Taiwan’s Institute of Modern History at the Academia Sinica (IOMH-AS) signed a memorandum of cooperation with the Hoover Institution Library & Archives at Stanford University in the United States today (October 8). The IOMH-AS expressed that the two institutions will deepen cooperation in areas such as sharing archival materials, academic research, and researcher exchanges, further connecting the historical research resources of modern Taiwan, China, and East Asia between Taiwan and the United States.
Dr. Ray Shiang-lin, the director of the IOMH-AS, stated in his speech that the key objective of this memorandum is to “conduct joint research, share, and publish archival materials.” Due to geographical distances, researchers from East Asia and the United States often need to invest a substantial amount of time and resources to access each other’s archival collections.
Dr. Shiang-lin emphasized that through this collaboration, the exchange and utilization of archival collections between the two institutions will be promoted, allowing researchers from both regions easier access to relevant historical materials. It is also hoped that copies of some archives will be stored in each other’s collections in the future, enhancing accessibility and reducing the costs of researchers accessing materials across borders.
Dr. Eric T. Wakin, the Deputy Director of the Hoover Institution and Director of the Library & Archives, mentioned that archives should be open to everyone, not limited to a single collection, and through sharing archives, the connections between institutions can be strengthened. He expressed that the signing of this memorandum is expected to open up new avenues for researchers from both sides to access historical materials.
The IOMH-AS specializes in the study of modern Taiwan, China, and East Asian history, with its archival repository having a history of over 70 years and being one of Taiwan’s oldest archival institutions. It has long archived important historical materials related to modern diplomacy, economy, personal documents, organizations, and maps. The collection currently comprises over 5 million physical items and over 17 million digital images, while actively promoting archival organization, digitization, research applications, and international exchanges.
The Hoover Institution is a renowned American public policy think tank, with its Library & Archives established in 1919. It has long been dedicated to collecting materials related to wars, revolutions, and peace, making it one of the largest archival institutions in the United States, with collections from 171 countries and nearly 7,000 collections. Additionally, it houses around 1 million books and journals, along with 100 TB of digital archives, focusing on Taiwan and modern China as important collection areas.
Following the signing ceremony, Director Wakin delivered a keynote speech titled “Hoover Institution Library & Archives: Past, Present, and Future,” elaborating on the evolution of the Hoover Institution Library & Archives from archival gathering to a global research and knowledge platform. In recent years, it has actively promoted digitization, international cooperation, and the continuous collection of archives related to Taiwan. Plans for the future include preserving important historical records, expanding digital utilization and international exchanges, promoting freedom of knowledge usage, and passing down precious cultural assets to the next generation.
The signing ceremony took place at the IOMH-AS Archives, with Director Ray Shiang-lin and Director Wakin representing their respective institutions in signing the memorandum. Several dignitaries also attended the event, including former Director of the National Museum of Taiwan History Yishen Chen, former Director of the IOMH-AS Kewu Huang, and Miaofen Lu.