Research papers of Patrick Devereux Coates on British consular officers in China

The collection comprises papers, created by P.D. Coates as part of the research for his book The China Consuls . They include correspondence with former consular staff, notes taken whilst researching materials in the Public Record Office and notes from printed and non-printed sources. A list of the...

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Date(s) of creation: 1841-1990
Level: Collection
Format: Archive           

Reference number: PP MS 52
Summary: The collection comprises papers, created by P.D. Coates as part of the research for his book The China Consuls . They include correspondence with former consular staff, notes taken whilst researching materials in the Public Record Office and notes from printed and non-printed sources. A list of the China Consuls 1843-1939 is also included.
Main author: Coates; Patrick Devereaux (1916-1991); diplomat
Extent: 5 boxes
Admin history: Patrick Devereux Coates was born in 1916. Following his education at Trinity College, Cambridge he entered the Consular Service, having decided to learn Chinese and work for the Chinese Service. Between 1937 and 1941 Coates was posted to Peking, Canton and Kunming. He was then attached to the Chinese 22nd Division in Burma, and to Chinese forces in India from 1941 to 1944.

From 1944 to 1946 Coates was Acting Chinese Secretary to the British Embassy in China. He then returned to Britain and worked first for the Foreign Office ... View more
Acquisition: Donated in 1994.
Arrangement: The papers are arranged in the following categories: correspondence; list of China Consuls; files containing notes on materials held in the Public Record Office; research from printed sources; research from unpublished materials. P.D. Coates had a careful filing system by which each page of a file was given a running number. He weeded some of the less important letters from correspondence files, and mention is made in the list where it is known that letters were weeded.
Access status: Open
Access conditions: Files 7-9 and part 28 Stored with collection in separate box
User restrictions: For permission to publish, please contact Archives & Special Collections, SOAS Library in the first instance
Language: English
Chinese
Finding aids: Unpublished handlist
Format: Archive           
Subjects:
Access Points - Person, Corporate & Family Names:
Name Code Person, Corporate or Family Name Type of Entity
GB/NNAF/P149138 Coates; Patrick Devereaux (1916-1991); diplomat Person
GB/SOASNAF/C281 Great Britain; Foriegn Office; Consular Service; China Corporate
GB/NNAF/C62038 University of London; School of Oriental and African Studies Corporate
Access Points - Places:
Place Code Place Name
1816670 Beijing
1814991 China
7729894 Eastern Asia
1809858 Guangzhou
1804651 Kunming