Arthur Christy Papers

SC-82
Christy, Arthur, 1899-1946.
12 Boxes (13 linear feet)
1927-1946 (bulk:)

Introduction
The Arthur Christy Papers highlights Christy’s academic interests on the influence of Oriental (Indian and Confucian) themes upon American literature, particularly as seen in the writings of Emerson, Thoreau and other New England Transcendentalists, through manuscripts, translations and chapters for books, as well as class notes and other course-related materials.

Provenance: The circumstances of the donation of the collection is uncertain, however the collection was received by Wheaton College in 1979.

Restrictions: There are no restrictions on this collection. Duplication may be restricted if copying could cause damage to items.

Collection Description
The Arthur Christy collection is categorized according to personal and professional manuscripts. Private papers contain correspondence to and from friends, professors and editors. The public papers contain manuscripts, articles, translations and chapters for books, many with handwritten corrections and jottings by Christy. Class notes and other coursework are also featured, along with essays profiling literary and anthropological subjects. Book and article manuscripts emphasize Christy’s focus on the influence of Oriental (Indian and Confucian) themes upon American literature, particularly as seen in the writings of Emerson, Thoreau and other New England Transcendentalists. Christy’s research displays a tremendous breadth of reading and acute analytical ability. Of particular interest are Christy’s notes for his proposed Thoreau Fact Book, unpublished at the time of his death. The papers are contained in 12 boxes, comprising 13 linear feet.

Biographical/Historical Sketch
Arthur Edward Christy was born of missionary parents in China in 1899. At sixteen years of age he came to the United States. He received his A.B. from Wheaton College (1922), and his A.M. (1926) and Ph.D. (1932) from Columbia University. In 1927 Christy was an instructor of English at Washington Square College (a part of New York University). Between 1930 and 1945, Christy served on the faculty of Columbia University's Department of English and Comparative Literature and directed the Masters program in English. In 1935 he was awarded a Guggenheim Fellowship for Intellectual History and American Literature. He spent one year as Professor of American Literature at the University of Illinois in 1945 before he died of a heart attack on July 8, 1946. Christy's major sphere of study was that of eastern literary influence in the western world. His interest in comparative literature appeared in his dissertation The Orient in American Transcendentalism. The work is a study of the readings in oriental literature of Emerson, Thoreau and Alcott. Articles authored by Christy include two devoted to Whittier's orientalism and one to Lanier's. Christy edited The Asian Legacy and American Life for the East-West Association and had completed a great deal of the work toward his unfinished Thoreau Fact Book. Christy did publish an article on a portion of his research in the Colophon (vol. IV, part XVI, March, 1934). In 1941 Christy approached the National Council of Teachers of English asking them to share in some ideas on intercultural relations. Upon the council's appointment of Christy to chair a specially created committee on comparative literature, he revealed the following projects: a bibliographical Guide to Comparative Literature and Intercultural Relations; The Comparative Literature Newsletter; a cooperative volume of essays entitled, The World Through Literature (published posthumously in 1951); and an anthology of world literature for use in college courses entitled, World Literature: An Anthology of Human Experience.

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