China Center records
Scope and Content
The collection extent dates are 1978 to 2010.
Materials in the collection cover the development of the Center from the initial planning phases in 1979 to the end of 2009. The bulk of the collection contains the planning, administrative and travel files of University and state and business delegates to China, and similar files for Chinese scholars and delegations visiting the University.
Dates
- 1978-2010
Creator
- China Center (Organization)
Language of Materials
Collection material in English
Use of Materials
Items in this collection do not circulate and may be used in-house only.
Copyright
Researchers may quote from the collection under the fair use provision of the copyright law (Title 17, U.S. Code). Requests to publish should be arranged with the University of Minnesota Archives.
Historical Note
The China Center emerged in the late 1970s out of talks between the University of Minnesota and the Minesota business community to develop long term educational and exchange relationships with China.
Pivotal events in 1979 formed the foundation for a China center on campus. A unit coordinating Chinese Studies and educational exchanges was proposed by Fred Lukerman, dean of the College of Liberal Arts, to provide intensive seminars on China for university officials and English language instruction and housing services for visiting Chinese scholars. That same year, a "China Desk," precursor to China Center, was formed in the Office of International Programs to coordinate exchanges; the first Chinese scholar to study at the university since the end of the WWII, Zhai Qihui, arrived on campus; and Board of Regents Chair Wenda Moore lead the first University of Minnesota delegation to China. The China Center would grow over three decades to address a range of needs related to scholarly and cultural exchanges, alumni association development, language learning and treacher training.
The Center officially opened in 1982. For a detailed timeline of China Center milestones and activities, go to http://chinacenter.umn.edu/about/history.html
China Center Directors
Mei-Ling Hsu 1980-1985
M. Patricia Needle 1985-1993
David Y.H. Pui, 1994-2000
Dr. Hong Yang 2000-2006
Dr. Yongwei Zhang 2006-2011
Joan Brzezinski, 2011- present
Extent
8.75 Cubic Feet (7 boxes)
Abstract
The collection consists of correspondence, training materials, meeting agendas and minutes, reports, planning documents, awards, speeches, program publicity, newsletters and directories.
Arrangement
The collection is arranged chronologically.
Source of acquisition
The collection was transferred from the China Center to University Archives in a single accession in February, 2014.
Processing Information
The collection is fully processed.
- China Center
- Teacher Exchange Programs -- China Subject Source: Unspecified ingested source
- Teacher Exchange Programs -- Minnesota Subject Source: Unspecified ingested source
- University of Minnesota -- China Center Subject Source: Unspecified ingested source
- Title
- China Center records, 1978-2010
- Author
- Susan Hoffman
- Date
- November, 2015
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
- Language of description note
- Finding aid written in English
Collecting Area Details
Contact The University Archives Collecting Area
