ELWYN B. ROBINSON DEPARTMENT OF SPECIAL COLLECTIONS
CHESTER FRITZ LIBRARY
UNIVERSITY OF NORTH DAKOTA
GRAND FORKS, NORTH DAKOTA 58202

JOHN JUNG LETTERS

COLLECTION: OGL#995

DATES: 1929-1984 [Bulk Dates, 1929-1936]

SIZE: .25 linear feet

INTRODUCTION

ACQUISITION: In December 1984, photocopies of the John Jung Letters were deposited in the Orin G. Libby Manuscript Collection by Fanny Boulden Peterson, Larimore, North Dakota, who kept the originals. The original letters were later deposited by Fanny Welte (Peterson’s daughter), Aneta, North Dakota, on November 18, 2003. The photocopies were given to Welte in exchange for the originals (Acc.#84-1338).

ACCESS: Open for inspection under the rules and regulations of the Department of Special Collections.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH

In the fall of 1928, a young Chinese immigrant named John Jung entered Fanny Boulden's fourth grade class in Devils Lake, North Dakota. Besides attending school, Jung also worked in his father's laundry. The following year, Miss Boulden was married, retired from teaching, and moved to a farm in Grand Forks County. Jung later moved to Bismarck where he attended school and worked in a cafe with his father.

In January 1932, Jung returned to China for approximately eight months. While in China, he visited his mother, and also enlisted in the Chinese Army. After returning to North Dakota, and he graduated from Bismarck High School in 1935. Following graduation, Jung continued his education on a scholarship at Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana. He was enrolled as an engineering student at Purdue through the 1936-1937 school year, and was an active member of the Cosmopolitan Club, an all nationality organization.

The last letter to Fanny (Boulden) Peterson from Jung was dated December 27, 1936. In this letter, there was no indication that he intended to return to his homeland. The question remains, however, whether or not Jung became a part of the 2nd Sino-Japanese War which broke out in China in July 1937.

SCOPE AND CONTENT NOTE

The John Jung Letters consist mainly of 25 letters from Jung to Fanny (Boulden) Peterson from 1929-1936. The letters reveal Jung's adjustment to and reflections on life in the United States, as well as his common daily activities and his experiences in the American educational system. As indicated by Fanny Peterson in 1984, "his intriguing letters are a literary event, I feel. They reveal a developing personality and a young man dedicated to making it in a 'white man's world'.” (see folder 28)

Also included is one letter from Nelson Sawvain, former Superintendent of Schools in Devils Lake, to Jung; a story written by Jung after he had been in Boulden’s class for eight weeks; a biographical account about Jung written by Carol Welte; and photocopied materials from the archives at Purdue University.

BOX AND FOLDER INVENTORY

Box 1
Folder

  1. Correspondence to Miss Boulden: June 9, 1929
  2. Correspondence to Miss Boulden: October 7, 1929
  3. Correspondence to Miss Boulden: November 11, 1929
  4. Correspondence to Mrs. Peterson: December 21, 1929
  5. Correspondence to Mrs. Peterson: March 15, 1930
  6. Correspondence to Mrs. Peterson: July 12, 1930
  7. Correspondence to Mrs. Peterson: September 5, 1930
  8. Correspondence to Mrs. Peterson: December 13, 1930
  9. Correspondence to Mrs. Peterson: March 22, 1931
  10. Correspondence to Mrs. Peterson: October 6, 1931
  11. Correspondence to Mrs. Peterson: December 1932
  12. Correspondence to Mrs. Peterson: February 23, 1933
  13. Correspondence to Mrs. Peterson: March 2, 1933
  14. Correspondence to Mrs. Peterson: December 13, 1934
  15. Correspondence to Mrs. Peterson: January 3, 1935
  16. Correspondence to Mrs. Peterson: February 19, 1935
  17. Correspondence to Mrs. Peterson: April 25, 1935
  18. Correspondence to Mrs. Peterson: June 3, 1935
  19. Correspondence to Mrs. Peterson: August 5, 1935
  20. Correspondence to Mrs. Peterson: August 9, 1935
  21. Correspondence to Mrs. Peterson: August 15, 1935
  22. Correspondence to Mr. and Mrs. Peterson: August 25, 1935
  23. Correspondence to Mrs. Peterson: December 30, 1935
  24. Correspondence to Mrs. Peterson: June 18, 1936
  25. Correspondence to Jung from Nelson Sawvain: December 17, 1936
  26. Correspondence to Mrs. Peterson: December 27, 1936
  27. Story written by Jung after being in school eight weeks: 1929
  28. Biographical account on Jung written by Carol Welte: December 1984
  29. Purdue University biographical material: 1935-1936

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