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This letter gives news of Dorothy Needham’s health and mentions taking a celebratory cake and flowers for Joseph and Dorothy’s diamond wedding anniversary.

This letter expresses regret that Georges Métailié is unable to visit Cambridge as planned and recommends a visit to the Asco Trade Typesetting Company (which provided Cambridge University Press with Chinese type). Also 1 letter from H.J. Weber (Manager of Asco Trade Typesetting Ltd, Hong Kong) to Joseph Needham and H.J. Weber’s business card. This letter is annotated by Joseph Needham stating that he visited on 19 Oct. 1981.

These letters relate to preparations for the foundation stone laying ceremony, blue tiles for the building, a bronze sculpture of Joseph Needham (by Nigel Boonham, recommended by Stephen Keynes) for the front entrance, acceptances for the ceremony and news of the Needham Research Institute. Includes a photocopy letter from Tan Sri Tan Chin Tuan [丹斯里陳振傳] regarding guests for the reception with a list containing contact information for invitations to be sent.

These letters relate to obtaining back copies of Kao gu xue bao and Wen wu can kao zi liao and binding them in Hong Kong. Some items are photocopies or duplicates. Includes a handwritten note from Joseph Needham to Lu Gwei-Djen asking if she thinks they could pay in Hong Kong dollars and a handwritten note from [Michael Salt] to Joseph Needham giving a quote for binding Wen wu can kao zi liao from Cambridge University Press.

This letter expresses thanks for arrangements being made for Joseph Needham and Lu Gwei-Djen’s visit, confirms that copies of brochures relating to the East Asian History of Science Library and the fundraising appeal will be sent to Hong Kong, and approval of the plan to enlarge the Board of the Hong Kong Trust.

This letter asks Joseph Needham to act as a referee for a consultancy position with the World Health Organisation, offers an invitation to stay with him in Hong Kong, and enquires about the next volume of Science and Civilisation in China.

Hu Cho-Jen may be the person who interviewed Joseph Needham: Hu Chü-Jen (胡菊人) of Chung Pao Monthly (Zhong bao yue kan 中報月刊)]. These letters relate to the return of gifts with the comment ‘it is not my practice to accept material rewards for giving the kind of interview, or engaging in the sort of conversation, which the five of us had together that day.’

This letter relates to the purchase of journal back numbers from Kao gu xue bao and Wen wu can kao zi liao, also sending his slides from Yunnan (subjects include boats on Lake Erhai near Dali, the market at Xiaguan, house building). Also an annotated handwritten note about missing volumes of the journals in the East Asian History of Science Library from [Michael Salt] to Joseph Needham.

This photocopied letter relates to the foundations for the new Needham Research Institute building, fundraising in Hong Kong and the United States, and the first East Asian History of Science Foundation lecture given on 20 Oct. by Joseph Needham.

This letter gives news of Muriel [Moyle]’s health.

This letter relates to the health of Dorothy Needham and Muriel Moyle.

The letter dated 19 Aug. 1981 is a copy of one in NRI2/5/8/11/2/1. It relates to potential donors to the appeal for funds for the East Asian History of Science Library and endowment. Incudes a handwritten report of his meetings with Cao Tianqin [Tshao Thien-Chhin 曹天欽].

This letter requests a meeting to discuss Joseph Chen [Chen Cheng Yih] and sends articles.

This letter relates to meeting in China or Hong Kong, mutual friends such as Iain Orr, Peter Lisowski, Cliff Shillinglaw and Li Tsung-Ying, also requests a brochure ‘describing the prospective building plan’ for the East Asian History of Science Library.

This letter is written in Chinese and was transmitted by Chen Lifu from the Council for the Chinese Cultural Renaissance. Qiu Fupei mentions admiring Science and Civilisation in China (which he read in translation, sponsored by Chen Lifu ), comments on the invention of gunpowder, with some suggested corrections. He also comments on the Great Wall. Includes the envelope.

This letter relates to correction of proofs for the foreword to Dictionary of Tools.

This letter confirms the reservation of rooms for Joseph Needham and Lu Gwei-Djen.

This letter makes arrangements for a dinner reception.

The letter sends regret that they did not meet and encloses a letter (not present here) from Ivy Soh.

This letter requests help in obtaining a copy of ‘The Grand Titration’ and suggests she write an article with Joseph Needham on ‘Language and Law’.

This letter mentions Ma Hai-te [George Hatem], his wife Sufei and grandson Ma Jun, travels within China including a visit to the old capital of the Pohai kingdom, and expresses regret that he cannot travel to Cambridge. Includes a poem by Rewi Alley entitled ‘Again On Course.’

The letter expresses regret that they cannot meet, also gives news of his family and travels. Includes a carbon typescript of his poem ‘The Loin Cloth’ written ‘After reading a news dispatch from South Vietnam’.

This letter is a note sending ‘apologies and love’ and enclosing a poem about Joseph Needham written by Rewi Alley and published in English in Ta Kung Pao. Includes a cutting and a photocopy of the poem.

This letter expresses regret that they did not meet in Beijing.