Wu Yi-fang

Wu Yi-fang
Born
吳貽芳

January 26, 1893
Wuchang City, Hubei Province, China
DiedNovember 10, 1985
Nanjing, China
CitizenshipChinese
Academic background
Alma materGinling College (UG)
University of Michigan (MA, PhD)
Academic work
DisciplineEducator and Diplomat
Wu Yi-fang
Traditional Chinese吳貽芳
Simplified Chinese吴贻芳
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu PinyinWú Yí Fāng
Wade–GilesWu I-fang
In this Chinese name, the family name is Wu.

Wu Yi-fang (Wu I-fang,[1][2] 1893–1985)[3] was a prominent Chinese figure who is best known for her role as president of Ginling College and as the first and one of only four women to sign the UN Charter in 1945.[4] Wu came from a well-educated family and throughout her life attended numerous schools in both China and America, which played a large role in her advocacy for women's education in China.[5] This advocacy was most persistent and prominent in her role as president of Ginling College where she was able to actively integrate the educational policies she believed in.[6]

Wu was also a significant Chinese diplomat abroad, especially in America, where she attained her MA and PhD in biology.[3] The connections she made during her time at the University of Michigan through her leadership roles in student organizations enabled her to bridge the gap between Chinese and American networks with regards to education.[7] Her role as a Chinese diplomat was most evident when in 1945 she was sent as the only woman part of the Chinese Delegation at the San Francisco Conference.[8]

Wu Yi-fang is remembered as a dedicated president and diplomat, who consistently pursued greater access to education for women in China and abroad.

  1. ^ "吳貽芳". Integrated Information System. Institute of Modern History, Academia Sinica. Archived from the original on 2022-10-02. Retrieved 2022-10-02. Miss Wu Yi-fang [=] Wu I-fang
  2. ^ "Letter from Dr. Wu Yi-fang to Florence Tyler". The View from Ginling. Barnard College. Archived from the original on 2022-10-02. Retrieved 2022-10-02. Letter from Dr. Wu Yi-fang (吳貽芳) to Margaret Hodge [...] [Letter ends with three separate lines:] Cordially yours, / Yi-fang Wu, / President.
  3. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference :10 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ Hannan, Carolyn; Iiyambo, Aina; Brautigam, Christine. "A Short History of the Commission on the Status of Women" (PDF). UN Women. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2 February 2020. Retrieved 5 March 2019.
  5. ^ Schneider, Helen M. (2012). "Mobilising Women: The Women's Advisory Council, Resistance and Reconstruction during China's War with Japan". European Journal of East Asian Studies. 11 (2): 213–236. doi:10.1163/15700615-20121105. JSTOR 23615457.
  6. ^ Yi-fang, Wu (1944). "Education in War-Time China". Pi Lambda Theta Journal. 22 (4): 130–134. JSTOR 42915913.
  7. ^ Roosevelt, Eleanor (10 December 1943). "Eleanor Roosevelt's 'My Day' 12/10/1943: The Artists Value to the Public". The White House Historical Association. Archived from the original on 2 October 2022. Retrieved March 5, 2019.
  8. ^ Cite error: The named reference :11 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).