Foreword
In 1875, at the close of the World Exposition in New Orleans, U.S.A, the Government of China presented the whole of its elaborate display to James B. Angell, then President of the University of Michigan. This was to recognize his important service as the U.S. Minister to China in 1880-81. Those objects remain a part of the university's museums today. This occasion is a dramatic example of the long and close ties the University of Michigan has had with China. Writing in 1948 on the eve of great change in China, University of Michigan Secretary Wilfred Shaw observed that the university had one of the largest populations of students from China. He noted that many came to Ann Arbor inspired by the presence and work of James B. Angell in China. Shaw also wrote that these students "continue to further mutual understanding inaugurated so long ago." Today this tradition continues as Michigan now has among the highest enrollment of students from China of any university in the United States.
Because of this long and mutual association, we at the Bentley Historical Library thought it useful to present a brief history of interactions between scholars, staff, and students at the University of Michigan and their counterparts in China. The Bentley Library houses the archives of the University of Michigan and as such holds many of the historical records that document this long association. I want to thank Nancy Bartlett of the Bentley staff for her work in editing this publication. Also I want to recognize John Godfrey from the university's Horace H. Rackham School of Graduate Studies for his contributions to this text. Nancy Deromedi, Greg Kinney, Seth Shaw, and Bill Wallach of the Bentley staff also contributed to the preparation of this bulletin. Two students at the university's School of Information assisted in the review of the text and in the preparation of its summary in Chinese. They are Zheng Lu and Zhou Xiaomu.
Francis X. Blouin, Jr.
Director