Lei Chen 雷震 papers, 1960-1977

Summary

Creators:

Lei, Zhen, 1897-1979

Abstract:

The Lei Chen 雷震 papers (1960-1977) relates to Lei Chen (1897-1979), a human rights activist, liberal thinker, and vigorous political opponent of Chiang Kai-shek and Kuomintang rule in post-1949 Taiwan. The collection, consisting of Lei Chen's memoir, correspondence, and writings dated 1960-1977, primarily relates to the pro-democracy movement in Taiwan.

Extent:

2 manuscript boxes (0.8 Linear Feet)

Language:

Chinese

Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], Lei Chen 雷震 papers, [Box no., Folder no. or title], Hoover Institution Library & Archives.

Background

Scope and content:

Lei Chen (Lei Zhen, 雷震, 1897-1979) was a human rights activist, liberal thinker, and vigorous political opponent of Chiang Kai-shek and Kuomintang rule in post-1949 Taiwan. Acquired by the Hoover Institution in 2007, the collection, consisting of Lei Zhen's memoir, correspondence, and writings dated 1960-1977, primarily relates to the pro-democracy movement in Taiwan.

Lei Zhen launched the Free China Journal in 1949. Due to the journal's pro-democracy stance and criticism of Chiang Kai-shek, Lei was arrested for treason on September 4, 1960, and sentenced to ten years in prison. The magazine was subsequently shut down.

While in prison, Lei wrote a four million character memoir chronicling his life and thoughts on democracy, freedom of speech, and an open society. However, the memoir and most government records regarding the controversial "Lei Zhen Incident" have either disappeared or been destroyed.

During the last two years of his life, Lei attempted to reconstruct the memoir. The result was a five chapter, three hundred thousand character manuscript titled The Black Book of Forming a New Party (Lei Zhen Huiyi Lu Zhi Xin Dang Yundong Hei Pi Shu) that described Lei's vision for Taiwan's democratization process, constitutional reform, and future prospects.

Included in the collection is a draft of this manuscript and letters to his children and other family members. Portions of this memoir, as well as family letters were published in 2003. The collection also includes unpublished material such as the first chapter of the manuscript, and additional correspondence.

Biographical / historical:

Date	Event
1897 June 25	Born, Zhejiang province, China, nè Yonglong
1916	Studied in Japan; entered the Chinese Revolutionary Party (Zhonghua Geming Dang)
1926	Graduated from Kyoto Imperial University; entered law school to study constitutional law
1928	Instructor at the Central Military Academy
1929	Professor of Law at National Central University
1931	Kuomintang (KMT) Special Municipalities Committee member
1932	Chairman of the KMT National Congress in Nanjing
1933	Chief of the Department of Education's General Administrative Affairs Office
1937	Member of the Military Affairs Commission
1943	Deputy Secretary General of the People's Political Council
1945	Appointed by Chiang Kai-shek as Secretary General of the Political Consultant Conference
1946	Deputy Secretary General of the National Assembly
1947	Minister without Portfolio
1949	Launched the first issue of the Free China Journal
1950	Presidential policy advisor, Central Bank board member
1952	Secretary General of the Sino-Japanese Cultural and Economic Association
1960	Sentenced to 10 years in prison by Chiang Kai-shek
1970 September	Released from prison
1979 March 7	Died, Taipei, Taiwan

Acquisition information:

Acquired by the Hoover Institution Library Archives in 2008.

Physical location:

Hoover Institution Library & Archives

Rules or conventions:

Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Indexed terms

Places:

Taiwan -- Politics and government -- 1945-1975

Restrictions:

The collection is open for research; materials must be requested in advance via our reservation system. If there are audiovisual or digital media material in the collection, they must be reformatted before providing access.

Terms of access:

For copyright status, please contact the Hoover Institution Library & Archives.

Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], Lei Chen 雷震 papers, [Box no., Folder no. or title], Hoover Institution Library & Archives.

Location of this collection:

Hoover Institution

Hoover Institution Library & Archives, Stanford University

Stanford, CA 94305-6003, US

Contact:

(650) 723-3563

hooverarchives@stanford.edu

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