Department of History

Formerly restricted British Foreign Office files dealing with China, Hong Kong and Taiwan between 1919 and 1980. Collection includes diplomatic dispatches, letters, newspaper cuttings, political pamphlets, reports of court cases and other materials, this collection represents a constant exchange of information between London and the British embassies and consulates. Due to the unique nature of the relationship between Britain and China, these formerly restricted first-hand accounts provide unprecedented levels of detail into a turbulent period in Chinese history.

The collection provides, from a British perspective, an overview of the Nixon presidency, its international impact, and the Watergate scandal. Top-level Anglo-American discussions and briefing papers dominate these papers. There is also a wealth of material on social conditions, domestic reforms, trade, culture and the environment.

Explore a collection of digitized primary sources depicting, from a primarily Western perspective, trade and cultural exchange with China from the 18th through the 20th centuries. Material types include correspondence, illustrations, maps, official papers, periodicals, personal accounts, manuscripts, photographs, and printed books. Original materials are from libraries and archives from around the world, including the School of Oriental and African Studies in London and the British Library.