3 Founding of the National Third Sun Yat-sen University
In July 1927, the Third Sun Yat-sen University was established in Hangzhou by the the National Government with Jiang Menglin as President. On August 3, 1927, the university was renamed National Third Sun Yat-sen University. Then it merged Zhejiang Public Industrial Junior College and Zhejiang Public Agricultural Junior College as its School of Engineering and School of Labor and Agriculture, and prepared to set up School of Liberal Arts and Sciences.
Jiang Menglin (1886-1964)
Courtesy name Zhaoxian, he was a noted educator. Jiang was admitted to Zhejiang Advanced Academy in 1903 and passed the imperial examination in 1904. In 1912, he earned his PhD in education in America. In 1917, Jiang came back to China and served as secretary of Sun Yat-sen, President of Peking University, Director General of University Council of the Republic of China, and Minister of Education of the Republic of China.
In 1927, Jiang was appointed President of the National Third Sun Yat-sen University. During his tenure as President of the University, Jiang strictly selected qualified faculty members and recruited talents, gathering good human resources for the long-term development of Zhejiang University.
The document confirming Jiang Menglin's appointment.
Due to the poor development of higher education in Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang provincial assembly “deliberated it necessary for Zhejiang Province to establish a university” in November 1921, proposing to build Hangzhou University and requesting the implementation by the Office of Governor. However, Hangzhou University failed to be built, after several setbacks. In the spring of 1927, the assembly proposed to build Zhejiang University Research Institute and Zhejiang University. For lack of funds, the assembly decided to postpone the research institute and build the university first. The photo shows Outlines for Establishing Hangzhou University issued by the organizing board (including Cai Yuanpei)of Hangzhou University(Published on Republic Daily on November 17, 1921).
The photo on the right shows the seal of the National Third Sun Yat-sen University.
On August 3, 1927, the Administrative Committee of Education of the National Government issued Order 22, adding “National” to its name as the National Third Sun Yat-sen University.
In 1927, Zhejiang Provincial Government adopted the Educational Administrative Regulations of the National Third Sun Yat-sen University Managing the Affairs of Zhejiang University Area proposed by Jiang Menglin, which said, “Under the order of University Council of the Republic of China, the National Third Sun Yat-sen University shall take all the education administrative affairs of Zhejiang University Area, executing the orders of Administrative Committee of Education of the National Government.”The photo shows the Regulations of the National Third Sun Yat-sen University(published in Shun Pao on August 1, 1927).
Orders from National Government: Reorganize Zhejiang Public Industrial Junior College and Zhejiang Public Agricultural Junior College as the School of Engineering and School of Labor and Agriculture of the National Third Sun Yat-sen University; appoint Li Hsi-mou as Dean of Engineering, Tan Xihong as Dean of Labor and Agriculture (October 21, 1927).
Main Entrance of the National Third Sun Yat-sen University (taken in 1927-1928).
School of Labor and Agriculture was reorganized from Zhejiang Public Agricultural Junior College, consisting of Department of Agronomy, Department of Forestry, Department of Horticulture, Department of Sericulture and Department of Agricultural Society. In 1929, it was renamed as School of Agriculture. The photo shows the panorama of School of Agriculture.
Application and approval for establishing School of Liberal Arts and Sciences between Zhejiang University and the University Council of the Republic of China.
School of Engineering was reorganized from Zhejiang Public Industrial Junior College, consisting of Department of Electrical Engineering, Department of Chemical Engineering and Department of Civil Engineering. The photo shows the buildings of School of Engineering (taken in the 1920s).
In 1928, School of Liberal Arts and Sciences was officialy built, with Shao Peizi, the former President of Zhejiang Advanced College, as Dean. School of Liberal Arts and Sciences operated 10 majors: Chinese Language, Foreign Languages (English firstly set up), Philosophy, Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Psychology, History and Politics, Sports Science, Military Science. The photo shows the view of School of Liberal Arts and Sciences (taken in the 1920s).