Sheldon H. Harris papers, 1942-2002

Collection context

Summary

Creators:
Harris, Sheldon H.
Abstract:
Writings, correspondence, photocopies of government documents, photographs, sound recordings, video tapes, and printed matter, of an American historian relating mainly to biological warfare, especially as conducted by Japan in China before and during World War II. Includes research material used in the preparation of the book by S. H. Harris, Factories of Death: Japanese Biological Warfare, 1932-1945, and the American Cover-up (London, 1994).
Extent:
53 manuscript boxes, 2 oversize boxes, 2 videocassette boxes, 9 sound cassettes, 1 oversize folder, digital media (22.0 Linear Feet)
Language:
English
Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], Sheldon H. Harris Papers, [Box no., Folder no. or title], Hoover Institution Library & Archives.

Background

Scope and content:

The papers of Sheldon Harris consist of correspondence; photocopies of government documents; photographs; printed matter; sound recordings; video tapes; and writings relating mainly to biological warfare, especially as conducted by Japan in China before and during World War II. They include research materials used in the preparation of the book, Factories of Death: Japanese Biological Warfare, 1932-1945, and the American Cover-Up.

Sheldon Harris was one of the researchers responsible for bringing to light the facts of Japan's war crimes against humanity. The materials draw attention to atrocities committed by Japan in China between 1931 and 1945. They shed light on experiments carried out by the scientists and doctors of Unit 731 of the Japanese army by exposing human subjects to poisonous gases and infectious diseases. They also raise some controversial issues, such as an alleged immunity deal and possible cover-up between American and Japanese scientists, the question of reparation to the victims, and Japan's responsibility.

An acknowledgement of Japan's experiments with biological weapons and their use against the Chinese people came from a Japanese court shortly before Harris's death.

Biographical / historical:
Date Event
1928 August 22
Born, Brooklyn, New York
1949
A.B. (cum laude), Brooklyn College (now Brooklyn College of the City University of New York)
1950
A.M., Harvard University
1955
Married Sheila J. Black
1957-1958
Instructor in history, Brooklyn College (now Brooklyn College of the City University of New York)
1958
Ph.D., Columbia University, New York
1958-1963
Associate professor of social science, Bradford Durfee College of Technology (now Southeastern Massachusetts University), Bradford, Massachusetts
1962
Recipient, Roger Benjamin Foundation Award
1963-1964
Recipient, American Council of Learned Societies research grant
1963-1966
Assistant professor, California State University, Northridge
1966
Visiting professor, University of California, Los Angeles
1966-1969
Associate professor, California State University, Northridge
1969-1991
Professor of history, California State University, Northridge
1971
Recipient, American Philosophical Society grant for research in England
1972
Author, <emph render="italic">President Johnson's Decision to Intervene in Vietnam</emph>
Author, <emph render="italic">Paul Cuffe: Black America and the African Return</emph>
1973
Author, Prohibition
1979
Author, Blue's Who's Who: A Biographical Dictionary of Blues Singers
1986
Author, I Remember: Eighty Years of Black Entertainment, Big Bands, and the Blues: An Autography
1994
Author, Factories of Death: Japanese Biological Warfare, 1932-1945, and the American Cover-Up
1996
Author, Writers Directory
2002 August 31
Died, Los Angeles, California
Acquisition information:
Acquired by the Hoover Institution Library Archives in 2004
Physical location:
Hoover Institution Library & Archives
Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Access and use

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], Sheldon H. Harris Papers, [Box no., Folder no. or title], Hoover Institution Library & Archives.

Location of this collection:
Hoover Institution Library & Archives, Stanford University
Stanford, CA 94305-6003, US