The Yi-Fu Tuan papers were primarily created during Yi-Fu Tuan's time working at the
Universities of Minnesota and Wisconsin from 1968 to 1998, and when Tuan received his
professor emeritus status, until 2016. The Yi-Fu Tuan papers contain sources and notes used
in his research, child sponsorship information, conference papers, course materials, and
personal and professional correspondence. Yi-Fu Tuan's original folder titles and physical
arrangement have been maintained, with the exception of the "Dear Colleague" letters, which
were previously unfoldered and have been arranged chronologically.
This collection is arranged into 3 series: Series 1: "Research Notes, 1965-2015," Series 2:
"Publications and Conference Papers, 1966-2015," and Series 3: "Correspondence,
1968-2016."
Series 1:
The "Research Notes" series, which dates from 1965 to 2015, includes articles,
bibliographies, and handwritten and typewritten excerpts and notes from literature studied
and referenced by Yi-Fu Tuan in his own research and teaching. Examples of topical subjects
included in this series are: physical environment, power, good, space and place, senses,
morality, and aesthetic experiences.
Series 2:
The "Publications and Conference Papers" series, which dates from 1966 to 2015, includes
Yi-Fu Tuan's presentation papers, correspondence between Yi-Fu Tuan and those arranging and
coordinating his trip, and correspondence between Yi-Fu Tuan and publishers.
Series 3:
The "Correspondence" series, which dates from 1968 to 2016, includes correspondence with
children Yi-Fu Tuan sponsored through international humanitarian organizations, and personal
letters and email print-outs between Yi-Fu Tuan and his colleagues, friends, and family.
Also included in this series is Yi-Fu Tuan's "Dear Colleague" letters, which he began while
working at the University of Minnesota and continued during his time at the University of
Wisconsin. These mass distributed typewritten letters contain Yi-Fu Tuan's personal
thoughts, reflections, and daily observations beyond the field of geography. While the Dear
Colleague letters have been arranged chronologically, the rest of this series maintains
Yi-Fu Tuan's original order.
Not included in this series is professional correspondence relating to conference
presentations and publishing, which is instead included in the "Publications and Conference
Papers" series.
