2020-03-04 Guide to the Song Family Papers, circa 1740, 1914-1995 November 13, 2016 June-2022 SPEC.RARE.0299 Finding aid prepared by Ashleigh Minor; David Mezick; Sabrina Gorse Ohio State University Libraries Special Collections
1858 Neil Avenue Columbus, OH, 43210
2020 March; 2024 October; 2025 January This finding aid was produced using the Archivists' Toolkit 2025-02-13T11:24-0500 English Describing Archives: A Content Standard Song Family Papers SPEC.RARE.0299 Ohio State University Libraries Special Collections 2.85 Cubic feet circa 1740, 1914-1995 November 13, 2016 June-2022 U-heon Song, a mechanical engineer, and Jeong-Ah Seo, a gynecologist, moved from Korea to Tokyo, Japan in the 1920s to pursue advanced degrees in their fields of study. They eloped in Tokyo, and had their first son, Thomas Gregory Song, in 1929. The family moved to Manchuria in 1934, and later fled to Korea during World War II. Thomas Gregory Song immigrated to the United States in 1948, and his first daughter was born in 1960, Anastasia Song. The Song Family Papers, dated circa 1740, 1914-1995 November 13, 2016 June-2022, contain materials belonging to the family of Thomas Gregory Song, including correspondence, photograph albums, genealogy papers, oral history transcripts, his mother's (Jeong-Ah Seo) 1931 doctor of medicine diploma, and his father's (U-heon Song) 1953 curriculum vita and 1975 death certificate. Also included are email printouts from 2016 between Thomas Gregory Song's daughter, Anastasia, and his friend, Kazuko Kuramoto, attempting to translate his memoirs and blog posts written in Japanese into English; and a photobook of Thomas Gregory Song compiled and annotated by Anastasia in 2016 from his digitized photographs. Additionally, the papers include a calligraphy book that contains ink rubbings, dated circa 1740, from the Phyochung Monument in Gaeseong, North Korea, on paper that previously had been used to write down poems by Chinese poet Li Bai. The materials are written in Japanese, Chinese, classical Chinese, Korean, English, and German. (3) letter file folders; (2) cartons; (1) oversize folder; (1) flat box; (1) oversize flat box English, Japanese, Korean, Chinese, classical Chinese, and German Seo, Jeong-Ah Song (Family) Song, Anastasia Song, U-heon Arrangement of Materials

The Song Family Papers are arranged chronologically. An unprocessed addition (listed as Accession No. RARE.2025.0003) follows the processed portion of the collection; the unprocessed addition is arranged in the order received.

 Acquisitions Information

Accession No. RARE.2020.0006: Anastasia Song, 2020 March; Accession No. RARE.2024.0084: Elena Song, 2024 September; Accession No. RARE.2025.0003: Anastasia Song, 2024 March

 Preferred Citation

[identification of item], Song Family Papers, SPEC.RARE.0299, Rare Books and Manuscripts Library, Ohio State University

 Access to Materials

Materials in this collection are available for use, but may be used in the Thompson Library Special Collections reading room only.

 Use of Materials

Materials in this collection may be protected by copyright, and are made available for research and educational purposes. In general, the OSU Libraries do not own the copyright for materials from our collections and cannot grant copyright permissions for these materials. The user is responsible for making a final determination of copyright status. If copyright protection applies, permission must be obtained from the copyright holder to reuse, publish, or reproduce the work beyond the bounds of fair use or other exceptions to the law. Works in the public domain are not protected by copyright and do not require permission to use.

 Processing Information

Processed by: Ashleigh Minor, 2020 February; David Mezick, 2024 October; Finding aid written by: Ashleigh Minor, 2020 March; David Mezick, 2024 October; Sabrina Gorse, 2025 January

 Biographical Note

U-heon Song (1897-1975) graduated from the Nishinoda Technicians School in 1919 with a degree in mechanical engineering. In his early career, he worked as a technician for railways, and also taught courses at secondary schools, where he met his wife, Jeong-Ah Seo, while teaching at the Ewha Girls Higher Normal School in Korea. The two left Korea for Tokyo, Japan in the 1920s to pursue advanced degrees in mechanical engineering and medicine. U-heon and Jeong-Ah eloped in Japan, and had two sons.

Jeong-Ah Seo (1905-1995) earned her medical degree from the Tokyo Omori Imperial Women's Medical College in 1931, and was among the first female Korean physicians in the Japanese Empire licensed to practice Western medicine. She was hired as a resident in the Obstetrics and Gynecology Clinic at the Imperial Women's Medical College after graduation. After moving to Manchuria in 1934, U-heon worked for the South Manchurian Railway to help with the design of the Asia Express train, while Jeong-Ah worked as a medical researcher and intern for the South Manchurian Railway hospital, and later opened an independent family infirmary, the Junghyang OB/GYN Clinic.

Thomas Gregory Song (1929-2014) was born in Tokyo, Japan. He grew up in Manchuria during World War II, fled to Korea with his family near the end of the war, and immigrated to the United States in 1948. He worked as the Associate Director of Libraries at Bryn Mawr College in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania from 1969-1987. Song had two daughters with his wife, Mary Jane Katsoris: Anastasia and Suran Michelle. In 1970, he came out as gay, separated from his wife, and moved in with his partner. Song wrote his memoirs in the form of diaries and blog posts throughout his adult life, primarily focusing on his experiences growing up in Manchuria, and as a gay immigrant in the United States.

Anastasia Song was born in Michigan in 1960. She served as the Assistant Secretary to New York Governor, George E. Pataki during his first administration (1995). She was later appointed by him as a Commissioner of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, where she served for 6 years.

 Scope and Contents

The Song Family Papers, dated circa 1740, 1914-1995 November 13, 2016 June-2022, contain correspondence, photograph albums, genealogy papers, and oral history transcripts belonging to the family of Thomas Gregory Song. The collection includes Jeong-Ah Seo's (Thomas Gregory Song's mother) doctor of medicine diploma, written in Japanese and conferred in 1931 from the Tokyo Omori Imperial Women's Medical College located in Tokyo, Japan, as well as her immigration papers and her stethoscope and rubber stamps from her medical career. U-heon Song's (Thomas Gregory Song's father) curriculum vita is included, written in Chinese and Korean and dated from 1953, after the family returned to Korea from Manchuria, as well as U-heon's death certificate from 1975, written in Chinese. Also included in this collection are email printouts from 2016 between Anastasia Song (Thomas Gregory Song's daughter) and author Kazuko Kuramoto (Thomas Gregory Song's friend), attempting to translate Thomas Gregory Song's memoirs and blog posts written in Japanese into English. A photobook is also included, compiled by Anastasia in November 2016 from digitized photographs of Thomas Gregory Song and his parents, circa 1920s through circa 1950s, with annotations from Anastasia. Additionally, the papers include a calligraphy book from the Song family that contains ink rubbings, dated circa 1740, from the Phyochung Monument in Gaeseong (Kaesong), North Korea, a stone monument first built in 1740. The engravings on the monument are based on the handwritten classical Chinese calligraphy of Joseon dynasty (1392–1897) monarch King Yeongjo, and commemorate Jong (Chŏng) Mong-ju and his loyalty to the Koryo (Goryeo) dynasty (918-1392). The rubbings in the book were made on paper that previously had been used to write down poems in classical Chinese by acclaimed Chinese poet Li Bai (Li Bo, Taibai) of the Tang dynasty (618–907).

 Related Materials Thomas Gregory Song Papers Additional materials donated by the Song family can be found in the Ohio State University Libraries catalog: Ŭnjin Songssi sejŏngnok : Songja jangp'a segye jasollok / Hwanggan Hanch'ŏnjŏngsagaein ; Songja jangp'a segye jasollok kanhaeng wiwŏnhoe kongp'yŏn Songja yumuk taegwan / Song Chae-sŏn p'yŏn Kuramoto, Kazuko, 1927- Seo, Jeong-Ah Song (Family) Song, Anastasia Song, Thomas Gregory Song, U-heon Calligraphy (visual works) Calligraphy, Chinese--Inscriptions--Chosŏn dynasty, 1392-1910 Calligraphy, Chinese--Korea (North)--Kaesŏng-si--Chosŏn dynasty, 1392-1910 Calligraphy, Korean--Inscriptions--Chosŏn dynasty, 1392-1910 Calligraphy, Korean--Korea (North)--Kaesŏng-si--Chosŏn dynasty, 1392-1910 Chinese poetry--Tang dynasty, 618-907 Copybooks--Korea (North)--Kaesŏng-si--Chosŏn dynasty, 1392-1910 Correspondence Death certificates Diplomas Gay men's writings--20th century Gay men's writings--21st century Genealogies (histories) Immigrants' writings--20th century Immigrants' writings--21st century Ink rubbings Japanese language--Translating into English Manchuria (China)--Biography--Anecdotes Mechanical engineers--Japan--20th century Mechanical engineers--Manchuria (China)--20th century Mechanical engineers--South Korea--20th century National monuments--Korea (North)--Kaesŏng-si--Chosŏn dynasty, 1392-1910 Oral histories (literary works) Photobooks Photograph albums Poetry Printouts Résumés (personnel records) Women gynecologists--Japan--20th century Calligraphy book of Phyochung Monument ink rubbings 2 circa 1740 Classical Chinese Seo (Jeong-Ah) doctor of medicine diploma from the Tokyo Omori Imperial Women's Medical College 1 1931 March 20 Japanese Song (U-heon) curriculum vita RARE Shared 1 1 1953 Chinese, Korean Song (U-heon) death certificate RARE Shared 1 2 1975 Chinese Song (Anastasia) emails with Kazuko Kuramoto RARE Shared 1 3 2016 June English, Japanese "Thomas Gregory Song: 1929-2014" photobook compiled by Anastasia Song 1 2016 November English Accession No. RARE.2025.0003 2.4 Cubic feet 1914-1995 November 13, 2019-2022 (2) cartons Korean, English, Japanese, German Scope and Contents

This accession contains correspondence, photograph albums, genealogy papers, and oral history interview transcripts created and compiled by members of the Song family. Included are Jeong-Ah Seo's immigration papers and rubber stamps and stethoscope used during her work as a doctor in Manchuria and Korea as well as Thomas Gregory Song's correspondence regarding her death and funeral. The materials date from 1914-1995 November 13, 2019-2022, and the languages of the materials include Korean, English, Japanese, and German.

 Korean correspondence, photographs, and ID papers and permits Accession No. RARE.2025.0003.001 1950s-1980s Korean correspondence Accession No. RARE.2025.0003.001 1950s-1980s Notable Korean notes booklet Accession No. RARE.2025.0003.001 1914 Ewha Womans University photo diary Accession No. RARE.2025.0003.001 1973 Osan Properties Accession No. RARE.2025.0003.001 1989 Song (Thomas Gregory) correspondence about Jeong-ah Seo's death and funeral Accession No. RARE.2025.0003.001 1995 September 15-November 3 Seo (Jeong-ah) immigration papers Accession No. RARE.2025.0003.001 1958 July 16-1982 "Zum Studium der Hystogenese der Tumoren mit den organoiden Bestandltheiseilen in den weiblichen Sexualorganen" by T. Kudoh Accession No. RARE.2025.0003.001 1933 "Song of Onjin Family Register" preliminary draft Accession No. RARE.2025.0003.001 1995 November 13 Genealogical chart and abstracts Accession No. RARE.2025.0003.001 1994 Genealogy, Series 1 Accession No. RARE.2025.0003.001 1994 October Photograph album Accession No. RARE.2025.0003.001 circa 1929-1941, 1948-1959, 1965 Oral history interview transcripts and release papers Accession No. RARE.2025.0003.001 2019-2022 Diary schedule planner Accession No. RARE.2025.0003.001 1970 Seo (Jeong-ah) rubber stamps Accession No. RARE.2025.0003.001 1934-1946 November Seo (Jeong-ah) stethoscope Accession No. RARE.2025.0003.001 1934-1946 November Photograph album, No. 1 Accession No. RARE.2025.0003.002 1958 Photograph album, No. 2 Accession No. RARE.2025.0003.002 1930s-1945 Photograph album, No. 3 Accession No. RARE.2025.0003.002 1920s-1934 Photograph album, No. 4 Accession No. RARE.2025.0003.002 1920s-1930s Photograph album, No. 5 Accession No. RARE.2025.0003.002 1920s-1933 Photograph album, No. 6 Accession No. RARE.2025.0003.002 1934-1945 Photograph album, No. 7 Accession No. RARE.2025.0003.002 1929 March-1930s