J. Clayton Miller Papers
Scope and Contents
The papers of J. Clayton Miller primarily document Miller's time in China as a Shansi Representative from 1930 to 1932. Series I contains letters from Miller to his parents during his stay in China. Series III includes Chinese Maps collected in China. Motion picture film (not viewed by the Archives staff) documents Miller’s student missionary work in Shansi, China in the early 1930s. Miller’s insights into the situation in China and Japan during the 1930s are illustrated in his writings found in Series II. The writings in this series focus on topics such as Anti-Japanese Propaganda, Japan’s China versus China’s China, and military strategy in Northern China on the Hopei-Shansi-Chahar Border. Of particular interest are two letters written to the editors of Cleveland newspapers in 1938, in which Miller uses his first-hand experience to explain how Japan’s control over Chinese land was a strain on the Japanese Government, and how communism was not part of the Japanese restructuring plan in China. Also included are files concerning the history of the K’ung Bell and bell-stand, and the bell ringing ceremony on May 27, 1995 at the Allen Memorial Art Museum.
The collection is divided into eight series: 1. Correspondence; 2. Writings by J. Clayton Miller; 3. Maps; 4. Book Reviews; 5. Miscellaneous; 6. Files related to the K’ung Bell; 7. Diplomas and Certificates; and, 8. Moving Images.
Dates
- Creation: 1930-1997, undated
- Creation: Majority of material found in 1930-1941
- Other: Date acquired: 1995 March 20
Creator
Conditions Governing Access
Unrestricted.
Biographical Sketch
John (Clayt) Clayton Miller was born in Cleveland, Ohio, on February 7, 1909. He attended Oberlin College from 1928-30. While a student at Oberlin, he was involved in many student activities, including the Glee Club, the Outing Club, the Oberlin Review, The Oberlin Shansi Memorial Association, and the YMCA. He was also awarded intramural pins for handball and basketball. He graduated from Oberlin with B.A. in Political Science/Pre-Law in 1930, and an A.M. degree in 1933.
Upon graduating from Oberlin, Miller went on to serve as a Shansi Representative in China, from 1930-32. The events between July 18, 1930 and September 6, 1931, the first year Miller was in China, are well documented in letters he sent home to his parents. While in China, Miller collected maps of the region and photographs. He also shot 14 reels of 16mm film depicting missionary work in Shansi.
Upon returning from China, Miller pursued Public Administration at Syracuse University, earning a Masters of Science degree in 1949. He then went on to Columbia University where he earned a M.S. in Chinese. Miller is the author of several articles and book reviews relating to politics in Japan and China. Some of his articles include "Japan Turns Back the Clock" (1938) and "Japan's China vs. China's China" (1938). (See the inventory for more titles.) From 1951-56, Miller was involved in the National Committee for a Free Europe. He then went on to a position with the Ford Motor Company, in Dearborn, MI (1956-58), then to Development Resources Corporation, in New York City (1958-61). In 1961, Miller took a position in the U.S. Department of State, where he served as staff assistant/management analyst for the Veterans Administration. He retired from this job in 1980.
As a member of the Oberlin Alumni Association, Miller had a distinguished career. Miller served as admissions representative, class agent for ten years, and class president. In 1976, he was elected treasurer of the Alumni Association, and since then served on the Alumni Board, the Alumni Council and the Executive Committee/Board, including a two-year term as president of the Alumni Association. In 1990, at the class of 1930's 60th reunion, Miller was awarded the Alumni Medal for his service to Oberlin College. In 1996, Miller organized "A Ringing Ceremony of Longevity" commemorating the class of 1930 and the K'ung Bell stand.
On his 1994 Class Directory Information Card, Miller stated: "Oberlin enriched my life in three ways: it sent me to Shansi and thus started a life-long interest in China's history and language, I've pursued this vigorously in retirement. Also, it developed a social consciousness which shaped my career; unfortunately it was not distinguished." J. Clayton Miller died in Bethesda, Maryland, on August 12, 1997.
SOURCES CONSULTED
Student file of J. Clayton Miller (RG 28).
Note written by Tara Ikenouye and Kenneth M. Grossi.
Extent
2.05 Linear Feet
Language of Materials
English
Method of Acquisition
The collection was received in two accessions in 1995 from J. Clayton Miller. In 2009 the Archives sent films from the collection to a professional lab for cleaning and transfer to DBeta and DVD copies for access.
Accruals and Additions
Accession Nos: 1995/028, 1995/053, 2009/074.
- Title
- J. Clayton Miller Papers Finding Guide
- Author
- Tara Ikenouye, Kenneth M. Grossi
- Date
- 1997 May 1
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Revision Statements
- 1997 May: Processed by Tara Ikenouye and Kenneth M. Grossi
- 2000 February: Revised by Archives staff.
- 2005 February: Revised
- 2009 October: Revised by Archives staff.
- 2009 December: Revised by Archives staff.
- 2024-2025: Prepared for migration by Lee Must and Emily Rebmann.
Repository Details
Part of the Oberlin College Archives Repository
420 Mudd Center
148 West College Street
Oberlin OH 44074-1532 US
440-775-8014
440-775-8016 (Fax)
archive@oberlin.edu