Ginling College
Nanking, ChinaPresident
Miss Wu Yi-Fang, Ph.D.Suite 903
150 Fifth Avenue
New York, New York
December 3, 1937To Friends of Ginling College:
In these days when China is constantly before us in news broadcasts and in the daily press, you may want to know what is happening to this American college in China's beleaguered capital, Nanking.
Our last letter from President Wu, dated October 30th, states that Nanking has had 73 air raids since the first one on August 15th. The only damage to Ginling has been one screen and window through which a small piece of steel has passed. It was found embedded in the wall of a vacant bedroom in the faculty house. The chrysanthemums, when she wrote, were blooming as usual in all their fall glory.
President Wu has been in Nanking since the war started in Shanghai. With her through all these anxious weeks have been a small Chinese group, and Miss Vautrin of the American staff. To desert the college and its president in such a crisis Miss Vautrin could not do. She released, however, the United States government of all responsibility in case anything should happen to her. She has superintended the digging of protective trenches and dugouts on the campus, the making of sand bags, the organization of fire squads, the training for protection during air raids, and has aided with the organization of sewing units among the Chinese women. Miss Wu has spent hours on the problems of relief. She is a member of the National Executive Committee of the Women's Relief Association, acting as its treasurer. One of her duties is to receive the jewelry which Chinese women are giving.
The college halls are strangely silent, for the Ministry of Education was unwilling for women students to return to Nanking. Dr. Wu and Miss Vautrin, aided by loyal alumnae and devoted staff, have planned and are carrying out Ginling student units within the International Concession in Shanghai, at Hwa Chung College in Wuchang, and at West China University in Chengtu. We are enclosing accounts written by some of these groups. They show a spirit undaunted.
Sincerely yours,
Rebecca Walton Griest
For the Ginling College Board of Founders