Dr. Theodore Hsi-en Chen (1902-1991): Chinese American Education Pioneer and Founder of East Asian Studies at USC Main MenuIntroductionDr. Theodore Hsi-en Chen’s Life and Career at USCDr. Theodore Hsi-en Chen's ScholarshipDr. Theodore Hsi-en Chen and the China Society of Southern California (CSSC)Dr. Theodore Hsi-en Chen’s Legacy to the USC and the CommunityEvents and CelebrationArchives and ResourcesAbout the ProjectLi-Ping Chenc0e6a2c0a94a0c1771c94d579885876c547d45b5Tang Li94607ee88639079982d0344d02ff8ecdf7b6dc46
Photo montage for the China Society of Southern California's 50th anniversary
1media/Photo montage_thumb.jpg2022-12-16T18:39:51-08:00Tang Li94607ee88639079982d0344d02ff8ecdf7b6dc46415882Dr. Chen and his wife were featured as the renowned members of the China Society of Southern California. ""China Society of Southern California: 50 Years, 1935-1985"" by John A. Thomson, in Los Angeles Chinatown Souvenir Book (1985).plain2022-12-26T13:23:22-08:00USC Digital LibraryTang Li94607ee88639079982d0344d02ff8ecdf7b6dc46
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12022-12-12T15:46:49-08:00Dr. Theodore Hsi-en Chen and the China Society of Southern California (CSSC)25structured_gallery13302642023-04-15T13:17:52-07:00The 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.
