Soviet University is the predecessor of the current Suzhou University . It was founded in Suzhou in 1900. The first president was Sun Lewen (American).
Soviet University
After the mid-19th century, the Qing court was defeated by Britain, France, Russia, Japan and other countries and was forced to sign several unequal treaties. The repeated defeats of wars have caused the government and the people to lose confidence, and the society’s calls for reform and learning from the strengths of the great powers are increasing day by day. Against this backdrop, the American Christian Church came to China to start an education cause.
Soviet University Bell Tower
Based on Gongxiang Academy, it was expanded into a university at the former site of Boxi Academy in Suzhou Tiancizhuang . In December 1900, the school board of directors was formulated, and Mr. Young J. Allen (founder of the Wanguo Gazette) was appointed as the chairman and Mr. David L. Anderson was appointed as the principal. Soochow University, the first private university in China, was officially born in the early 20th century.
Soviet University School of Law Old Film
In the early 26th year of the founding of Soochow University, it has gone through three American presidents, David L. Anderson, John W. Cline and W. B. Nance. The school funding during this period mainly comes from donations and tuition fees. The teaching buildings on campus, such as Lintang, Suntang, Getang and teaching student dormitories, have been built one after another, and the campus scale is becoming increasingly complete. The discipline development includes liberal arts, science, medicine, theology and law subjects (at , Kunshan Road, Shanghai), and four affiliated middle schools, twenty affiliated primary schools, Huihan Primary School, Wuyu School, etc., to form a complete Soochow education system. In addition to outstanding performance in academic research, various disciplines have also cultivated countless professional talents for the society. The school uses the motto of "Unto a Full-grown Man" to emphasize the cultivation of students' personality.
The Anderson Building (Sun Tang for short) in the former Soochow University - Library
1915, based on Soochow University, the "Soochow University Law School" was established in Shanghai. The college’s teaching highlights the content of “Anti-American Law” and focuses on teaching “comparative Law”. Its scientific training goals and distinctive teaching characteristics made the legal education of Soochow University famous both at home and abroad at that time, and was sometimes known as “Southern Eastern Wu and North Chaoyang”. A large number of famous modern and contemporary law experts have been trained, such as Esen, Wang Chonghui, Wu Jingxiong, Ni Zhengyi, Li Haopei, Pan Handian, , Yang Tie (Mu Liang), etc., which are praised as "the first-class and most famous law school in South China."
former Allen Building (Lintang for short) in Soochow University
During the May Fourth Movement, Soochow students planned to form a student union, and general student clubs were mainly academic research, debate and sports activities. In the early days, Soochow University laid a good foundation for future school affairs development with the efforts of the three presidents.
Sun Lewen (David L. Anderson, February 1850-1911) A missionary sent by the American Supervisory Council to China, the first president of Soochow University (1901-1911)
1903 Soochow University's football team
