President Angell and Robert Hart

The most prominent Wolverine to travel to China was President James B. Angell. In 1880he stepped down as President of the University to take on a new role –the U.S. Minister to China. Appointed by President Hayes, his task was to negotiate a new treaty with China that would address concerns of trade, immigration and international relations between the two countries. Despite the fierce xenophobia and anti-Chinese sentiment brewing in California and other parts of America, President Angell was committed to a fair and just treaty with China that would grant Chinese citizens in America the same rights as American citizens abroad. Throughout his time in China he was committed to fair agreements that would benefit both sides.

While in China, President Angell became friends with a prominent figure in China’s international politics –Sir Robert Hart of England. At the time Hart was serving as the Inspector-General of the Imperial Maritime CustomsService, the international organization that coordinated trade and tariffs with China, and had spent over 40 years in China. His expertise and influential position as a high ranking foreigner in Chinese government proved an helpful connection for President Angell.

The relationship between these two men continued past Angell’s stay in Asia. In 1884 when the Chinese government was asked to contribute an exhibit to the New Orleans World Cotton and Industrial Exposition, Hart was in charge of curating the exhibition. At the fair’s close, Hart remembered Angell and The University of Michigan - he requested the materials from the exhibition be donated to the University archives for research.

In 1886 the exhibits from New Orleans were transported to Michigan. For the next 40 years highlights from the exhibit were displayed in the University Museum Building. (http://bentley.umich.edu/exhibits/campus_tour/romancelanguages.php) The materials from the collection also were displayed at various locations around campus including the University Library. When the department of Anthropology was founded in 1928, the Chinese worlds’ fair materials found a new home and have been in the Museum of Anthropology archives ever since.