Routledge - The Development Of The Chinese Collection In The LOC

Explore the history of the largest Chinese collection in the Western world with this academic study from Routledge. This book provides a deep look into how the Library of Congress built its massive repository, starting from an initial exchange of 950 books in 1869. Through the research of Professor Hu, readers can track the growth of this collection as it expanded to over 430,000 volumes by 1977. The text examines the social, cultural, and political forces that shaped this development. It is an essential resource for those interested in library science, Chinese history, and the preservation of rare materials. This historical study covers the acquisition of significant works, including 2,000 rare Chinese items. Some of these precious volumes date back as far as A.D. 975, making this a vital record of how global knowledge is collected and maintained in major institutions.