Dr. Theodore Hsi-en Chen (1902-1991): Chinese American Education Pioneer and Founder of East Asian Studies at USC

Dr. Theodore Hsi-en Chen and the China Society of Southern California (CSSC)

The China Society of Southern California (CSSC) was founded in 1935 as a non-profit cultural organization. The year of 1935 saw one of the most challenging moments in modern China--the Chinese Exclusion Act that continued to restrict Chinese immigration to the United States, the escalating Chinese Civil War between the Nationalists and the Communists, and the intensifying Japanese military control of Manchuria. Amidst China’s crises from various fronts, CSSC sought to establish and strengthen connections between China and the United States. It is believed to be the oldest Sino-American organization of its kind in the United States and received congressional recognition in 2015 for "pursuing its mission to foster friendship, understanding, and appreciation between China and America." 

Dr. Chen  was a very active member in the China Society of Southern California (CSSC), the oldest Sino-American society of its kind since 1935, where he was the most popular speaker in the history of CSSC. Dr. Chen served as the CSSC President during 1942-1944 and devoted to building transpacific connections between the USA and China and inviting famous Chinese writers such as Hu Shih 胡適 (1891-1962) and Lao She 老舍 (1899-1966) to visit Los Angeles and give talks at USC. He was also the keynote speaker for the 50th anniversary of CSSC in 1985.

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