[Editor's Note] In 1965, when the University of Chicago wanted to make its chinese history teaching and research unparalleled in the world, he Bingdi, then a professor at The University of Chicago, suggested that Yang Liansheng be "plucked out of The Yang Liansheng" from Harvard, because Yang was "a very knowledgeable sinologist, although his main research interest was Chinese economic history." In He Bingdi's view, "the one-two punch of the joint boxing power of Yang and me is no less than the strength of the most representative figures in the history teaching and research of any famous western and Eastern academy", so there is a courtesy to hire Yang Liansheng to move Xi Zhida, He Bingdi is in the middle of the contact, and the two fish and geese return. Three correspondences from Yang Liansheng to He Bingdi, recorded in Liansheng Shujian (The Commercial Press, October 2017).
One
Brother Bing Di:
Thank you very much for the two letters on April 5th and 6th. Professor Mcneill's five-day letter was also received. Among them, the words bad health and poor health are both misunderstood and naturally inappropriate to mind. Although the brother's blood pressure has been controlled by under control, he does not want to overwork, which is also true. It is very gratifying that Chikudai can have such an understanding, and there is no pressure on publishing (especially writing books), which is particularly impressive to see the professor's care! (In fact, if you really want to write a book, it is not difficult to write one in three or five years.) Teaching to write articles, the basis of all brothers, etc., naturally will not spare efforts.
Professor Mcneill's letter is very sincere, please thank you first! The various advantages of Zhida said are the truth, and the brother should carefully consider this matter. Although Professor Mcneill's letter mentions salary and title, it is not as detailed as my brother's letter (univ. prof. annual salary of twenty-five thousand). Another year, he only taught two quarterers, one lecture and one seminar per quarter, a total of five hours, and the younger brother was also very desirable. It is also to be known whether there are still any means of leave. In this regard, it would be preferable to ask Professor Mcneill to write another letter, or my brother to write a letter in English stating that he has obtained the consent of the Rector or Provost. In addition, housing, health service, health and life insurance, retirement, children's education and even moving allowances, etc., although they are small things, are also expected to be written in a letter, this is a major decision, and everything must be compared in detail.
My brother is Ren J. w. Thompson prof. Chinese was the first person to give a lecture in the History Department, which was particularly gratifying. The fact that Colonel Shishichi was willing to carry it out so actively not only shows the boldness of the highest authorities, but also shows the trust and gratitude of my brother. If I follow my brother's dream big, it is not impossible for the "four famous Dans" to write the four chicago history of China. (Ding Long's lecture was not officially mentioned to his brother when Professor Fu was not retired, but the brother did not carry out it.) After the death of Dai Wenda of Lyton University in the Netherlands, some people also came to ask, and the brother thanked and recommended He Siwei, who is currently a professor and director of the Institute of Sinology. ）
Hasty reply i.e. please
Li Ann
Brother LianSheng
1964.4.8
Note: Ho Bingdi corrected: "The date of payment should be 1965." It is recorded from He Bingdi's "Sixty Years of Reading History and Reading the World". He Bingdi (1917-2012), historian, has been teaching at the University of Chicago for many years, is a Thompson Chair Professor of History, was the president of the American Society for Asian Studies, and is the author's Tsinghua scholar.
He Bingdi
Two
Brother Bing Di:
The history department passed, and received a telegram, extreme sense! To be recognized by professional historians, the brother also considered honorable, and the degree of the brother was only m. a. for the history department, ph. d. for the two departments. So far, although it is a memory of the history department, it does not vote (there are too many people in the history department, and it is quite reluctant that people outside the budget have the right to vote, but the brother does not care, otherwise this is also an opportunity to correct). Now that there are the princes of the Zhida History Department as their companions, they are very pleased.
The Hayan Society will meet next Tuesday and Wednesday, and if there is news at the latest Thursday, it will be telegraphed immediately. It may be a special lecture for Chinese (or Chinese and Japanese) scholars, and if it can be done, it will be a good thing. Salaries cannot be contested. The highest at the first Harvard is only 24,000 (only the number of langer people in their later years is here, and the number of ordinary lectures is still 22,000 or less). The second must be to take care of other colleagues, not to stand alone and attract jealousy. In addition, the letter of director of The Cheshire Side Only mentions the saleary and title, does not specify the number, the official letter of appointment has not arrived, and the price cannot be negotiated. In addition, those who may ask the school to add a young person (assistant professor to associate professor level) in the field of national history (early stage) in one or two years, which the younger brother had talked with Hai Taowei and Fei Zhengqing in February this year, and wrote memo, at this time to promote, of course, the hope is greater. Today Fei Gong came to talk, saying that if the brother goes, he will be dissaster for Harvard, which is also true, but the canal also says that this is a good opportunity to ask the school authorities to pay more attention to China's history, Gai Fei has a heavy foreign gift, no crisis, all departments have to develop, and it is not easy for the principal provost to decide the order. First again Bushey, i.e. please
1965.4.22
Yang Liansheng
Three
Last night deHayan President Prof. John pelzel telephone, that is, to call the Zun Mansion, suitable for my brother to go out for a walk, about to inform Jing Luo's sister-in-law through the lecture. Brother is not accustomed to making long-distance calls, the wording is short, grateful to my brother, I am afraid that I have not fully expressed, I feel sorry!
Monday de bary also had a letter, euphemistic wording, saying that at first I thought that my brother would never consider it, so Ding Long's lecture was not proposed earlier, and now it was urged by Professor Fu, Fang and his wife and the people in the committee, and wrote this letter to ask whether there was any possibility of consideration, such as intentionally asking for a call and so on. There is a cloud in the letter: as a matter of fact, we do not have any other immediate prospect of a stature to make him worthy of this chair. In fact, Mr. Fang Zhaoyao, who is a scholar of dictatorial theory, can deserve more than that, but at present he is bound by the editorial office of the "Celebrity Biography of the Ming Dynasty" and cannot teach (although Mr. Fang has the name of professor, he is only engaged for three years). Enclose a copy of the letter to de bary, please also forward the prof. Mcneill, thank you very much! There is no mention of other candidates in this letter (there is a lesson from the past in the Uk), is my brother interested in making this shot (natural timing is also very important)?
This time, after Hai Tao Wei met Professor Mai, he went to find Dean ford, and everyone reacted very quickly, and the psychological burden on his brother was greatly reduced. (Brother, you can imagine how much it would have affected my brother's psychology if he had come out with a cold attitude and refused to make a move without waiting for an official Chicago letter.) It is in the name of a special lecture created, that is, there can no longer be a salary competition (the provost promised to increase it slowly) (Ding Long's lecture is still 18500 and not too high). It is more suitable for lazy people here. As for my brother's special help this time, I already know that there are many people (Mr. Yang Shaozhen also has a letter). If there is no heavy money outside, Harvard's reaction will never be so fast (if they refuse to go anyway, they will not move), this is also known to everyone, this period of karma, that is, this has become a good story, my brother can also masturbate!
Please
1965.4.28