Descendants of Former President Zhang Yuanji Donate Precious Historical Materials
On March 3rd, Ms. Zhang Long, the wife of Mr. Li Ruihua, an alumnus from the Class of 1946 at Shanghai Jiao Tong University and the granddaughter of Zhang Yuanji, the university's second president, specifically entrusted her brother, Mr. Zhang Renfeng, to donate precious documentary materials to the Archives and Museums Management Center of Shanghai Jiao Tong University. Mr. Ou Qijin, Deputy Director of the Archives and Museums Management Center, and Ms. Sun Ping, Director of the University History Research Office (Party History Research Office), accepted the donation at the General Office of Xuhui Campus and expressed sincere gratitude for their enthusiastic support of the archival and museum work related to the university's history.
Ms. Zhang Long donated two precious photographs related to Li Ruihua's participation in socialist construction. The first photograph depicts Li Ruihua shortly after his return to China in 1953, working at the East China Design Institute in Shanghai and being selected as a youth representative from Shanghai to attend the National Youth Representatives Conference in Beijing. The second photograph captures a meeting in 1963 where central leaders such as Liu Shaoqi, Deng Xiaoping, and Peng Zhen received personnel involved in foreign aid projects. At the time, Li Ruihua presented a suggestion advocating for the use of light steel structures in foreign aid projects, which he believed to be more suitable, time-saving compared to concrete structures, and promoting a more civilized construction site. This report earned praise from Comrade Fang Yi, a leader of the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation. Additionally, Mr. Zhang Renfeng donated a two-volume set of "Hanfen Building's Ashes and Residue Catalog" compiled by Zhang Yuanji himself, published by Shanghai Ancient Books Publishing House in 2022. These historical documents and books pertaining to the university's history, research on individuals associated with the university, and even the study of significant national development processes, hold important historical, cultural, and collection value. They also demonstrate the deep-rooted affection of the "Jiao Tong University family" for their alma mater.
Zhang Yuanji is a highly significant figure in the history of Shanghai Jiao Tong University. Starting from 1899, he took charge of the Nanyang Public School Translation Institute, where he introduced translations of classical works from both Eastern and Western academia, such as "Origin of Wealth" and "Compendium of Japanese Regulations." In 1901, he became the principal of Nanyang Public School and established the Economic Special Class, making outstanding contributions during the early stage of Shanghai Jiao Tong University's establishment.
Li Ruihua, as the grandson-in-law of Zhang Yuanji, graduated from the Civil Engineering Department of Shanghai Jiao Tong University in 1946. He furthered his studies at the University of Toronto. In the 1950s, driven by a strong patriotic passion, despite facing numerous obstacles, he resolutely returned to China from the United States to participate in the construction of New China. He was responsible for hundreds of large-scale military and civilian steel structure projects, including the Great Hall of the People and the Capital Gymnasium. He is regarded as a pioneer and leader in the field of metal structure design research in our country.
The descendants of Zhang Yuanji have long been supporting the work of preserving the historical archives and cultural relics. They have generously donated books, documents, and other materials related to Zhang Yuanji and Li Ruihua on several occasions, including in 1996, 2015, and 2022.
Ou Qijin sincerely expressed gratitude to Zhang Long and Zhang Renfeng for their selfless donation and stated that the donated materials have further enriched the collection of notable alumni artifacts in the University's Museum of History. It also enhances the historical research materials for the Party's history project. The center will live up to the trust placed in them by ensuring the proper preservation, storage, and utilization of the collected archival materials. They will strive to tell the remarkable stories of the Party's history and the University's history behind these donated artifacts.