A Letter written Jul 22, 1947

I do not need this any more. Me_iung. Ginling College
Nanking China

July 22, 1947

Dr. Ting Mei-ing Women's Hospital
Tientsin

Dear Dr. Ting,

I was very happy to hear about you from Miss Liu Hsi-meng. I have always admired your outstanding work in Tientsin through the war years. In the spring one of our faculty was asked to write a paper on Chinese Women for a mission study book for 1948, and an account of your work was certainly included. I do hope, that in spite of the state of uncertainty in North China, your valuable work for the sick and the poor will continue without interference.

On behalf of the College I wish to express to you our deep appreciation for your generous gift of one million to the Alumnae campaign in Tientsin. I wish furthermore to express our gratitude for your proposed Scholarship Endowment Fund of ten million dollars, in honor of your professor, Miss Abby H. Turner. This generous plan of yours brings to my mind three distinct ideas:

1) The tangible expression of your admiration of your professor in Mt. Holyoke. Many of us feel grateful to our teachers or frinds, but very seldom go beyond the mere thought or intention of doing something some day. You have come to the point of turning the wish into a reality.

2) Your confidence in Ginling College as worthy of receiving this trust. It has been hard for the College to struggle through these difficult years. In spite of all sorts of problems we have tried to carry out the original purpose of Ginling -- to develop the whole personality, and not merely the academic side. Your expression of confidence in us will encourage us. I am very glad that you have not laid down restrictions that the fund shall go to scholarships for any special departments. I shall work out definie [sic] suggested regulations so that it may go to the most promising and needy students, and shall submit these to you for your approval. We shall be most happy to have available such a generous scholarship covering all xpenses. [sic]

3) The assistance your gift will be to poor but worthy students. You may be interested to know that last year the following scholarships were given at Ginling: 40, granted by the College; 5 by the Student Relief Committee; 40 by the Ministry of Education for food grants - expiring as the students graduate and then discontinuing altogether.

There are always many students who prefer to come to a Christian College, but who do need financial [aid] to meet our fees. The College has to try to meet the increasing costs by raising tuition fees, and to charge enough to make the Boarding Department self-supporting.

We have completed the first year on our own campus, and work has gone better than we had dared anticipate. Complete rehabilitation will take many years if we are to get our equipment and buildings back to their original condition. However, right now the campus is very lovely.

I have calculated that when the total amount of your Scholarship Endowment Fund is received we may be able to grant two full scholarships.

If you should visit Nanking, do come and be our guest at Ginling.

With all good wishes, and again, many thanks for your generous gifts

Sincerely,
Wu Yi-fang