陳錫恩教授紀念展: 華裔美籍教育先驅者和南加大東亞研究的奠基者

When Theodore “Ted” Hsi-en Chen was born in Fuzhou, Fujian Province in 1902, China was still ruled by the Qing dynasty (1644-1911) and faced internal chaos and foreign threats. By the time he passed away in 1991, the international landscape had changed dramatically-- China started to play a major role in the world order with its rapid economic development, social reforms, and political transitions.

The rise of China in the twentieth century was thanks in part to a rekindled commitment to educational reforms and the establishment of closer ties to other countries—two areas in which Ted Chen shined. A pioneering educational reformer and distinguished Chinese American scholar, he was the first professor of Chinese descent at USC, where he played a lead role in establishing East Asian studies as an academic discipline. In his time here he was a Professor of Education, Chair of the Department of Asian Studies from 1941–1968, and founding director of the East Asian Studies Center from 1960–1971. In addition, from 1942–1944 he served as president of the China Society of Southern California, the country’s oldest Sino-American organization of its kind.

This exhibition, based on research funded by USC Libraries' Covington Fellowship, draws on archival documents and publications from our Special Collections and East Asian Library to celebrate Dr. Chen’s academic achievements, educational reforms, and legacy to both USC and communities across the Pacific.