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Description: Personal papers (1981-1990, 1998, 2002) of Iris Chang (1968-2004) author/journalist and University of Illinois alumna (graduated 1989) including copies of newspaper articles written by Chang, course materials, syllabi, research materials and personal papers. The newspaper articles (1987-1988) written by Chang include copies from the Daily Illini, the Campus Voice and the Chicago Tribune. The course materials and syllabi document courses taken by Chang at the University of Illinois (1985-1989). Research materials include both unedited and edited German manuscript copies of "The Diary of John Rabe," (1937-1938) one of the principle primary sources for Chang's 1997 bestseller, The Rape of Nanking: The Forgotten Holocaust of World War II. Other research materials include background information for articles Chang wrote concerning Professor John Bardeen and the history of the transistor, AIDS, Toxic Mold, the University of Illinois Student Credit Union and Working Mothers. Personal papers include University High School documents and articles, resumes, letters of recommendation, correspondence and a class notebook, and CDs containing scans of family photographs, newspaper clipping coverage of the Rape of Nanking's publication, and Chang's personal copies of the proofs, first editions and translations of the Rape of Nanking (1992-2001), Thread of the Silkworm (1996), and The Chinese in America (2003). Also contains selections from Iris Chang's personal library including research books, books sent for review, books signed by the author, and signed presentation copies.
View finding aid and PDF box/folder list Articles listed in Chang's Original transmittal list but not found in boxes: https://files.archon.library.illinois.edu/uasfa/2620122_Supplement.pdf
Based on review of the Iris Chang file, restrictions were to be lifted as of January 1, 2017. The restricted rights statement was finally removed from the Archon record as of March 16, 2026.