Che Liang and his Wife Jeanne
PhotographerPhotographed by
Mei Lee
SubjectPortrait of
Jeanne Liang
(Chinese)
SubjectPortrait of
Che Chiang Liang
(Chinese)
Date1938
MediumPhotography; hand-colored
ClassificationsGraphics
Credit LineGift of Mrs. Carolyn Ellis
Object number1973.17.0.10
DescriptionBust-length studio portrait of a woman and man, Che Chiang Liang and his wife Jeanne Liang. Her top has a mandarin collar, and she is wearing earrings and what appears to be a decorative flower in her hair. He wears a jacket and necktie. The photographer's name is printed below the image at lower right, "Mei Lee Photographer / Tienstsin N. China"; and a handwritten inscription in ink at top left, and bottom right, "To Mother Welles"; "With love / Che & Jeanne / July, 1938"
Label TextChe Chiang Liang was the youngest child of Tun Yen Liang. He came from China in about 1908 or 1909 to live with the Welles family in Hartford, Connecticut. His father had studied in Connecticut as part of the Chinese Educational Mission years before; Tun Yen had been in school with Martin Welles, both in Hartford High School and at Yale University. He wanted Che to have the same opportunity for an American education and home life that he had had. Che Chiang did eventually return to China. The Welles family never heard from him or his family again after the Japanese invaded China before World War II.
The Chinese Educational Mission (1872-1881) in Hartford, Connecticut, was the fulfillment of a dream of Yung Wing. He wanted Chinese youth to study American technology to improve China’s engineering and infrastructure. Yung Wing came to the United States in 1847 to study at Monson Academy in Massachusetts, and at Yale in New Haven, Connecticut. It was upon his return to China that he began planning to Chinese students to America.
A group of thirty students ranging in age from ten to fourteen arrived in Hartford in 1872. They lived with host families, attended local schools, and in the summer studied Chinese classics at the Mission’s headquarters at 352 Collins Street, Hartford. In 1881 the Chinese government recalled the students because they thought they were becoming too Americanized.
The Chinese Educational Mission (1872-1881) in Hartford, Connecticut, was the fulfillment of a dream of Yung Wing. He wanted Chinese youth to study American technology to improve China’s engineering and infrastructure. Yung Wing came to the United States in 1847 to study at Monson Academy in Massachusetts, and at Yale in New Haven, Connecticut. It was upon his return to China that he began planning to Chinese students to America.
A group of thirty students ranging in age from ten to fourteen arrived in Hartford in 1872. They lived with host families, attended local schools, and in the summer studied Chinese classics at the Mission’s headquarters at 352 Collins Street, Hartford. In 1881 the Chinese government recalled the students because they thought they were becoming too Americanized.
Status
Not on view
