Dr. John Calvin Ferguson (1866-1945), a Canadian-American scholar and Methodist missionary, was a prominent figure in modern Chinese history. An alumnus of Boston University, where he earned both his bachelor’s and doctorate degrees, Ferguson arrived in China in 1887 and spent over fifty years working and living there, significantly influencing various aspects of Chinese society. He served as the first president of Huiwen Academy (a predecessor of Nanking University) and the first dean of Nanyang Public School (a predecessor of Shanghai Jiao Tong University). He returned to the United States in 1943 and passed away in 1945 in New York.
Ferguson’s life was filled with remarkable achievements and contributions across multiple domains. He was active during both the late Qing Dynasty and the Republic of China, playing roles as a missionary educator, government advisor, social activist, art collector, and scholar of Chinese art and culture. His impact was felt in the fields of education, diplomacy, social welfare, museum development, and Sino-American cultural exchange.
At this lecture, Prof. Guo Feng, author of an 800-page book on Ferguson, will highlight five key areas of Ferguson’s accomplishments: educator, government advisor, social activist, art collector, and scholar of Chinese art and culture. He will discuss Ferguson’s major achievements during his fifty-six years in China and explore the reasons behind his successful career.
福开森（Dr. John Calvin Ferguson，1866-1945），加拿大裔美国人，获波士顿大学学士和博士学位，美以美会（卫理公会）传教士，南京汇文书院（金陵大学的前身之一）首任校长，南洋公学（上海交通大学的前身）首任监院。1887年来华，1943年返美，1945在纽约州的克利夫顿疗养院去世，是中国近代史上为数不多的在华工作生活超过五十年且事业有成、颇有影响的外国人之一。福开森一生充满传奇色彩。他经历晚清和民国两个时代，以传教士教育家、政府顾问、社会活动家、文物收藏家和中国艺术文化学者的身份，在清末新政、北洋政府外交、中国近代高等教育、社会公益事业、博物馆事业、中美艺术文化交流以及中国艺术文化研究等领域扮演角色，发挥作用，做出贡献。
福开森1884年走进波士顿大学，攻读专业学位的同时，学习中国文化，为来华工作做准备。至今年是140周年。为纪念这个重要的日子，並进一步了解福开森在中国近代史上述各个领域扮演的角色，取得的成就，做出的贡献，华美人文学会特邀请福开森研究专家郭锋教授于美东时间6月22日晚8时至9时半（北京时间6月23日早8时至9时半）做《我有我的机遇：福开森在华工作生活一生的五个闪光点》专题讲座。郭锋教授在讲座中将从教育家、政府顾问、社会活动家、文物收藏家和中国艺术文化学者等五个方面，介绍福开森在华工作生活五十六年取得的主要成就及其影响，並探讨福开森事业上获得成功的原因。
China Institute’s cultural programs are made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature.
