[Mary Esther Ferguson in China: History and Memory].

Abstract

Mary Esther Ferguson (1897-1989) was the daughter of John Calvin Ferguson, a renowned American social activist, educator, and collector in the early period of the Republic of China. Together with her father, she made an outstanding contribution to the cultural heritage preservation in China. M.E. Ferguson joined the Peking Union Medical College (PUMC) as the Registrar in 1928. She had served as the secretary to the Board of Trustees for nearly 20 years thereafter. She personally witnessed a series of major historical events, in this period, including the administrative reforms of the "Old PUMC," the Japanese occupation of Peiping, the post-war reopening, and its takeover by the new Government. Her work, China Medical Board and Peking Union Medical College, is not only an important monograph for the research of the administrative history of the "Old PUMC", but also an invaluable first-hand source. As a core participant and witness to the administrative management system of PUMC, Ferguson meticulously documented in her book the specific practice and institutional changes in various aspects such as personnel management, financial operations, academic administration, and Board decision-making throughout the creation and development of PUMC. This provides researchers with an irreplaceable perspective and rich information for further analysis of the unique administrative management model and operational logic of the "Old PUMC" as an essential reference.