Overview
| Repository: |
Yale University Divinity School
Library
409 Prospect Street New Haven, CT 06511 Email: divinity.library@yale.edu Phone: (203) 432-5301 |
| Call Number: | Record Group No. 13 |
| Creator: | Chinese Student Christian Association in North America. |
| Title: | Archives of the Chinese Students' Christian Association in North America, |
| Dates: | 1909-1952 |
| Physical Description: | Total archival boxes 3; total linear footage 1.5' |
| Language(s): | Materials in English. |
| Summary: | The papers, though quite fragmentary, represent the most complete documentation available for the history of the Chinese Students' Christian Association, and provide a skeletal outline of its activities, policies and personnel. This collection is a noteworthy supplement to other record groups at the Divinity Library that document religious work among college and university students. The Chinese Students' Christian Association was organized in 1909 by four students from the universities of Yale, Columbia, Harvard and Michigan. The purpose of the Association was to foster Christian morals and friendships, and to unite Chinese Christian students living in American society. The Association provided practical services to Chinese students who were arriving from China, going to China or Europe, looking for homes or employment, needing to make purchases, or in need of other assistance. |
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| Finding Aid Link: | To cite or bookmark this finding aid, use the following address: http://hdl.handle.net/10079/fa/divinity.013 |
| Request Materials: | To view manuscript and archival materials at the Yale Divinity Library, please submit the request form at http://www.library.yale.edu/div/request.htm. |
| Catalog Record: | A record for this collection, including location information, may be available in Orbis, the Yale University Library catalog. |
Administrative Information
Information about Access
Open to qualified researchers.
Cite As
Archives of the Chinese Students' Christian Association in North America, Record Group No. 13, Special Collections, Yale Divinity School Library.
Historical Sketch
The Chinese Students' Christian Association was organized in 1909 under the leadership of Dr. C. T. Wang, Dr. P. W. Kuo, Dr. David Z. T. Yui, and Dr. W. C. Chen, then students at Yale, Columbia, Harvard, and Michigan respectively. The national Association had its central office in New York City. Its affairs were directed by a Central Executive Board composed of officers of its regional departments. Local units were formed where there were five or more students in harmony with the purpose of the Association. In 1949 the Association had 1,200 members in twenty-five local chapters. The Association was affiliated with the Committee on Friendly Relations Among Foreign Students of the International Committee of the Y.M.C.A.s of North America, the National Committee of the Y.M.C.A. in China, the Chinese Students' Christian Union of Great Britain and the Chinese Y.M.C.A. in France. The purpose of the Association was defined as follows in a 1931 publication:
To cultivate among the members and friends the
Christ-like spirit and to apply His teachings in their daily lives and
activities.
To build strong moral character and to foster the
spirit of self-sacrifice and self-development by rendering service to
members.
To unite those students in cooperative efforts for
promoting programs and activities of the Association on various
campuses.
To study and understand American life and society; and
to interpret Chinese culture and civilization to America through writing,
speaking, dramatics and friendly contacts.
The Association provided practical services to Chinese students who were arriving from China, going to China or Europe, looking for homes or employment, needing to make purchases, or in need of other assistance.
Description of the Papers
Though these records are quite fragmentary they probably represent the most complete documentation available for the history of the Chinese Students' Christian Association. Minutes and reports, correspondence of the Association's General Secretary, conference handbooks and publicity, periodical publications, and miscellaneous pamphlets provide a skeletal outline of the Association's activities, policies and personnel. Additional periodical publications of the Association are in the Library's cataloged collection. Additional records of the Chinese Students' Christian Association can be found in Record Group No. 46, Archives of the World Student Christian Federation.
This collection is a noteworthy supplement to other record groups at the Divinity Library that document religions work among college and university students.