Prange Collection

About the Prange Collection

The collection consists of all the publications (books, periodicals, pamphlets, newspapers), documents, posters, etc. that were censored during the 1945-1952 Allied occupation of Japan, especially from 1945 to 1949. Gordon W. Prange, formerly professor at the University of Maryland, who was working in the Civil Censorship Detachment (CCD) of the Supreme Commander of the Allied Powers, noted the historical value of the censored materials and collected and preserved all of them in their original state at a U.S. government agency. The collection was donated to the University of Maryland in accordance with his wishes, and is housed in the university's McKeldin Library. These valuable materials help fill in blanks in history prior to the opening of the Japanese National Diet Library in June 1948.

• The Gordon W. Prange Collection, University of Maryland
• Search the Prange Collection ("Research Navi," National Diet Library)
• Database of Information on Occupation-period Newspapers and Periodicals (Institute of 20th Century Media)

Microform in the Collection of Nichibunken

The Nichibunken Library houses microform for the entire "Collection of Periodicals" and "Collection of Newspapers."

• Collection of Periodicals
  A total of 13,743 titles (62,976 microfiche) in the genres of politics, law, administration; economy; society and labor; war (repatriation, overseas territories, demobilization); education; history and geography; philosophy and religion; art, language, sports, entertainment; science and technology; periodicals, library; general scholarly journals; general magazines; children's magazines.
• Collection of Newspapers
  Besides the leading Japanese newspapers and records of their censorship during the occupation, there is also a vast collection of the largely unknown newspapers that sprang up after the war and newspapers published by young men's associations, civic groups, labor unions, community centers, and political organizations. A total of 18,047 titles (3,826 microreels).

How to Use

Apply in advance.
After consulting the "User's Guide for Visitors" link, patrons wishing to use the microfilm should have their university library or public library place a request in advance.
Please download and fill in the designated application form and send it in by e-mail (scan and send as attached document) or fax at least one week before the preferred date of visit. Applications should be limited to the quantity that can be read during the period of the approved visit. Applicants will be notified as soon as possible.

• Application Form for Access to the Prange Collection (Periodicals) Excel file
  Be sure to write "call numbers" in numerical order.
• Application Form for Access to the Prange Collection (Newspapers) Excel file
  Be sure to write reel numbers in numerical order.

See the following databases for reference.

• Search of the Prange Collection ("Research Navi," National Diet Library)
• Database of Information on Occupation-period Newspapers and Periodicals (Institute of 20th Century Media)