Chronology of Bentley Library and China Exchange Program
First delegation at the Bentley Library, 1999
- 1982:Bentley hosts delegation of five archivists from China
- 1987: Margie Barritt and Nancy Bartlett co-edit "Visiting Archives in China" by Eva Moseley and "Archives in the People's Republic of China Revisited" by William Moss for The American Archivist
- 1989: University of Michigan, principally Bentley and School of Information and Library Studies, hosts Second European Conference on Archives, with participation from China
- 1990: Xu Yuqing in residence at Bentley as Mellon Research Fellow, with resulting article "Differences and Similarities in Chinese and American Approaches to Archives" co-edited by Margie Barritt and Nancy Bartlett for The American Archivist
- 1995: Wang Lan and Li Yuming in residence for three months at Bentley in preparation for International Congress on Archives (ICA) to be held in Beijing in 1996
- 1995: Bill Wallach to International Council on Archives EASTICA branch meeting in Macau, organized by Chinese members of ICA
- 1996: Margie Barritt, Nancy Bartlett, and Fran Blouin to China for International Congress on Archives
- 1997: Liu Yunming in residence at Bentley as Mellon Research Fellow, with resulting article "Documenting the History of Minorities and Ethnic Groups: A Comparative Study of China and the U.S." co-edited by Nancy Bartlett and Wang Lan for special issue of International Council on Archives Janus on "Archives of China"
- 1998: Fran Blouin and Nancy Bartlett to China for discussions on establishment of Joint Seminar between State Archives Administration of China and Bentley
- 1999: Agreement on Cooperation Between Foreign Affairs Office of the State Archives Administration of China and the Bentley Historical Library of the University of Michigan co-signed, to establish a long-term relationship in archival cooperation and exchange
- 1999: Nancy Bartlett to China for International Council on Archives Seminar on Archival Legal Matters
- 1999: First delegation of Chinese archivists in Ann Arbor for Joint Seminar on Archival Methods
- 1999: Nancy Bartlett and Wang Lan co-edit special issue of International Council on Archives Janus on "Archives of China"
- 1999-2000: Renmin University Associate Professor Zhou Xiaomu at Bentley Historical Library as visiting scholar
Fourth delegation, Bentley Historical Library courtyard, 2006
- 2000: First Bentley delegation to China [Fran Blouin, leader; Tom Powers, and Bill Wallach]
- 2001: Second delegation of Chinese archivists in Ann Arbor for Joint Seminar on Archival Methods
- 2002: Second Bentley delegation to China [Nancy Bartlett, leader; Jim Craven, Nancy Deromedi, and Ann Flowers], with resulting publication of Jim Craven's presentation "Not Perfect, But Just Right: A Tour of the Conservation Area, Bentley Historical Library"
- 2002: Agreement on Cooperation Between Foreign Affairs Office of the State Archives Administration of China and the Bentley Historical Library of the University of Michigan co-signed, to extend the original agreement signed in 1999 and to remain in effect until 2009
- 2004: Third delegation of Chinese archivists in Ann Arbor for Joint Seminar on Archival Methods
- 2005:Third Bentley delegation to China [Bill Wallach, leader; and Greg Kinney, Karen Jania, Brian Williams]
- 2005: Nancy Bartlett to China for first-round discussions on joint project on "Archives as Culture: A Comparison of American and Chinese Systems and Traditions"
- 2006: Bentley Historical Library publishes The University of Michigan and China: 1845-2006," edited by Nancy Bartlett, bulletin 52
- 2006: Bentley Historical Library serves on May 18 as venue for luncheon meeting with 22 delegates from China (including 17 presidents of Chinese universities) during the Michigan-China University Leadership Forum
Bentley Delegation meets National Archivist of China in Beijing, 2007
- 2006: Fourth delegation of Chinese archivists in Ann Arbor for Joint Seminar on Archival Methods, continuing in Washington, DC and New Haven
- 2006: Fran Blouin and Nancy Bartlett of the Bentley Historical Library, and Du Mei of the State Archives Administration of China, to speak at annual conference of Society of American Archivists on "Questioning Culture: Comparing the Culture of Archives in China and the United States"
- 2007: Fourth Bentley delegation to China [Fran Blouin, leader; and Nancy Bartlett, Elizabeth Yakel from the U-M School of
Information and Christine Weideman, Yale University Manuscripts and Archives]
- 2009: Fifth delegation of Chinese archivists in Ann Arbor April 11th - May 7th for Joint Seminar on Archival Methods, continuing in Washington D.C. and New Haven.
- 2009: Fifth Bentley delegation to China [Fran Blouin, leader; Nancy Bartlett, Diane Hatfield, and Olga
Virakhovskaya, Bentley Historical Library; Mike Loviska, Information and Technology Services, University
of Michigan; and Kevin Glick, Manuscripts and Archives, Yale University.]
A new accord is signed in Beijing to continue the joint seminar for the years 2010-2015.
On the occasion of the signing of the accord, the national archivist of China, Yang Dongquan, presents the Bentley delegation with a volume of essays entitled "American Archives in the Eyes of Chinese Young Archivists: Reports on the SAAC - Bentley Historical Library Joint Seminar Program (1999-2009)."
The symposium "Sharable Experiences: Ten Years of State Archives Administration of China - Bentley Historical Library Archival Cooperation" occurs during the delegation visit to Nanjing, with over forty Chinese "alumni" of the seminar program in attendance.
Delegation leader Zhou Cong presents director Francis Blouin with official gift April 2009.