Chinese Literature Translation Archive

The Chinese Literature Translation Archive is made up of four distinct collections: 

• Wai-lim Yip Collection: Professor Emeritus of University of California-San Diego, Yip is commonly regarded as the founder of the field of Chinese-English Comparative poetics and a prolific translator of Chinese poetry into English and English poetry into Chinese. With a career spanning two languages, many monographs, and anthologies of translations, Yip is one of the most important figures in Translation studies East West. The archive holds letters, teaching materials, unpublished manuscripts, and more.
• Wolfgang Kubin Collection: One of Europe’s most productive and well-known translators of Chinese poetry with over 100 books to his name, Kubin is a household name in Chinese literary circles for his public views and scholarly contributions to contemporary Chinese literature. The archive includes several thousand important documents (letters, drafts, news clippings, and other historical documents).
• Howard Goldblatt Collection: Arguably the most prolific and influential American translator of Chinese Literature, Howard Goldblatt’s 40+ translated novels, several anthologies and many essays and articles have made him one of the most well-known translators of our time. The collection includes Goldblatt's personal papers (letters, drafts, notes, and other important papers) and over 6,000 volumes from his personal library.
• "William Bikales and Margaret Eliot Grady Collection" of Arthur Waley: The William Bikales and Margaret Eliot Grady Collection includes a complete set of Arthur Waley's published work, assembled over 40 years by William G. Bikales and Thomas Goldwasser. It includes most of Waley’s personal copies of his own books, a collection of correspondence from him, and many source materials used in his own translation work. The collection also contains rare editions of Classical Chinese texts and works by Chinese modernist writers, linking Waley to the founders of Chinese modernism associated with the May 4th Movement.

For more information, visit the Chinese Literature Translation Archive Collecting Initiative page.

Anyone can use the Chinese Literature Translation Archives materials regardless of their university affiliation or geographic location. We require appointments to view collections in person as some of our materials are stored offsite. Our staff are available for in-person, virtual, and email consultations if you need assistance with your research. Collection materials may not be checked out and are made available for use in the Duane H.D. Roller Reading Room on the 5th floor of Bizzell Memorial Library.

To view materials in person, request an appointment.

To request assistance with distance research, please email us.

Visit our Research Services page for more information.

The Special Research Collections user services team welcomes discussions with faculty about integrating primary sources from our collections into teaching and research activities.

Visit our Instruction Services page to learn more.

You can use these links to identify research materials:

• Archival Collection Finding Aids: This database contains inventories, also known as finding aids, for archival collections in Special Research Collections.
• Library Catalog: This database includes records for books, journals, and archival collections located in the Special Research Collections at the University of Oklahoma Libraries.

You can also find these resources on the Search Special Research Collections page.

New Digital Collections Platform

The University Libraries is beta testing a new digital repository platform. The purpose of the University of Oklahoma Libraries' digital collections is to provide free online public access to high-resolution digital images of OU Libraries Special Research Collections materials to enhance scholarship, teaching, and community engagement. We invite you to explore the new beta site and share your feedback to help us improve.