on April 8, 1972." Handwritten annotations (not PSB's)
Page from April 1936 issue of Asia, "Asia Mail," a letter signed Pearl S. Buck
Page from August 1936 issue of Asia, "Asia Book-Shelf, Conducted by Pearl S. Buck"
Page from November 1931 issue of Asia, "Along the Trail with the Editors," photograph and two paragraphs on PSB, announcing the publication of "The First Wife" in the next two issues
Pamphlet: "On Discovering America" by Pearl S. Buck, c1937, Survey Associates, Inc.
Pamphlet: "An Autobiographical Sketch of Pearl S. Buck, Author of East Wind: West Wind, The Good Earth, The Young Revolutionist and Sons," The John Day Company
Pages from the December 1950 issue of the Ladies Home Journal, "Room in the Inn" by Pearl S. Buck
Photocopy of a page headed "Pearl S. Buck, a prologue by the author," reflecting on The Good Earth
Photocopy of a page from the May 1962 issue of Suburbia Today, "a Visit . . . by Pearl Buck"
Photocopy of two-page article from October-November 1971 issue of unidentified magazine, "Essay on Life" by Pearl S. Buck
Photocopy of one page "Foreword" by Pearl S. Buck, addressed to the "Pupils of Woodstock School"
Photocopy of article from July 1971 issue of Yankee magazine, "A Dream for Danby" by Pearl S. Buck
Pamphlet: "Can the Church Lead?" by Pearl S. Buck [no date]
Pamphlet: "The Church Can Lead if You and I make up our minds and take appropriate action: by Harold A. Hatch [no date]
Pages from the November 1953 issue of the Woman's Home Companion, "A Husband for Lili," a story by Pearl S. Buck
Mimeographed speech, "Liberal Education in our Times" with handwritten note, "Presumably written by PSB—date unknown"
Folder labeled "Various Lists of PSB Books":
Supplement to Lucille S. Zinn's "The Works of Pearl S. Buck: A Bibliography" compiled by Jean Sherk, wife of Warren Sherk
Two letters from Gale L. Raphael, attorney, to Charles M. Solomon, attorney, accompanying 19-page inventory of manuscripts by Pearl S. Buck held in Boston by Raphael and Raphael
Handwritten chronological list of works by PSB
List of PSB magazine sales from 1966-1973, provided by Patricia Powell of Harold Ober Associates for Lillian Wolfson of the Pearl S. Buck Foundation and memo from Ms. Wolfson to "Dan"
Typed list of "Novels & Novellas either published in magazines or unsold"
Typed list headed "New Catagories [sic]" with handwritten note from E.M.L. [?] "These were categories suggested by Mr. Harris when I was reading mms [sic] for the purpose of bringing together groups of stories, etc. appropriate for collections to be published in book form."
Typed list headed "List of Novellas, Short Stories, Serials—not published in book form"
List addressed to Mr. Harris and Miss Loun of PSB books "just re-issued" and "already in print"; separate list of books "For Younger readers"
Letter from Patricia Powell of Harold Ober Associates to Lillian Wolfson of the PSB Foundation accompanying a copy of "The Christmas Child" and a synopsis of "The Christmas Tree in All the World"; memo from Ms. Wolfson to "Dan"
List of PSB books published since 1969 belonging to the PSB Foundation
The same list headed "with all rights belonging to PSB Foundation"; a number of titles are crossed off in red
List of titles "Not Sold (according to Ober records):"
Handwritten chronological list of books published 1930-1966
Alphabetical list headed "Pearl S. Buck Books" with information on copyright, and "Trust" [unexplained]
"Complete Listing of Pearl S. Buck Book Titles & Copyright year"
"N. Y. Times Index (Listings under titles Books and Fiction, and under author's Name), covering 1929-1940
26-page typed "Bibliography"; included information on translations
"Addendum to List of Books Published since 1965"
Folder labeled "WAS/PSB/EAST WEST":
Page containing message, "As One Sees It," by PSB, sent from the East and West Association
Two copies of pamphlet inviting membership in the East and West Association, "Let the People Be Heard: An Educational Program to Promote World Peace" with message from PSB
Annual Report of the East and West Association, July 1, 1946-June 30, 1947
Bulletin, "People Through Books, December 1946-January 1947, published for the Library Service, The East and West Association. Contains commentary by PSB on Indians in South Africa
Pamphlet listing speakers available through the East and West Association, 1948
Page containing the text of an award from the East and West Association to James Y.C. Yen
Pamphlet listing speakers, musicians, dancers available through the East and West Association, Fall 1948-1949
Letter from Baldwin, Todd & Lefferts, Counsellors at Law, to Warren Sherk, enclosing copy of letter to A. Cowan, refuting his accusation that the East and West Association was a Communist front organization
Two copies of pamphlet introducing artists for 1949-1950
Poster listing speakers for 1949-1950
Poster for "Rhythms of the Red Man," children's program sponsored by the East and West Association
Memo from the East and West Association listing speakers for 1950-1951
Two copies of brochure, "The East and West Association, Pearl S. Buck, President, Presents Pablo Garrido"
Three copies of brochure, "The East and West Association, Pearl S. Buck, President, Presents Mbonu Ojike"
Brochure, "The East and West Association, Pearl S. Buck, President, Presents Induk Pahk"
"The East and West Association, Pearl S. Buck, President, Present Taik Won Cho in dances of Korea with Sun Yong Kim"
Flyer on speaker, Dr. Eddy Asirvatham, of Madras, India
Mimeographed notice from the East and West Association introducing "Jean Leon Destine and his group of Haitian Dancers and Drummers"
Mimeographed notice from the East and West Association introducing Leila Doss, Egyptian lecturer
Flyer on speaker Alisa Klausner Eskol of Palestine
Flyer on "Gina, Dances of India"
Flyer on Noami Aleh Leaf, dancer
Mimeographed notice from the East and West Association introducing Tom Two-Arrows, American Indian
Brochure introducing "Red Gate Players Presenting Chinese Shadow Plays"
"The East and West Association: A Picture Portfolio, Life of a Family in China," a collection of photographs with brief commentary
Folder labeled "PSB/ INDIA LEAGUE OF AMERICA":
Brochure, "India Independence Day," enclosing list of guests for dinner honoring Mrs. Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit, January 26, 1945
Invitations for various India League events
Brochure and guest list for India League dinner honoring Mrs. Pandit, May 24, 1949
Brochure and guest list for India League dinner honoring Jawaharlal Nehru, October 19, 1949; also enclosed are clippings about Mrs. Pandit and Prime Minister Nehru
Annual Report of the India League, 1951
Folder labeled "NEWS CLIPPINGS":
Numerous clippings, some loose, some mounted, of interviews, reviews, obituaries, fund-raising appeals, and other items related to PSB
"A Biographical Sketch of Pearl S. Buck," published by the John Day Company, including bibliography of works published up through 1968
Issues of People, published by the East and West Association:
Volume 3, numbers 5-9 (January-June, 1948)
Volume 4, numbers 1-7 (1948-1949) [two copies of number 2]
Issues of Asia magazine:
June 1941
October 1941 (second installment of Dragon Seed)
November 1941 (third installment of Dragon Seed)
April 1942
May 1942 Special Supplement (contains "Freedom for All," speech by PSB)
August 1942
November 1942 (Part I of The Promise)
January 1943 (Part III of The Promise)
February 1943 (Part IV of The Promise)
March 1943 (Part V of The Promise)
April 1943 (Part VI of The Promise)
May 1943 (Part VII of The Promise)
June 1943 (Part VIII of The Promise)
July 1943 (Part IX of The Promise and "China Speaks to America--a Radio Play" by PSB)
March 1944
June 1944
September 1944
October 1944 ("Will This Earth Hold?—A Radio Play" by PSB)
January 1945, Section 2, "Tell the People: Talks with James Yen about the Mass Education Movement" by PSB)
March 1945
May 1945 ("Talks with Masha: Part I" by PSB)
June 1945 ("Talks with Masha: Part II)
July 1945 ("Talks with Masha: Part III)
August 1945 ("Talks with Masha: Part IV")
September 1945 ("Talks with Masha: Part V)
October 1945 ("Talks with Masha: Part VI")
November 1945 ("Talks with Masha: Conclusion")
May 1946 ("Questions Indians Ask Me" by PSB)
October 1946 ("The New Traveler in China" by PSB)
Announcements of merger of Asia magazine with United Nations World and
issues of United Nations World:
March 1947 ("Woman of the World [Madame Pandit]" by PSB)
April 1947 ("Americans in Distress" by PSB)
October 1947 ("Listen to the People, United Nations" by PSB)
December 1948 ("The People Will Be Free—the meaning of the chaos in China" by PSB)
August 1950
Folder labeled "Pearl S. Buck—Warren Sherk Collection (East-West Association)
Correspondence":Letter from PSB to WAS, New York, January 28, 1948
Carbon copy of letter from WAS to Swami Ashkonanda, March 4, 1948
Carbon copy of letter from WAS to PSB, August 4, 1948
Letter from Dorothea Bredal, secretary to PSB, to WAS, New York, August 10, 1948
Carbon copy of letter from WAS to Mrs. Richard Walsh (PSB), August 20, 1948
Letter and envelope from PSB to WAS, Perkasie, August 25, 1948
Carbon copy of letter from WAS to Mrs. Richard J. Walsh (PSB), September 1, 1948
Letter (handwritten) from PSB to WAS, September 6 (?), 1948
Letter from PSB to WAS, New York, September 9, 1948
Carbon copy of letter from Baldwin, Todd &
Lefferts, counselors at Law to A. Cowan, ESQ.
Response to accusation that the East &
West Association is a "Communist front" organization
Letter from PSB to WAS, New York, October 13, 1948
Letter from PSB "TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN," introducing WAS, New York, October 13, 1948
Draft(?) of two-page letter from WAS to PSB, October 21, 1948
Letter from PSB to WAS, New York, October 22, 1948
Letter from PSB to WAS, New York, December 20, 1948
Letter from PSB to WAS, New York, January 22, 1949
Draft of letter from WAS to PSB, January 30, 1949
Letter from PSB to WAS, New York, February 7, 1949
Handwritten letter (unsent?) from WAS to PSB, February 12, 1949
Letter from Ruth Shinno, Bookkeeper of the East & West Association, to WAS, February 17, 1949
Carbon copy of letter from WAS to Mrs. Lyman, Buffalo Public Library, March 8, 1949
Letter from PSB to WAS, Perkasie, April 8, 1949
Carbon copy of letter from WAS to PSB, May 4, 1949
Letter from PSB to WAS, New York, May 9, 1949
Carbon copy of letter from WAS to Miss Jess Byrd, Salem College, May 14, 1949
Carbon copy of letter from WAS to PSB, June 7, 1949
Letter from PSB to WAS, New York, June 9, 1949
Carbon copy of letter from WAS to PSB, July 5, 1949
Letter from PSB to WAS, New York, July 5, 1949
Letter from PSB to WAS, Perkasie, July 15, 1949
Carbon copy of letter from WAS to PSB, July 27, 1949
Letter from PSB to WAS, Perkasie, August 3, 1949
Letter from PSB to WAS, New York, August 10, 1949
Letter from PSB to WAS, New York, September 22, 1949
Financial crisis of East & West Association, end of WAS's position
Carbon copy of letter from WAS to PSB, September 24, 1949
Letter from PSB to WAS, New York, December 2, 1949
Letter from PSB to WAS, Perkasie, September 2, 1950
Letter from PSB to WAS, Perkasie, September 5, 1950
Letter from PSB to WAS, Perkasie, April 24, 1951
Letter from PSB to WAS, Perkasie, July 5, 1951
Letter from PSB to WAS, Perkasie, December 23, 1951
Letter from PSB to WAS, Perkasie, December 5, 1952
Letter from PSB to WAS, Perkasie, April 26, 1954
Letter of recommendation for WAS from PSB to Dr. Herrick Young, Western College for Women, Perkasie, April 26, 1954
Letter from PSB to WAS, Perkasie, August 26, 1954
Letter from PSB to WAS, Perkasie, November 5, 1954
Critique of manuscript of novel by WAS
Letter from PSB to WAS, Perkasie, September 14, 1956
Letter from PSB to WAS, Perkasie, February 6, 1959
Letter from PSB to "Mr. and Mrs. Sherk," Perkasie, February 14, 1961
Letter from PSB to WAS, Perkasie, February 5, 1962
Folder labeled "Photographs" [most used as illustrations in WAS's book, Pearl S. Buck: Good Earth
Mother; several are identified by captions in the books]:
PSB cutting cake at her eightieth birthday party
Portrait of young PSB
Signed portrait of mature PSB
Portrait in cardboard labeled "for front of dust jacket"
Portrait of PSB in later years
Photograph of painting of PSB
PSB with two Amerasian children
PSB in later years, smiling broadly
Enlargement of PSB cutting birthday cake in her later years
PSB's desk at Green Hills Farm
WAS with large version of PSB commemorative stamp
Room at Green Hills Farm
Oval portrait of PSB
Enlargement of WAS with commemorative stamp
Exterior of Green Hills Farm
Three photos, each containing two Chinese prints
Absalom and Carie Sydenstricker as young couple
Absalom Sydenstricker as young man
PSB in later years seated at microphone in garden
Page of photographs of movie and television actors
PSB with small child
PSB with two Amerasian children
PSB with small child
Caroline, Pearl and Grace Sydenstricker [identified in WAS book]
PSB in later years, smiling broadly
PSB with King of Sweden at Nobel Prize ceremony
PSB as young girl
Postcard portrait of PSB, 1936
Living Room at Green Hills Farm
Office in the Cottage at Green Hills Farm
The old barn at Green Hills Farm
Richard J. Walsh
PSB as child with baby (Grace)
Portrait of PSB in later years
Photograph on page labeled "One of Pearl's favorite pictures taken with two Amerasian children"
PSB's bedroom at Green Hills Farm
Green Hills Farm in the snow
Photograph on page labeled "Pearl Comfort Sydenstricker as an infant"
Photograph on page labeled "Pearl at age 8 holding her baby sister Grace"
Photograph on page labeled "The living room where I often met with Pearl and Richard. In the background is the main library"
Photograph on page labeled " Rare photograph of Mr. and Mrs. Walsh with Janice and four of their adopted children taken in front of Pearl's birthplace at Hillsboro West Virginia"
Photograph on page labeled "Picture of the author [WAS] and the first day cover at the dedication of the Pearl S. stamp in 1982. The children's play house and part of the barn are in the background."
Photograph on page labeled "Pearl's final resting place at the farm with her name written in Chinese characters. Her grave has been visited by thousands of people from all over the world."
Photograph on page labeled "The old barn which served as the world headquarters of the Pearl S. Buck Foundation from 1964-1988. It now serves as the gift shop and reception area for tours. Her home is in the background."
Dining room at Green Hills Farm
Photograph on page labeled " Pearl's office at Green Hills Farm where she did her writing"
Folder labeled "Telegrams":
Dorothea Bredal, secretary to PSB, to WAS, August 1948
PSB to WAS, Perkasie, October 22, 1948
PSB to WAS, February 7, 1949
PSB to WAS, July 2, 1949
PSB to WAS, January 19, 1949
Folder labeled "Photograph Negatives":
Eleven envelopes containing negatives
Empty Envelope with numbered list of photographs
site last modified on December 7, 2007
Graphics adapted from a photograph taken of the Summer Palace in Beijing, China
© Frances E. Webb 2000