Springfield was one of the first cities in Massachusetts where Chinese arrived in the 1840s, primarily fueled by the desire for education. The start of this tale though extends back about 30 years earlier. Reverend Samuel Robbins Brown was born in 1810 in Hartford, Connecticut and in 1818, his family moved to Monson, Massachusetts, a relatively short distance from Springfield. Samuel attended the Monson academy, which prepared students for college, and he was part of the Yalecollege class of 1832.

Samuel became a missionary and one of his primary passions became education. He chose to spend a number of years teaching students in China. In 1847, Samuels returned to the Springfield region, and brought three Chinese boys, 12 to 15 years old, with him, named Wong Shing, Yung Wing, and Wong Fun (also known as Wong Afeen). These were the first Chinese boys ever allowed to study abroad.

These three boys attended the Monson academy, living with Samuel’s family, and it was noted that all three did well in school, similar to other student of a similar age.

After graduation, around 1850, Wong Shing remained in Massachusetts for another two years, and then moved back to China where he initially worked as editor and translator at the China Mail, and later started working at a school in Shanghai. Wong Fun eventually went to Edinburgh university, in accordance with the wishes of his patron, Mr. Shortrede, a native of Scotland. Wong entered into the medical department, graduated in 1855, and became a physician. Yung Wing attended Yale college, and his connections to Massachusetts and education would continue for many years to come.  

The Boston Investigator, May 19, 1852 mentioned that “At the annual exhibition of the junior class at Yale College last month, the highest prize for English composition was awarded to Yung Wing, a native Chinese.” It was obvious that Yung was doing very well at Yale, especially for someone who wasn’t a native English speaker. Yung graduated from Yale college with the highest honor, and was probably the first Chinese student to graduate from an American college.

Yung decided to return to China for a time, and returned to Springfield for a visit in the summer of 1864. The primary reason for the trip was that Yung had a commission from China to inspect & purchase machinery of various kinds to introduce China to modern Western improvements. Yung returned to China, but made plans to go back to America, this time bringing a number of other Chinese students with him.     

 The Congregationalist, November 16, 1871, reported that China was willing to send 120 students to America for education, and had appropriated about $1,500,000 for the cost of this endeavor. Yung Wing would lead the first group of 30 Chinese students, and 30 more would follow each year for the subsequent three years.

The first group of students, with an average age of 12, arrived in Springfield on September 22, 1872. They were scattered to a number of homes in New England, from New Haven Connecticut to Brattleboro, Vermont. In August 1873, the second group of 30 Chinese students had recently arrived in Springfield, brought by Wong Shing, one of the three original Chinese students to attend Monson academy.

After their schooling was complete, the students had to return to China to serve the government. However, they could remain in the U.S., completing their education, for up to 15 years. They were expected to not only attend high school, but also to attend college and possibly even graduate school.

Yung Wing ties to American continued to grow. The Springfield Republican, February 26, 1875, provided the good news that Yung had gotten married to Mary L. Kellogg, a white woman, in Connecticut. Unfortunately, eleven years later, tragedy struck. The Boston Herald, May 30, 1886, reported that Mary, who was only 35 years old, died of consumption at their home in Hartford, Connecticut. They did have two sons, who now Yung had to raise on his own. Soon after his marriage, Yung had applied to become a citizen of the U.S., became naturalized, also became a registered voter in Hartford.

The final group of 30 Chinese students arrived in Springfield in November 1875, and was met by Yung Wing. A few months later, Yung Wing, and Chin Lan Pin, were made ambassadors to the U.S., Peru and Cuba. In 1878, Yung donated over 1,200 Chinese book to Yale college, which formed their new East Asian Library. During the 1890s, Yung Wingreturned to China, answering a summons from the government.

At some point, Yung returned to American, settling back in Hartford. The Boston Herald, February 28, 1909, mentioned that Yung visited Yale to celebrate the 55th anniversary of his graduating class, of which only 25 people were still alive. A few years later, Yung Wing, at age 84, died at his home in Hartford. What a remarkable man, who led a remarkable life.

SAMPAN, published by the nonprofit Asian American Civic Association, is the only bilingual Chinese-English newspaper in New England, acting as a bridge between Asian American community organizations and individuals in the Greater Boston area. It is published biweekly and distributed free-of-charge throughout metro Boston; it is also delivered to as far away as Hawaii.