Draft of a telegram from Dr. Alfred E. Stearns to Mary Sun, April 5, 1926
Draft of a telegram from Dr. Alfred E. Stearns to Mary Sun, April 5, 1926
Draft of a telegram from Dr. Alfred E. Stearns sent to Mary Sun. States Mary should return directly to school from Washington. Will receive special work from Mrs. Russell to begin college prep.
Dr. Alfred E. Stearns
Phillips Academy
April 5, 1926
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English
Correspondence
Draft of a telegram from Dr. Alfred E. Stearns to S.K. Alfred Sze, April 5, 1926
Draft of a telegram from Dr. Alfred E. Stearns to S.K. Alfred Sze, April 5, 1926
Draft of a telegram from Dr. Alfred E. Stearns sent to Sao-Ke Alfred Sze. States Mary should return to school directly from Washington, no visits. Wired $60.00 Mary requested.
Dr. Alfred E. Stearns
Phillips Academy
April 5, 1926
All Rights Reserved By Phillips Academy
English
Correspondence
Draft of telegram sent from A.E. Stearns to Hon. S.K. Alfred Sze, March 22, 1926
Draft of telegram sent from A.E. Stearns to Hon. S.K. Alfred Sze, March 22, 1926
Draft of a telegram sent from Dr. Alfred E. Stearns to Sao-Ke Alfred Sze, requesting a meeting in Washington, D.C. regarding Mary Sun.
Dr. Alfred E. Stearns
Phillips Academy
March 22, 1926
All Rights Reserved By Phillips Academy
English
Correspondence
Extract from letter of December 18, 1925 written by Dr. Stearns to Mr. C.Y. Sun
Extract from letter of December 18, 1925 written by Dr. Stearns to Mr. C.Y. Sun
(Extract from letter of December 18, 1925,)
(written by Dr. Stearns to Mr. C. Y. Sun)
’’Mary furnishes the real problem Just now. Following what I understood, to be your personal wishes, Mary has been taking the general course at Abbot Academy, with the chief aim that of securing a degree, and on the supposition that this would round out her education in America. During recent months I have been hearing muffled comments from Arthur and Mary, and I think, too, from her other brothers, to the effect that you had now decided that Mary was to go to college. Mary had hoped to study nursing or something of this kind a little later, though she had always intimated that she expected to teach when she got back to China. The college proposition, if it actually represents your views, throws the present machinery all out of joint, for the course which Mary is now taking does not admit to our American colleges, and, if college is to be the next goal, there must be an immediate and complete readjustment and very probably another year of preparation. Before attempting anything so radical as this, I am very anxious to have your personal and definite authorization. Please write me fully and frankly just what you desire me to do under the circumstances, for I don’t feel justified in undertaking anything quite so radical without full authority from you. If I can discover from Arthur or Mary before receiving a reply to this letter sufficient evidence to assure me that this is really your last and definite purpose, I shall be tempted to make an immediate readjustment which can go into effect at the opening of the next term, some two weeks hence. This would involve a change of school and courses, a pretty radical step, but seemingly necessary under the circumstances. I hope to see Arthur within the next few days and shall ask him to place at my disposal all the information he has received from you that bears upon the problem in this new and somewhat unexpected phase. ”
Dr. Stearns
Phillips Academy
December 18, 1925
All Rights Reserved By Phillips Academy
English
Correspondence
Extract from letter of December 18, 1925 written by Dr. Stearns to Mr. C.Y. Sun
Extract from letter of December 18, 1925 written by Dr. Stearns to Mr. C.Y. Sun
Extract of a typed letter sent from Dr. Stearns to Mr. C.Y. Sun about Mary Sun's future education. States Mr. Sun's desire to attend college drastically changes Mary's current education plans. Explains current course isn't accepted by American colleges. States a change in courses and a year of preparation is required if Mary is to attend college. Asks for definite confirmation from Sun before making any changes. Hopes to see Arthur in a few days to get more information.
Dr. Stearns
Phillips Academy
December 18, 1925
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"Mary furnishes the real problem Just now. Following what I understood, to be your personal wishes, Mary has been taking the general course at Abbot Academy, with the chief aim that of securing a degree, and on the supposition that this would round out her education in America. During recent months I have been hearing muffled comments from Arthur and Mary, and I think, too, from her other brothers, to the effect that you had now decided that Mary was to go to college. Mary had hoped to study nursing or something of this kind a little later, though she had always intimated that she expected to teach when she got back to China. The college proposition, if it actually represents your views, throws the present machinery all out of joint, for the course which Mary is now taking does not admit to our American colleges, and, if college is to be the next goal, there must be an immediate and complete readjustment and very probably another year of preparation. Before attempting anything so radical as this, I am very anxious to have your personal and definite authorization. Please write me fully and frankly just what you desire me to do under the circumstances, for I don’t feel justified in undertaking anything quite so radical without full authority from you. If I can discover from Arthur or Mary before receiving a reply to this letter sufficient evidence to assure me that this is really your last and definite purpose, I shall be tempted to make an immediate readjustment which can go into effect at the opening of the next term, some two weeks hence. This would involve a change of school and courses, a pretty radical step, but seemingly necessary under the circumstances. I hope to see Arthur within the next few days and shall ask him to place at my disposal all the information he has received from you that bears upon the problem in this new and somewhat unexpected phase. "
English
Correspondence
Letter from Alfred E. Stearns to Mr. C.Y. Sun, March 19, 1926
Letter from Alfred E. Stearns to Mr. C.Y. Sun, March 19, 1926
Typed letter sent from Dr. Alfred E. Stearns to C.Y. Sun about Mary's education. States Mary is happier at the new school after some time. Explains protests from Mary's Abbott friends prevented her from adjusting quicker. Questions whether the transfer was necessary. Believes Mary could have finished the year, entered prep courses, and attending college a year later if not for the cost. Plans to monitor the situation. Discusses college options for Mary. Discussed the issue with Chinese Minister, Dr. Alfred Sze. Discusses college options for Tom Sun.
Dr. Alfred E. Stearns
Phillips Academy
March 19, 1926
All Rights Reserved By Phillips Academy
March 19, 1926
Mr. C.Y.Sun
44 Cambridge Bond
Tientsin, China
My dear Mr. Sun:
Let me acknowledge the receipt of your letter of February 3, confirming the cable message received several weeks ago. As I have already written you, the receipt of that message prompted me to readjust Mary’s schedule completely at a place and in a small school about fifteen miles from here, where she would secure for the balance of the year intensive and individual work in preparation for college entrance examinations. Apparently Mary is much happier there now than she was when the change was first made, for it was sudden and unexpected and aroused a storm of protest from her Abbot Academy friends; indeed their misguided but well meant sympathy and enthusiasm kept Mary pretty badly stirred up for some time and have made it increasingly difficult for her to settle down in the new environment. Frankly, I am still very gravely in doubt as to whether we did the wisest thing in changing Mary’s school and course so suddenly and at this particular time of year. My own inclination would have been to allow her to finish out the current school year at Abbot Academy, secure her diploma for the general course, a goal for which she had been aiming, and then settle down to the intensive college preparatory work, if that was to be the new aim. On the other hand, that meant naturally the consuming of some additional months in work which was not leading to the goal finally chosen and which, therefore, might seem to you, in large measure, thrown away. Again the change in midyear also involved extra expense, since pupils in boarding schools are regularly held for the full year’s charge, unless their places can be filled by new-comers. At this late season the chance of securing new pupils to finish out the school year are very slight.
Having all these things in mind to puzzle me, I finally decided that the only thing I could do after receiving your definite message, which I knew was sent after you had read my earlier letter in which I had tried to outline the complications involved, was to make the change at once and this was done. I must admit, however, that my pause of mind has not increased as a result, for Mary and many of her friends, at least, feel that I have acted both unwisely and harshly, something which at best my conscience sought not to do. All I can do now is to watch the situation as closely as possible and, on the basis of the results secured during the balance of the current school year, figure out the wisest plane for the future.
Wellesley is an excellent college, and if it is your preference that Mary should go there, we will have that college in view. The entrance requirements are high and similar to those of Smith, Mount Holyoke, and Vassar. Whether Mary is capable of meeting these high requirements, I am not quite sure. Her Abbot Academy teachers and Miss Clemons are agreed in feeling that Mary will not find this an easy task and that it is a serious question whether she ought to be pushed to accomplish it. Their feeling is, and I am almost inclined to share it, that Mary would do much better in same smaller and less exacting college, of which there are a number in this country and which still rank high in the public estimation. Here again we can perhaps reach a fairer decision when we have before us the final record of the current school year, and especially that which the new conditions will accomplish.
I have accepted Dr. Alfred Sze’s invitation to Mary to pass the coming spring vacation with him and his wife in Washington. I have also written him very frankly of the difficult problem we have had to face in Mary’s case during recent weeks and the complications that were necessarily involved. I hope that
Dr. and Mrs.Sze will be able to convince Mary that our decision is all for the best and should be accepted in a spirit of hearty cooperation.
Just a word as to Tom. The more I have thought over his case and the more I have talked with him, as well as with Arthur and Charlie, the more I am inclined to feel that Tom ought to go to some small but high grade college after he leaves us. While I would be disposed to favor the business course in his case, I know of no good business college that is not located in one of our large cities that does not have rather loose supervision of its pupils. Tom is not stable enough, in my judgment, to profit by such conditions, and for that reason, primarily, I am disposed to favor a small country college - such a college, for example, as Middlebury College in Vermont or Hamilton College in New York, or perhaps a somewhat larger one like Amherst or Wesleyan. If Tom makes a creditable record, a business course later would be all the more valuable to him, while, on the other hand, the college work itself might turn his interest in a wholly new and unexpected direction.
Trusting that your country may soon shake itself loose from the militarists who have been causing it so mush injury and distress and with assurance of my high regard and esteem, believe me
Very sincerely yours,
English
Correspondence
Letter from Arthur G. Robinson to Dr. Stearns, January 7, 1926 and advertisement with Robinson's American contact information
Letter from Arthur G. Robinson to Dr. Stearns, January 7, 1926 and advertisement with Robinson's American contact information
Handwritten letter sent from Arthur G. Robinson to Dr. Alfred E. Stearns. Hopes to visit Stearns and the Sun children in the spring. States he see Mr. Sun often. Offers to discuss any issues or questions with Mr. Sun directly. Advertisement provides two American addresses for contacting Robinson.
Arthur G. Robinson
Phillips Academy
January 7, 1926
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English
Correspondence
Letter from Arthur Sun to Dr Stearns, April 28, 1926
Letter from Arthur Sun to Dr Stearns, April 28, 1926
Handwritten letter sent from Arthur Sun to Dr. Alfred E. Stearns. Discusses current work and school. Enclosed check for school and bill for Andover Alumni fund. Asks that bookstore bill be paid. States that he has been busy and doesn't just write to Stearns for money. States Mary hasn't written for awhile. Hopes to write again in a week. Asks for May allowance in postscript.
Arthur Sun
Phillips Academy
April 28, 1926
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English
Manuscripts. Correspondence.
Letter from Arthur Sun to Dr. Stearns, January 27, 1926
Letter from Arthur Sun to Dr. Stearns, January 27, 1926
Handwritten letter sent from Arthur Sun to Dr. Alfred E. Stearns. Discuss school and current exams. Requests money to pay for tutoring in hydraulics engineering. Asks when Stearns is available in the coming week for a visit.
Arthur Sun
Phillips Academy
January 27, 1926
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English
Correspondence
Letter from Arthur Sun to Dr. Stearns, March 23, 1926
Letter from Arthur Sun to Dr. Stearns, March 23, 1926
Handwritten letter sent from Arthur Sun to Dr. Alfred E. Stearns. Asks if Stearns heard from C.Y. Sun. Explains based on conversation with mother, Mary is expected to get a diploma in June. Wrote his father giving his opinon of Mary finishing college in America. Asks if Mary could visit Boston during spring vacation. Discusses schoolwork and graduating in June. Asks about Tommie. Asks for April allowance. Thanks Stearns for send money for mechanic.
Arthur Sun
Phillips Academy
March 23, 1926
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English
Correspondence