Global Contributions
Walter Harding's work and influence spread across the world. One of his greatest accomplishments was when the United States Government gave him a special grant so he could travel to Japan and lecture around the country about Henry David Thoreau and his book, Walden. We were able to obtain the actual grant he was awarded, his travel itinerary while in Japan, and even Harding’s thoughts while he was there.
On October 6th, 1964 the United States Government authorized a grant for Walter so he could participate in the Mutual Education and Cultural Exchange Program. This allowed him to travel to Japan to talk about Thoreau and Walden.
In 1964 Walter Harding was given a grant to travel to Japan to lecture about Thoreau and Walden. Here is a list of where he lectured, and when, provided by the American Embassy in Japan.
In this document, Walter Harding describes his 7-week lecture tour of Japan. He notes that the Japanese have a strong affinity for the literary merit of Thoreau, and how the teachings of Zen Buddhism have a strong tie-in to the themes present in Thoreau's work.