Ruby Sia | |
---|---|
![]() Ruby Sia, from a 1907 publication | |
Born | 1884 Foochow, China |
Died | 1955 Shanghai, China |
Occupation(s) | Educator, Methodist missionary |
Known for | First Chinese graduate of Cornell College (1910) |
Ruby F. Sia (1884 – 1955) was a Chinese educator. She was the first Chinese individual graduate of Cornell College in Iowa, United States, a member of the class of 1910.
Sia was born in Foochow ( Fuzhou), the daughter of Sia Heng-To, a Methodist minister and educator. [1] Her uncle, Sia Sek Ong, was also a Methodist minister and educator. [2] [3] She first traveled to North America in 1900, [4] and graduated from Methodist Church-affiliated Cornell College in 1910, and was the school's first Chinese graduate. Cornell awarded her an honorary master's degree in 1918, and an honorary doctorate in 1936. [5] She took courses Baltimore Women's College in 1911 and 1912, [6] and at Teachers' College, Columbia University during her visit to the United States in 1920 and 1921. [7]
While in the United States, she was associate editor of The Chinese Students' Monthly. [8] and a contributor to the World's Chinese Students' Journal. [3] Her cousin Mabel Sia was also educated in Iowa. [9]
Sia traveled to China with American missionaries in 1904, [10] and spoke at church events during her college years. [11] On her return to China after college, Sia advocated for modernization in education, and especially for the education of girls, [12] while recognizing traditional gendered expectations. For example, she promoted chemistry, nutrition and physiology courses, for women to manage domestic responsibilities more scientifically. [13] She was a teacher and director of music [14] at Hwa Nan College, [15] a Methodist missionary women's college in Foochow. [16] [17] She was a founder of the Foochow Woman's Patriotic Society. [18]
Sia returned to the United States from 1920 to 1921 as a conference delegate and lecturer. [7] [19] [20] She toured in the United States in 1936, when she attended an international Methodist conference, [21] gave lectures, and raised funds for her college. [5] She made another lecture tour in the United States in 1940 and 1941. [22] [23]
Sia died in 1955, in Shanghai, when she was about seventy years old. [5]
Ruby Sia | |
---|---|
![]() Ruby Sia, from a 1907 publication | |
Born | 1884 Foochow, China |
Died | 1955 Shanghai, China |
Occupation(s) | Educator, Methodist missionary |
Known for | First Chinese graduate of Cornell College (1910) |
Ruby F. Sia (1884 – 1955) was a Chinese educator. She was the first Chinese individual graduate of Cornell College in Iowa, United States, a member of the class of 1910.
Sia was born in Foochow ( Fuzhou), the daughter of Sia Heng-To, a Methodist minister and educator. [1] Her uncle, Sia Sek Ong, was also a Methodist minister and educator. [2] [3] She first traveled to North America in 1900, [4] and graduated from Methodist Church-affiliated Cornell College in 1910, and was the school's first Chinese graduate. Cornell awarded her an honorary master's degree in 1918, and an honorary doctorate in 1936. [5] She took courses Baltimore Women's College in 1911 and 1912, [6] and at Teachers' College, Columbia University during her visit to the United States in 1920 and 1921. [7]
While in the United States, she was associate editor of The Chinese Students' Monthly. [8] and a contributor to the World's Chinese Students' Journal. [3] Her cousin Mabel Sia was also educated in Iowa. [9]
Sia traveled to China with American missionaries in 1904, [10] and spoke at church events during her college years. [11] On her return to China after college, Sia advocated for modernization in education, and especially for the education of girls, [12] while recognizing traditional gendered expectations. For example, she promoted chemistry, nutrition and physiology courses, for women to manage domestic responsibilities more scientifically. [13] She was a teacher and director of music [14] at Hwa Nan College, [15] a Methodist missionary women's college in Foochow. [16] [17] She was a founder of the Foochow Woman's Patriotic Society. [18]
Sia returned to the United States from 1920 to 1921 as a conference delegate and lecturer. [7] [19] [20] She toured in the United States in 1936, when she attended an international Methodist conference, [21] gave lectures, and raised funds for her college. [5] She made another lecture tour in the United States in 1940 and 1941. [22] [23]
Sia died in 1955, in Shanghai, when she was about seventy years old. [5]