University of Washington Libraries, Special Collections
4180 (Accession No. 4180-005)
Pierson, Emily
Emily Pierson papers
1939-1994
1950-1970
1.38 cubic feet (3 boxes)
Collection
materials are in
English.
Papers of a physician, teacher, suffragette and world traveler who was Anna Louise Strong's friend
Physician and suffragist Emily Miller Pierson (1881-1971) was born in
Connecticut. Pierson graduated from Vassar College in 1907 and later received
an MA in English from Columbia University. Following her graduation, she taught
English to high school and college students for a number of years. Pierson was
an activist in the women’s suffrage movement and in 1909 became a Connecticut
state organizer for the movement. After the adoption of the 19th amendment in
1920, Pierson began studying at the Yale School of Medicine. She graduated with
an MD in 1924 and established a medical practice that lasted for 40 years. In
the 1930s, Pierson studied at the Institute of Socialism in Moscow, USSR.
Additionally, she traveled to China in the late 1950s and early 1960s to visit
her long-time friend and fellow activist Anna Louise Strong.
Sources:
Special To the New York Times. “Dr. Emily Pierson, Early Suffragette.”
The New York Times, January 26, 1971.
https://www.nytimes.com/1971/01/26/archives/dr-l-pierson-early-suffragette.html.
Materials are arranged by material type.
The Emily Pierson Papers include correspondence, publications by Anna
Louise Strong, notes, photographs, film, brochures, and other materials that
document Pierson’s life as an activist and her interest in the Communist
movements in China and the USSR. Pierson’s correspondents include Anna Louise
Strong, Rewi Alley, and Harrison E. Salisbury. Of note is Pierson’s travel
diary, ephemera, and a small collection of photographs relating to her 1958 and
1962 visits to the People's Republic of China.
No restrictions on access.
Request at UW
Anna Louise Strong's rights transferred to Libraries. Quotation
permitted for Pierson's writings.
Donated by Anne Pierson Tobey, 5/15/92, 11/29/92, 3/2/94, 8/4/94.
Processing completed in 1993
Pierson, Emily--Archives
Wallace, Henry Agard, 1888-1965
Strong, Anna Louise, 1885-1970
Alley, Rewi, 1897-1987
Salisbury, Harrison E. (Harrison Evans), 1908-1993
China--Politics and government--1912-1949
China--Description and travel
Journalism--United States
Women journalists--United States
Women physicians--United States
Personal Papers/Corporate Records (University of Washington)
Women
Photographs
Diaries
Sound Recordings
1/1
Biographical materials about Emily
Pierson written by her daughter Anne Pierson Tobey and about Anna Louise
Strong
approximately
1940-1990
1/2-11
Correspondence from Harrison E.
Salisbury, Anna Louise Strong, and others to Emily Pierson
1947-1969
1/12-17
Correspondence from Emily Pierson
to Anna Louise Strong and others
1951-1969
2/1-6
Speeches and writings by Anna
Louise Strong about China, the USSR, and communism
approximately
1939-1962
2/7-15
Publications by Anna Louise
Strong
approximately
1950-1965
Publications include "Inside North Korea," "Letter from China,"
"The Stalin Era," "Today" volumes I and II, "When Serfs Stood up in Tibet," and
"Why do Chinese 'refugees' 'escape' to Hong Kong?"
3/1-3
Pierson's notes and research
materials about her travels to China and the USSR and about the medical
field
undated
3/4-5
Travel diary, notes, pamphlets, and
brochures from trip to China
approximately
1961-1962
3/6
Photographs of Anna Louise Strong
and Emily Pierson in China and other locations
undated
3/7
16 mm film of Anna Louise Strong
taken in Cromwell, Connecticut with a description of the film written by Anne
Tobey
undated,
1994
3/8
Travel itineraries, lists of
newspaper articles sent to Strong, and list of items Strong left at Pierson's
house in Cromwell, Connecticut
approximately
1950-1968
3/9
Ephemera
approximately
1950-1960, 1980
Cards with artwork and a quote by Mao Zedong; brochure from the
American Russian Institute; map of China; flier advocating for the end of US
military intervention in Korea; articles about manufacturing in China; press
release from the US Progressive Party; newsletters from the Connecticut
Volunteers for Civil Rights; fliers from the Joint Anti-Fascist Refugee
Committee; and issues of the periodical "China Reconstructs"
3/10
Newspaper clippings primarily about
China, the USSR, and Anna Louise Strong
approximately
1948-1970
3/11-13
Correspondence between Emily
Pierson and Rewi Alley regarding China; and Alley's speeches and writings about
China
approximately
1960-1970
3/14
Phonodisc recordings of Michael
Loring performing "Great Day" and "There's Magic in that Ballot" for the Henry
Wallace presidential campaign
1948