Looking For Louie - Teaching in China

As related in a previous post, once Louie Love Padgett arrived in China, one of his first duties was to register as an American citizen with the American consul in Amoy, China.  In this registration he stated he would be teaching at the Tan Ka [Kah] Kee School in Chip-Bee, Singapore, China.

Statue of Tan Kah Kee in front of his memorial hall
Source: Wikipedia Commons

Tan Kah Kee was a wealthy Chinese philanthropist "who gave a million dollars, practically all of his fortune, to found the new university [of Amoy] and its preparatory schools".(1)  The Tan Kah Kee Foundation exists today, and  the foundation's web site provides further information about this gentleman's generous support and philanthropic efforts on behalf of education in China.  It was for one of these schools that Louie Padgett was originally hired as a teacher.

In May of 1922, Louie notified the US Consul in Amoy that after 1 July 1922, his local address would be Kulangsu, Amoy where he would be teaching at the Tung Wen Institute.(2)  He continued to teach at Tung Wen until he left China in June, 1924.

Old postcard with picture of the Tung-Wen Institute,
source: www.amoymagic.com

The Tung Wen Institute had an interesting history.  It was founded in 1898 by the American Consul in Amoy and a group of wealthy local businessmen.(3)  This blending of Eastern and Western education was designed to prepare the sons of the wealthy Chinese for roles of leadership in the world economy.

Louie's years in China followed the Boxer Rebellion and were in the days of the rise of the Communist Party.  Politically, it was not always peaceful during these years.  The is no way to verify one family story, but it still must be shared.  One day Louie was taking a break from his teaching responsibilities, fishing in a local stream.  Suddenly two opposing factions began firing at each other across the bridge near where Louie had cast his pole.  Quickly he had to duck under the bridge for safely until the minor skirmish ended.  Just another adventure for Louie

Finally, 25 June 1944, Louie Padgett applied for an emergency passport as he prepared to return home to Oakman, Georgia.  On this application, he indicated his desire to travel to "all countries" on his return trip to the United States.(4)  His adventure was to continue.

(1) Monroe, Paul. A Report on Education in China. New York: The Institute of International Education, 1922. Digital Images. Google Books. http://google.com/books : 2013.
(2) US Passport Applications, 1795-1925, database and images, Ancestry.com. (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 18 May 2013); citing National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), Washington D.C. ; Passport Applications January 2, 1906 - March 31, 1925. Collection Number, ARC identifier 583830 / MLR Number A1 534; NARA Series M1490, Roll #1561.
(3) Catalogue of the Collection of Chinese Exhibits at the Louisiana Purchase Exposition, St. Louis, 1904. St. Louis: Shallcross Print, 1904. Digital Images. Google Books. http://books.google.com : 2013.
(4) US Passport Applications, 1795-1925, database and images, Ancestry.com. (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 18 May 2013); citing National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), Washington D.C. ; Passport Applications January 2, 1906 - March 31, 1925. Collection Number, ARC identifier 1244182 / MLR Number A1 543; Box #4358, vol. #142.