Translator donates materials owned by Helen Snow

An Wei, a 70-year-old Chinese translator, donated 304 pieces that were previously owned by American journalist and writer Helen Snow to the Memorial Hall of the Eighth Route Army Liaison Office in Xi'an, capital of Shaanxi province, on Sunday.

The material includes books, newspapers, photos, slides and audio and video tapes. Many of the audio tapes and slides depict Snow's life.

"In the tapes and slides, we can find her playing the piano in her birthday party in 1990, listen to her numerous conversations with me, and also her last conversation with me in 1995 when she was critically ill," An said.

Snow was the wife of American writer Edgar Snow, whose best-known book was Red Star Over China.

She met An for the first time in 1978 when she visited China and An was her interpreter. Later, An visited her many times during his trips to the United States, forging ties of friendship.

Before her death in January 1997, Snow sent lots of manuscripts, research material and personal belongings to An, who is the president of the Edgar Snow Research Center in Shaanxi.

Some research institutions at home and abroad also wanted to get the material, An said.

"I finally gave them to the Memorial Hall of the Eighth Route Army Liaison Office in Xi'an because Helen visited the office many times, and the office has hosted an exhibition about her for more than 20 years," An said.

Before the donation on Sunday, An had donated more than 200 photos, books and other materials about Helen and Edgar Snow and the Sino-United States friendship to the Memorial Hall of the Eighth Route Army Liaison Office in Xi'an.