Scope and Contents: The E. Michael Hoffman Papers consist primarily of correspondence and photographs taken by Hoffman while he was in Japan and Manchuria with the Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA) from 1918 to 1920. Hoffman served in Yokohama, Japan, from November 1918 until February 1919, and then in Harbin, Manchuria until March 1920.
The heart of the papers, from 1918 to 1926, consists of about eighty letters written by Hoffman generally from Harbin and mainly to his family as well as others, and a “journal” that contains comments describing photographs taken in Manchuria and Lake Baikal. Additionally, there is also some music for a few Russian songs. A photograph album is also included, containing photographs taken by Hoffman in Japan and Manchuria, showcasing the everyday lives of the people there. Additionally there are photos taken around 1912 by Grace McConnaughey and later sent to Michael Hoffman. There are also several letters written by Hoffman, 1972-74, with his recollections of the 1918-20 period.
Topics Hoffman wrote about include his coworkers, the YMCA and its activities, American and other soldiers, bird life, and the Japanese, Chinese, and Russian people and their music, theater, and living conditions.
The letters and journal were microfilmed in 1973.
| Oberlin College Archives
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