Document Type
Statement
Keywords
Madame Chiang Kai-shek
Abstract
The citation is as follows: "Madame Chiang Kai-shek was born in Shanghai, China, and at an early age, came to the United States, where she graduated in 1917 from Wellesley College with high honors. Returning to China, she devoted herself to study and social service work, child welfare being a major interest. She was first Chinese woman appointed member of the Child Labor Commission to investigate labor conditions in industries within foreign settlements and concessions. In 1927, her marriage to General Chiang Kai-shek united two dynamic lives whose influence and moral strength inspired thought for bettering social conditions among the people, and galvanized a national fervor throughout the country. They started a new movement in China which embodied all the virtues of its past history and gave a new interpretation to means, methods and direction for the practice of improved living conditions, peaceful social relationships and unselfish administration of human affairs. Since the outbreak of Japan's war of aggression on July 1, 1937 Madame Chiang Kai-shek has given increasing effort to bringing aid, comfort and inspiration to men, women and children there. We respect the brilliant intellect, the graphic writings, the poignant speech of Madame Chiang Kai-shek, but we hold in the highest esteem her noble womanliness and wifely devotion - her utter honesty of thought and action - her clear vision of true democracy and liberation of all peoples - and her courage and readiness to endure hardships, to face danger, to share the life of her fellow country men and women, and to die, if need be, in their defense. She is the symbol of democracy at its best, seeing life straight and true and with an elevation of mind and spirit that has never lost the common touch of love, tenderness and sympathy."
Comments
May-lin Soong Chiang (Madame Chiang Kai-shek) received an Honorary Degree of Doctor of Letters of Humanities at Bryant's 1942 commencement. Although she accepted the degree, she did not attend commencement ceremonies. Dr. Tswen-ling Tsui, First Secretary of the Chinese Embassy in Washington, accepted the degree on behalf of Madame Chiang Kai-shek.
The attached citation was taken from "The Roster of Honorary Graduates and Titles of Degrees conferred upon them by Bryant College."