Nien Cheng Collection
Scope and Contents
The Nien Cheng Collection, dating from 1955 to 2009, includes material documenting the life and career of Madame Nien Cheng, celebrated author of Life and Death in Shanghai. The collection is comprised of an assortment of materials, including original manuscripts of Life and Death in Shanghai, with drafts handwritten by Cheng in Chinese, as well as other written works such as published articles, book introductions, and unpublished materials. Accompanying these are personal and professional correspondence, news clippings, periodicals, photographs, personal notebooks and appointment books, awards, lecture circuit records, audiovisual materials, and other memorabilia. This collection offers a comprehensive lens into Cheng’s creative process and the production of her memoir, first published in 1986. Beyond her authorship, the collection highlights her commitment to exposing human rights abuses and her profound dedication to her Christian faith. Together, these materials offer researchers a narrative of Cheng’s life during her post-publication years.
Dates
- 1955 - 2009
- Majority of material found within 1986 - 2009
Language of Materials
The collection includes material in multiple languages, primarily English. It includes a portion of material in Chinese, covering correspondence, publications, and various written works and papers. Some publications are in Japanese and Portuguese.
Conditions Governing Access
Access to the collection requires an advanced appointment. Many of the contents in Series 8: Audiovisual Material were professionally created by other organizations and under copyright, or may be still undergoing digitization efforts. For more information, please contact staff at rockarchives@sru.edu
Conditions Governing Use
The items in this collection are protected by copyright and/or related rights. You are free to use these items in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. In addition, no permission is required from the rights-holder(s) for educational uses. For other uses, you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s).
See In Copyright-Educational Use Permitted on RightsStatements.org for more infomation.
The Slippery Rock University Archives assumes no responsibility for copyright infringement by users. Contact the Archives at rockarchives@sru.edu for more information.
Biographical / Historical
Nien Cheng or Zheng Nian (1915-2009) is the pen name of Yao Nien Yuan. Imprisoned by the Red Guard in the People’s Republic of China from 1966 to 1973, she was the author of the New York Times bestselling memoir Life and Death in Shanghai. Born in Beijing, Cheng had an affluent upbringing, with her father also being a naval vice minister. By 1935 she began studying at the London School of Economics where she met her husband, Kang-chi Cheng. The couple later had a daughter, Meiping Cheng.
Kang-Chi Cheng, who passed away in 1957, was involved in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Shanghai and served as the Chinese ambassador to Australia. He later became the general manager of Shell Oil Company. As the widow of a diplomat and businessperson, and herself an adviser to Shell Oil Company, Cheng found herself in a politically dangerous position as the Cultural Revolution gathered strength in the 1960s. In 1966 she was arrested by the Red Guards and charged with espionage. For over six years, Cheng remained in solitary confinement at the No. 1 Detention House in Shanghai.
Upon her release in 1973, Cheng soon learned of the death of her daughter, Meiping, from an apparent suicide in 1967. The revelation was both heartbreaking, and a cause for suspicion for Cheng. After conducting a personal investigation into the matter, Cheng concluded that her daughter was murdered by the Red Guards for refusing to denounce her imprisoned mother. Several years after her release, Cheng left China to emigrate to Canada in 1980. She eventually found solace in the Washington D.C. area and became a U.S. citizen in 1988.
Life and Death in Shanghai, Cheng’s memoir of her experiences during the Chinese Cultural Revolution, was first published in 1986. Written in English, Life and Death in Shanghai has been translated into at least fourteen languages and sold across the globe. The memoir was an instant sensation and an inspiration to many as Cheng’s book rapidly ascended to the top of the New York Times bestseller list. In 1987 she was interviewed by the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), National Public Radio (NPR), Larry King, and by Morley Safer on 60 Minutes. Nancy Reagan, with whom Cheng’s story resonated, persuaded her husband, President Ronald Reagan, to invite Cheng to a White House state dinner.
Following the release of Life and Death in Shanghai, Cheng spent several years on the college and public lecture circuit sharing her story. Cheng first came to Slippery Rock University in 1987 as a guest speaker for the newly founded Academic Honors Convocation, where she received SRU’s first Humanitarian Award. After her visit, she forged a relationship with the University through the efforts of SRU Vice-Provost and Associate Vice President Louis Razzano. With Cheng’s blessing, Razzano created an endowed scholarship at SRU in 1989 in honor of her daughter Meiping, the Meiping Cheng Memorial Scholarship. Cheng bequeathed her library and personal papers to Slippery Rock University following her death in 2009.
Extent
24.14 Linear Feet (8 record cartons, 3 document cases, 12 archives boxes, two oversized flat folders.) : The archive is approximately 24.14 linear feet in size and the library contains 300+ hardback and paperback 20th-century to 2009 volumes in both English and Chinese.
Arrangement
This collection is arranged in eight series.
Series 1: Correspondence
A: Personal Correspondence
B: Professional Correspondence
C: Life and Death in Shanghai Publication Correspondence
Series 2: Meiping Cheng Memorial ScholarshipSeries 3: Writings
A: Life and Death in Shanghai Manuscripts
B: Other Published Works
C: Unpublished Works
Series 4: Photographic MaterialSeries 5: Papers and Records
A: General Personal Material
B: Professional Papers and Records
C: Lectures and Appearances
D: Notes and Research Material
Series 6: PublicationsA: News Clippings and Articles
B: Other Periodicals
C: Life and Death in Shanghai Press Releases
Series 7: Memorabilia and EphemeraA: Awards, Plaques, and Certificates
B: Textiles
C: Miscellaneous Items
Series 8: Audiovisual MaterialsImmediate Source of Acquisition
Donated by the estate of Madame Nien Cheng in 2010. Transferred to the University Archives by Ed Bucha, Executive Director of the Slippery Rock University Foundation.
Separated Materials
The personal library of Nien Cheng, donated with her personal papers, are available by request in the Nien Cheng Collection, Slippery Rock University Special Collections, Bailey Library room 311. Please contact rockarchives@sru.edu for more information.
- Autobiography
- Autobiography--Chinese authors
- Cheng, Meiping
- Cheng, Nien, 1915-2009
- China
- China--Foreign relations--United States
- China--History--Cultural Revolution, 1966-1976
- China--History--Cultural Revolution, 1966-1976--Personal narratives
- China--History--Tiananmen Square Incident, 1989
- China--Shanghai
- England--London
- Karnow, Stanley (1925-2013)
- Mao, Zedong, 1893-1976
- Razzano, Louis (1932-2017)
- Reagan, Ronald, President (1911-2004)
- Shell Oil Company
- Title
- Guide to the Nien Cheng Collection
- Status
- In Progress
- Author
- The finding aid was prepared by Sara Dickensheets. Audiovisual materials were digitized by Jared Negley.
- Date
- 2025
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
- Sponsor
- The processing of the collection and the digitization of the audiovisual materials was supported by Julia Yao, and Kevin, Angela, and Anna Chin, in collaboration with the Slippery Rock University Foundation.
Repository Details
Part of the Slippery Rock University Archives and Special Collections Repository
315 Bailey Library
Slippery Rock University
Slippery Rock PA 16057
724-738-2740
rockarchives@sru.edu