Alley, Rewi, 1897 - 1987 (farmer, teacher, social reformer, peace activist, writer)
Found in 45 Collections and/or Records:
Copy of a letter from Joseph Needham to Rewi Alley in China, asking him if he could make sketches of the pictures of horses attached to carts in the cave paintings of Chienfotung, Kansu, China, and discussing other matters, 1947-05-05
Other matters discussed include an autobiographical poem by Alley; Needham's work at UNESCO.
Copy of a letter from Joseph Needham to Rewi Alley in Peking, asking for information on how the 'huge nail-studded wheels on the Peking carts used to be made', 1958-10-14 - 1958-11-21
The documents also include Alley's reply.
Correspondence with K. R. Gilbert and W. K. V. Gale of the Newcomen Society, about an album of photographs taken by Rewi Alley of the activities of the 'backyard blast-furnace' movement, and related document, 1965-03-05 - 1965-06-05
The correspondence comprises copy of a letter from Needham to Gilbert, originally accompanying the photograph album; copy of 2 letters from Gilbert; copy of a letter from Needham to Gale about the possible publication of 'a short article on traditional and quasi-traditional methods of iron smelting and casting in China, based on a few of the best photographs in the album.'; postcard of reply from Gale. The related document is a copy of a report on the album prepared by Gale.
Envelope containing photographs of 'excerpts from 3 early Chhing (?) scroll maps of Yellow River showing dykes and conservancy works', and attached notes by Joseph Needham, 1954-12-22
The photographs were sent to Needhamby Rewi Alley. The documents also include an empty envelope originally containing photographs from Alley of 'excerpts from Ming scroll map of Yellow River, Huan basin, Grand Canal, Yangtze, and dykes and sluices'. The photographs have Joseph Needham's detailed descriptions on the reverse.
Envelope containing photographs of 'excerpts from a Ming scroll map of the Yangzte R. some 15' long', 1954-12-22
The photographs were sent to Joseph Needham by Rewi Alley and include the 'floating bridge at Wuhu'.
Envelope containing photographs of the Ming tombs, Peking, China, and local boys they met at the tombs, taken during Joseph Needham's visit with Rewi Alley, 1952
Needham notes that 'some photos may possibly be from RA's film and not on mine'.
Envelope containing Rewi Alleys 'photo of Wu Tsê Thien's tomb figure', 1955-02
The photograph is from Alley's 'A Visit to Two Ancient Capitals', (February 1955).
Letter from John Combridge of Ilford, Essex, about developments in the study of the history of horology, copy of Joseph Needham's reply, and series of enclosures provided by Combridge, 1976-03-05 - 1976-03-25
Letter from Rewi Alley at Peitaiho [Hubei Province, China] praising the volume and discussing other matters, 1976-07-20
Others matters discussed include Alley's excursion to North West China to 'look at reconstruction after the 1975 earthquake there'; the invention of a cure for vitiligo by 'two old Uighur doctors' in Sinkiang Province. Attached to the letter are two poems by Alley written whilst in Sinkiang Province entitled 'Karakoya' and 'On visiting the Hsiang Pei Tomb at Kashgar'.
Letter from Rewi Alley at the Shandan Bailie School, Gansu, China, about a Joseph Needham request for reproductions of images of the equine harness from the caves and other matters,, 1948-06-30 - 1948-07-02
Other matters discussed include a visit to Tunhuang by Dr. Phei Wen-Chung, discoverer of Peking man; visit by the British Ambassador and Hung-Ying Bryan; the problem of providing food and clothing for the 520 people dependant on the school. The documents also include a painting by Ho I [和翼 / He Yi], one of Alley's pupils.
Letter from Rewi Alley in Guangchou, China, about a trip to Hainan Province and other matters, 1979-02-02
Alley explains that the trip to is to 'go to Lu Hwei Tou (the Deer turns its head) in Hainan to try and bring out a presentation of the T'ang lover of nature…'. Other matters discussed include the tourist trade in China.
Letter from Rewi Alley in Lungchuan, Chekiang, China, about his tour of various small industries in the province, and attached information about ancient Chinese swords made at Lungchuan [龍泉 / Long Quan], 1974-11-03 - 1974-11-13
This series contains files on each topic set out in Joseph Needham's grand plan for 'Science and Civilisation in China'.
Letter from Rewi Alley in Peking about a 'Ming dynasty engineering feet at Sandan' and related document, 1954-04-16
The letter describes 'a local effort which brought the water from Chinghai through the passes of the Chi Lien Mountains (Nan Shan) and watered a great area of West Kansu countryside. The related dcoument is the story about the project copied from 'an old tablet'.
Letter from Rewi Alley in Peking, about 'peasant dredges in the Canton rivers' and other matters, and related document, 1961-06-27 - 1961-07-07
Other matters discussed include Alley's book on the Great Leap Forward in the hinterland; a proposed book on simple iron and steel furnaces. The related documents is a New China News Agency Bulletin report entitled 'Ancient Chinese irrigation project discovered' about 'a weir built with rice stalks and clayey soil two thousand years ago for irrigation..'.
Letter from Rewi Alley in Peking, China, about his observations of spinning wheels and belt drives in rural North-West China and other matters, 1954-12-14
Other matters discussed include the geological ideas of Chu Hsi of the Sung dynasty; Alley's ''Sunday Afternoon' story at Sandan'. The documents also include a photograph of a block-spoked driving-wheel, used for spinning hemp, flax etc., taken by Joseph Needham at Dunhuang, Gansu, 1943; photograph of a man preparing material for spinning, (probably the same place and date).
Letter from Rewi Alley in Peking, China, about the Chen Family House in Sandan, and related documents, 1956-09-10 - 1956-11-05
Alley describes the house as a 'Five Dynasty structure, with a wide base, almost pyramid in its construction - pyramid with the top cut off and a Chinese roof.' The related documents comprise photographs of the house; letter from H. Courtney Archer in Canterbury, New Zealand, commenting on the house.
Letter from Rewi Alley in Peking, China, thanking Joseph Needham for a copy of the volume and discussing other matters, 1974-10-14
Other matters discussed include a Summer visit to Peitaiho [Hubei province]; a trip 'into the hinterland' during which he saw 'gold mining done the old way'; his books on 'Travels' to Chinese provinces; China's progress in the third World and help from the U.S.A.
Letter from Rewi Alley in Peking congratulating Joseph Needham on the volume, discussing a 'Five-Dynasty form' house in Sandan [Peking] and theories of early voyagers, 1971-06-01
These files of correspondence are particularly interesting as they provide an insight into people’s opinion of the volumes. Joseph Needham opened a file each time a volume was published.
Letter from Rewi Alley in Shuangshihpu, Shensi, China, about notes written for Chang Kwanglien relating to the bringing of economic power to the family or the family substitute group, and related documents, 1944-01-05 - 1944-01-06
Alley's letter describes how Chang wants to 'write a study of the beginnings of cooperation in China'. He also mentions receiving the typhus vaccine; departure of Joseph Needham's truck; training of water conservancy technicians in China.
The related documents comprise a copy of a letter from Alley to Chang; copies of notes relating to subject of family prepared by Alley for Chang.
Letter from Rewi Alley in Taiyuan, Shanxi, China, about the construction of a Sung dynasty temple in the city and other matters, 1958-11-03
Other matters discussed include 'a bronze ball bearing run, with the iron ball bearings rusted in it' and bronze cog wheels in Taiyuan Museum; Alley's tour of China 'looking at the leap forward'. The documents also include preparatory work for the an illustration of the bronze roller-bearings produced on page 94 of 'Science and Civilisation in China, Volume 4, Part 2'.
Letter from Rewi Alley of Beijing, China, thanking Joseph Needham for copies of the volume and 'Celestial Lancets' and attached poem by Alley entitled 'On Staying Along With China', 1980-11-17 - 1980-11-26
Some of the letters in this file do not relate directly to this volume and are more general in content.
Letter from Rewi Alley of Peking, China, about a set of stamps depicting early Chinese scientific discoveries and discussing American germ warfare, 1953-12-16
The documents also include examples of the stamps depicting the world's earliest compass; a seismoscope invented by Chang Heng; the first mileage counter in the world, invented in the third century A.D.; the armillary sphere. Also attached is a short explanation of the stamp subject matter.
Letter from Rewi Alley of Peking thanking Joseph Needham for a copy of the volume and the dedication and discussing other matters, 1966-01-09 - 1967
Other matters discussed include the threat of the 'US madmen' at which Alley comments 'I hope I shall at least be able to get your volumes off with me to some remote country village until the devil is beaten'; works published; a visit by Liang Fen-ren 'one of the little boys who camped by the wayside with us on the first truck break down..somewher near Tungwei'.
Letter from Rewi Alley of Peking thanking Joseph Needham for a gift copy of the volume, commenting on some points within and discussing his life travelling and in China, 1962-08-31
In relation to the book Alley mentions that he has a set of 'the knuckle bone game with bronze knuckle bones with different animals'; 'p. 342 the lopan pointer with a yang arrow on a yin base, I have seen in design in Djakarta Museum'; Shang and Chou bells with tongues.
Letters form Rewi Alley in Peking congratulating Joseph Needham on the book and discussing other matters, 1954-09-29 - 1955-01-12
Alley comments 'Your book is the most exciting thing I have had on my desk ever' and 'the make up is wonderful and the front covers superb'. He makes further comments on specific areas of the book. Other matters raised include Wang Yang-Ming; discussions with Bernal about 'training for industry'; possibility of making up an 'English kids book on Chinese Peasant rebellions'; taking of photographs of hydraulic works and other subjects for Joseph Needham; visit by Cedric Dover.