Lecture, Da Zheng, Chiang Yee: The Boston Athenaeum and Cultural Understanding

Chiang Yee: The Boston Athenæum and Cultural Understanding

Lecture in conjunction with The Chinese Historical Society of New England and The Rosenberg Institute for East Asian Studies at Suffolk University.

In 1952, Chiang Yee, renowned writer, artist, and worldwide traveler, best known for the Silent Traveller series—stories of England, the United States, Ireland, France, Japan, and Australia--visited the United States to prepare for a book about Boston. During that trip, Yee became acquainted with Director of The Boston Athenæum, Walter Muir Whitehill, and this marked the beginning of an extraordinary relationship which lasted nearly a quarter of a century. Although they came from entirely different racial and cultural backgrounds, their mutual appreciation, admiration, and understanding drew the two together, and their friendship became a touching story in the intellectual history of the twentieth century. The original watercolors and drawings for Yee’s book, The Silent Traveller in Boston, belong to the Athenæum’s Prints and Photographs collection.

Da Zheng is Professor of English at Suffolk University, where he serves as Director of the Asian Studies Program. His articles on American literature, Asian American studies, and popular culture have appeared in various scholarly journals. His biography Chiang Yee: The Silent Traveller from the East will be published in 2010.

To Reserve: This event is open to public and there is no fee. Reservations are required but will not be accepted until April 2, 2010. Please call the Athenæum’s reservation line, 617-720-7600.

Books will be available for sale courtsey of our friends at The Globe Corner Bookstore.