Guide to the Roy Maxwell Talbot Papers
Processed by North Bay Regional and Special Collections staff at Sonoma State University Library
University Library
Jean and Charles Schulz Information Center
Sonoma State University
1801 E. Cotati Avenue
Rohnert Park, California 94928
Phone: (707) 664-4152
Email: northbayinfo@sonoma.edu
URL: http://library.sonoma.edu/regional/
© 2007
Sonoma State University. All rights reserved.
Guide to the Roy Maxwell Talbot Papers
Accession number: 105
University Library
Jean and Charles Schulz Information Center
Rohnert Park, California
Contact Information:
- University Library
- Jean and Charles Schulz Information Center
- Sonoma State University
- 1801 E. Cotati Avenue
- Rohnert Park, California 94928
- Phone: (707) 664-4152
- Email: northbayinfo@sonoma.edu
- URL: http://library.sonoma.edu/regional/
- Processed by:
- The Sonoma State Special Collection/University Archives staff
- Encoded by:
- Gabriela A. Montoya
© 1998 Sonoma State University. All rights reserved.
Descriptive Summary
Title: Roy Maxwell Talbot Papers
Accession number: 105
Creator:
Talbot, Roy Maxwell, 1881-1963
Extent: Number of containers: 12 boxes
Repository:
Sonoma State University Library
North Bay Regional and Special Collections
1801 E. Cotati Avenue
Rohnert Park, California 94928-3609
Language:
English
Administrative Information
Note
Publication Rights
The library can only claim physical ownership of the collection. Users are responsible
for satisfying any claimants of literary property.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item]. Roy Maxwell Talbot Papers. North Bay Regional and Special Collections, University Library, Sonoma
State University.
Biography
Roy Maxwell Talbot (1881-1963) began his career with the Chinese Maritime Customs in 1908. He served as Commissioner of Customs
from 1935 until 1938, when he became Audit Secretary in the Inspectorate General's Office. He was in that position until 1942.
He served in Canton, Icheng, Nanking, Shanghai, Harbin, Swatow, Kongmoon, Aigun, Antung, Changsha, Amoy and Kunning. In July,
1932, Talbot was arrested by Japanese officials in Amtung, Manchuria for refusing to hand over Chinese customs revenues. In
1941, he was held in the Bridge House, an infamous dungeon, for 42 days. Talbot's detention by the Japanese created an international
incident. Newspapers around the world carried headlines of an arrest of an "American employed by the Chinese".
Scope and Content
Diaries, photographs, personal correspondence, a radio script, copies of official papers, artifacts and ephemera document
the life of “China hand”, Roy Maxwell Talbot. Talbot worked in China as a Customs Service Agent from 1908-1942. The diaries
contain the greatest depth of information. The subjects in most photographs are not identified.
Container List
Box 8
Customs Service Related Documents
Folder 1.
Shipping related documents and lists
Folder 2.
Loose Correspondence and Documents
Folder 3.
Talbot's writings - newspaper articles and reports
Folder 4.
General customs service related documents -- 1914-1932
Folder 5.
General customs service related documents -- 1941-1944
Folder 6.
Staff contribution accounts
Folder 7.
Published material about the customs service
Folder 8.
Newspaper clippings about customs
Folder 1.
Correspondence -- no date
Folder 2.
Correspondence 2/18/1919-4/21/1943
Folder 6.
Miscellaneous and unidentified writings
Box 10
Artifacts and Memorabilia
Box 11
Correspondence Books -- 1914-1915, 1925-1929
