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Founded in 1831 as a Methodist college, Wesleyan soon became involved in missionary efforts to convert China to Christianity, with President Willbur Fisk playing a leading role. Moses White, class of 1847, was Wesleyan's first China missionary. His difficult experience is recorded in personal records, on file at Olin Library. Over the next 100 years, other alumni/missionaries made their contributions to Wesleyan's China presence, among them two presidents of Christian colleges. Only with the communist takeover in 1949 did the last Wesleyan graduate return home. This course seeks to examine the history and implications of Wesleyan's China involvement. The first six weeks will set the stage, with readings on China's 19th- and 20th century hi story and the missionary presence there. The second half will use a more hands-on approach, taking up records of individual missionaries and in college publications. We will be at pains to contrast the self-congratulatory tone of this publicity with the anti-imperialist rhetoric of Chinese Communism. We will also seek to set it in the context of Wesleyan's own development over its first 100 years.
COURSE FORMAT: Lecture
Level: UGRD Credit: 1 Gen Ed Area Dept: SBS AL&L Grading Mode: Graded
Prerequisites: NONE
Last Updated on MAR-24-2000
Copyright Wesleyan University, Middletown, Connecticut, 06459