CU-Boulder alumnus Yongyi Song, a librarian and researcher at Dickinson College in Pennsylvania who was arrested in China while conducting research on the Cultural Revolution, will speak about his work on April 20 from noon to 2 p.m. at the University of Colorado at Boulder.
The talk will be in the Center for British Studies in Norlin Library.
Song's presentation will last about an hour and will be followed by a question-and-answer period and reception. The talk is free and open to the public.
Song has pioneered research on China's Cultural Revolution, which lasted from 1966 to 1976 and is considered one of the most important events in the history of 20th century China. Song received his master's degree from the department of East Asian languages and civilizations in 1992.
"We are pleased to welcome Yongyi Song back to CU," said Jim Williams, dean of libraries at CU-Boulder. "Mr. Song worked in the University Libraries' East Asian Library while studying for his master's degree at CU. It is an honor to have him return to present this important research material in our academic community."
Because of the Chinese government's ban on research on the Cultural Revolution, valuable historical documents, which are not archived, are being lost every day, according to Melissa Gray, information officer for Norlin Library. Consequently, very limited studies have been published in mainland China. The study of China's Cultural Revolution is being conducted only outside of China, she said.
Internationally renowned for his research on the Cultural Revolution, Song is a dedicated librarian who has made major contributions in collecting, organizing and disseminating research materials on the subject.
In the summer of 1999, Song was arrested by the Chinese government while on a trip to China to collect material on the Cultural Revolution.
His wife, Helen Yao, also was arrested and imprisoned for more than three months because she was with him at the time of his arrest. Under enormous pressure from the international scholarly community and human rights watchers, the Chinese government eventually released Song and his wife.
The University of Colorado and the University Libraries participated in efforts to gain the Songs' release, Gray said.
Song's lecture will present a unique opportunity for the university community to understand the Chinese Cultural Revolution and efforts to research it, as well as the human rights situation for intellectuals in China, she said.
Song's wife, Helen Yao, also will be available to answer questions.
The program is co-sponsored by the Center for Humanities and the Arts, the East Asian Libraries, the Center for East Asian Studies, the department of East Asian Literature and Civilizations and the history department.