Collection context
Summary
- Creators:
- Levenson, Joseph Richmond, 1920-1969
- Abstract:
- Correspondence with colleagues, friends, former students, etc.; MSS of his writings (books and articles) primarily on Chinese history and civilization; some related notes; biographical information and personalia; notes for course lectures and seminars.
- Extent:
- Number of containers: 5 boxes, 2 cartons
- Language:
- English
Background
- Biographical / historical:
-
Joseph R. Levenson was born on June 10, 1920, in Boston, Massachusetts. He attended Boston Latin School (1931-1937) and Harvard University, graduating magna cum laude in June 1941. In September he became a graduate student in Harvard's History Department, but with U.S. entrance into World War II, Levenson spent the next five years in the Navy. In 1946 he returned to Harvard and was awarded his A.M. in 1947 and his Ph.D. two years later, having written his dissertation on Liang Ch'i-ch'ao under the direction of John K. Fairbank. After spending three years as a Junior Fellow of Harvard's Society of Fellows (1948-1951), he accepted an assistant professorship at the University of California, Berkeley, where he remained the rest of his distinguished career. In 1965 he was appointed Sather Professor of History. Levenson died in a boating accident on April 6, 1969.
During Levenson's lifetime, five of his books were published, including Liang Ch'i-ch'ao and the Mind of Modern China and the three volumes comprising the trilogy, Confucian China and Its Modern Fate. Another four books were published posthumously. In addition he published thirty-six articles and numerous book reviews.
- Physical location:
- For current information on the location of these materials, please consult the Library's online catalog.
Access and use
- Location of this collection:
-
University of California, Berkeley, The Bancroft LibraryBerkeley, CA 94720-6000, US
- Contact:
- 510-642-6481