Researching Agnes Smedley in China

Abstract

In writing a biography of Agnes Smedley (1892–1950), the writer-activist and long-time friend of China, the need to collect materials in China is obvious. In March of last year co-biographer Jan MacKinnon, myself and our two children arrived in Peking for a month of research work on Agnes Smedley. Our purpose was to examine archival materials (papers and possessions which were sent to Peking with her remains after her death in England) and to interview Chinese comrades who knew and worked with her in the 1930s and 1940s. Our host organization (although we were economically self-supporting) was the Chinese Association for Friendly Relations with Foreign Countries. Beforehand they had checked on the feasibility of what we wanted to do and thereafter were enormously helpful in facilitating all aspects of our work. It was they who were most responsible for the success of our trip. In the course of three weeks in Peking and a further four days in Shanghai, we conducted long interviews with 13 Chinese comrades of Smedley, and examined in detail the relevant holdings of three history museums and one library.