Cornell University: Wason Collection on East Asia

East Asian languages began being taught with Chinese in 1944 and Japanese in 1960. However, Cornell University began collecting books on East Asia in 1902. The initial Wason Collection was donated by Charles W. Wason in 1918. At the time of his donation, the collection included approximately 9,000 volumes.

Soon after Wason's donation, William Eliot Griffis also donated over 6,000 volumes of Japanese-language works, including books, periodicals, and maps. Since, Japanese-language acquisitions have been a focus of the collection.

For more information on the Japanese collection, please contact David McKee at 607-255-4737 or by email or You Lee Chun at 607-255-1685 or by email.

For all comments and questions about the Guide, please e-mail us:

mlaguide@nccjapan.net

Collection size: as of January 2014 the Wason Collection contained over 600,000 volumes of which 147,000 are in Japanese. The Wason Japanese Collection is particularly strong in pre-1600 history, premodern literature, 19th century literature, performing arts, and popular culture.

Notable collections:

• William Eliot Griffis Collection: In the early twentieth century, William Eliot Griffis donated approximately 6,000 titles to the library, including books, periodicals, and maps. Griffis was instrumental in the late nineteenth century to modern science education in Japan.

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The majority of the libraries at Cornell University are freely accessible by the public. Restricted databases are all accessible from on-site, public access terminals. The majority of library materials are shelved in open stack areas, which are accessible by visitors. Some areas may be restricted for unregistered patrons. Access to items housed in special collections may be requested at the holding library.

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