A celebration of Ann’s life will be held on Saturday, June 15th. It would have been Ann’s 89th birthday. We will be gathering in the Commons Room of Santa Rosa Creek Commons, where Ann lived for many years. We hope you can be there. The time and more details will be posted here.
Tentative Book Outline Forward by Lincoln Cushing Preface by Ann Tompkins Introduction by Susan Lamont Part One: Family History and Ann’s Life Before China (1900-1965) Chapter One: The lives of Ann’s parent’s up until their marriage Chapter Two: The lives of Ann’s parents from their marriage, including buying and restoring the Wander Bird, up until … More Across Oceans and Revolution – Tentative Outline
For Ann, a fundamental starting point in assessing any life is an understanding, as nearly as possible, of one’s world view and all the forces and experiences which created it. From there, through analysis, that view can be deconstructed and reconstructed with greater knowledge and understanding. And growing up on the schooner Wander Bird provided … More An Excerpt from Chapter One of “Across Oceans and Revolution”
An excerpt from Chapter 7, a compilation of some of the letters Ann wrote to her family while in China during the Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution. The photo is of her eventual roommate, a student. Rather unexpectedly, Ann found herself in the People’s Republic of China as an honored guest. Because of her principled stance … More Ann’s Letters Home from the Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution
It is clear from Ann’s letters home that it wasn’t long before the luxury of the Friendship Hotel caused her to question her role in the evolving story of China. She lived alone, while her Chinese co-workers lived four or five to a room. Her room had a rug, bedspread and curtains, hot and cold … More Excerpt from Chapter Eight: Writing the Dazibao
The papers have been organized, the interviews transcribed and the first few chapters have been written. Before her death, Ann left instructions that she wanted work on the book to continue. Now we need to raise funds to bring the book to completion. You can now read some excerpts from the book at the new … More Crowdfunding Campaign Details
Ann Draper Tompkins died peacefully, at home, on Sunday, March 24th – after her personal “long march” and more than 10 years with Parkinson’s Disease. Work on her book “Across Oceans and Revolution” will continue. It will be a more personal book than the one she envisioned decades ago. She also wanted to write a … More R.I.P. Ann – Work on “the book” continues
Conference, October 1-2, 2016 Sonoma State University, Student Center, 1801 East Cotati Avenue, Rohnert Park, CA 94928 Sponsors: School of Social science, Department of Sociology, Social Justice and Activism Club, Media Freedom Foundation/Project Censored To live stream this conference, go to http://www.youtube.com/watch?V=bB3JUWOLao Vision statement: This conference offers a critical evaluation of the Great Proletarian Cultural … More AFTER 50 YEARS: THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE GREAT PROLETARIAN CULTURAL REVOLUTION
Ann and Pao-yu Ching discussing the dazibao and answering questions. Fred Engst joins them via internet from Bejing. Eric Boehm was also a guest through the internet. In August of 1966, Ann and three other Americans wrote a dazibao. In the People’s Republic of China that is a wall poster written in large characters, expressing … More Ann Celebrates the 50th Anniversary of the 4 American Dazibao
Across Oceans and Revolution: A Principled Life 