The American Council of Learned Societies (ACLS) recently launched a new website for the China Studies Digital Archives Mapping Project which offers a free guide to open databases for China studies research. The project aims to preserve and expand access to primary materials that are vital to the advancement of the China studies field. The Mapping Project coordinates researchers, librarians, and database administrators to enhance the discoverability and access to existing repositories and support the development of new digital resources. The initiative is part of the Luce/ACLS Program in China Studies, which recently received a $3 million extension grant from the Henry Luce Foundation to support this and related initiatives through 2028.
The China Studies Digital Archives Mapping Project is a searchable directory of more than 65 repositories that offer free access to large primary source sets for China studies research. Highlights include projects maintained by former Luce/ACLS Program in China fellows, including The People’s Map of Global China, Ming Qing Women’s Writings, and the Xinjiang Documentation Project. Planned updates over the next year include a new section of articles, tutorials, and templates detailing digital workflows for researchers and data librarians.
February 03, 2025