This collection is comprised of personal papers of Willy Tonn, including correspondence (also with Martin Buber), material on the Franz Steiner Co. - a pharmaceutical company which Tonn worked for, and brochures and correspondence concerning the Asian, American, and Israel Seminaries and the establishment of the People's University of Israel

The collection also contains numerous typescripts and various publications from Shanghai, including The China Digest, The China Journal, and The Gelbe Post

The extensive typescripts in the collection contain material dealing with Tonn's time in Shanghai. In addition to describing various aspects of Chinese culture, there are typescripts which address culture in India, Burma (Myanmar), Thailand and Japan, Jewish culture and religion, Greek history, and relations between Far Eastern countries and the West. Specific topics include: Chinese philosopy, including Taoism and Buddhism, Chinese art, folklore, and customs, Jews in North Africa, sports in Judaism, World War II, and Jews in the Far East. Tonn's manuscripts also include translations of several Chinese philosophical texts, including a work on the philosopher Lao-Tse

Willy Tonn was born in Berlin on January 28, 1902 . After graduating from the Askanisches Gymnasium (high school) in Berlin in 1920, he studied at Friedrich Wilhelm University Berlin. In his first year he studied philosophy and medicine but already in his second year he shifted his interest to languages: Chinese, Manchu, Vedic, Sanscrit, Pracrit, Pali, Tibetian. In 1924 he received his Ph.D. from the Seminary for Oriental languages). In 1939 he immigrated to Shanghai (Hangchou) where he worked as a professor for literature at the Tung Te University and a lector for Shanghai Jewish Club until 1943, whe he started to teach Chinese linguistics and comparative philology at Tsinan State University, Shanghai. He also worked as lector for the Society of Friends (Quakers). He was director of the Asia Seminar, American Seminary and Israeli Seminary. 1949 Tonn emigrated to Israel where he worked for the Museum Bezalel, Jerusalem (1949), Museum Tel Aviv (1950, 1953), Museum Wilfr. Israel, Hazorea (1952). During his career he wrote many articles, which were published in magazines and newspapers. Sometimes he used the pseudonym Wolf Torno. 1951 Tonn published the book: Lao Tse. Tao Te King (Zuerich). He died in a Swiss sanatorium on Nov 15, 1957

In 1902 Georg Tonn owned D. Franz Steiner & Co. (founded 1889), which was a firm dealing with chemical, pharmaceutical and cosmetical specialties. Some of their products were Orientalische Kraftpillen and Orpuvil. The company had depots in Berlin, Vienna, Budapest, Teplitz, Amsterdam, Kopenhagen, Zuerich, Saloniki, Johannesburg and Semarang. The firm was inherited by Dora Tonn (nee Dienemann) and Willy Tonn worked there as Geschaeftsfuehrer (executive director) from 1924 until 1938

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