Hung-Hsun Ling papers, 1916-1974

Collection context

Creator:
Ling, Hongxun, 1894-1981
Abstract:
The Hung-Hsun Ling papers document Ling's life as a railway engineer and his contribution to the development of rail infrastructure in China during the Republican period. The papers include two manuscripts of his autobiographies and 14 photographs depicting him as an engineer taken during and after the construction of various railway projects in China and other locations dating from 1916 to 1965, as well as a portrait of him at age 80. The papers also include five books related to the history and the development of railways in China written in Chinese by Ling from 1954 to 1977.
Extent:
0.4 Linear Feet 1 manuscript box
Language:
Chinese , English .
Scope and content:

The Hung-Hsun Ling papers include one handwritten volume of his memoir completed in 1964, one volume of "Chronological Autobiography of Myself" printed in 1973, five printed books by him, 15 photographs depicting his career as a civil engineer in the U.S., China, and Taiwan dating from 1916 to 1965, as well as a portrait of him at age 80 taken in 1974. The papers highlight his career as a railway engineer and his involvement in the development of rail infrastructure in China during the Republican era.

Biographical / historical:

Ling, Hung-Hsun (pinyin: Ling, Hongxun; Wade Giles: Ling, Hung-Hsun, Ling, H. H.; Traditional Chinese: 凌鴻勛; Simplified Chinese: 凌鸿勋; courtesy name: Chuming, Zhuming, 竹銘) was born in Panyu, Guangdong province, 1894. He graduated from Jiaotong Bu Nanyang University (交通部南洋大學, later became the Shanghai Jiaotong University, 上海交通大學) in 1915. From 1916 to 1917, Ling interned in the New York office of the American Bridge Division under the United States Steel Corporation and studied at the Columbia University School of Engineering. After returning to China in 1918, he started his railway career in Tangshan, where the first railway in China was built. He spent thirty years working with the Chinese Government Railway and spent fifteen years constructing the Canton-Hankow railway (also known as the Guangzhou–Hankou railway, 粵漢鐵路) as the Chief Engineer. The railway later served as an effort to resist the Japanese invasion as it was completed in 1936, one year before the Sino-Japanese War in Northern China. At the same time, he also served as the President at his alma mater from 1924 to 1927. He also served as the Deputy Minister of Communications for the Nationalist government from 1945 to 1949. He also work on building railways such as the Lunghai (隴海鐵路) and the Hunan-Guangxi (湘桂鐵路) railway in the far northwest and south west of China. After the fall of the Nationalist government in mainland China, Ling moved to Taiwan. He served as the Chairman of the state-owned Chinese Petroleum Corporation (中國石油股份有限公司; 中油公司) for 20 years from 1950 to 1970. In 1981 at age 88, Ling passed away in Taiwan. The Chu-Ming Memorial Room (竹銘紀念室) at the National Chiao Tung University (國立交通大學) was opened in honor of Ling's contribution as a great railway engineer.

Access and use

Restrictions:

This collection is located off-site. You will need to request this material at least three business days in advance to use the collection in the Rare Book and Manuscript Library reading room.

This collection has no restrictions.

Terms of access:

Reproductions may be made for research purposes. The RBML maintains ownership of the physical material only. Copyright remains with the creator and his/her heirs. The responsibility to secure copyright permission rests with the patron.

Preferred citation:

Identification of specific item; Date (if known); Hung-Hsun Ling papers; Box and Folder; Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Columbia University Library.

Location of this collection:
6th Floor East Butler Library
535 West 114th Street
New York, NY 10027, USA
Before you visit:
Researchers interested in viewing materials in the RBML reading room must must book an appointment at least 7 days in advance. To make the most of your visit, be sure to request your desired materials before booking your appointment, as researchers are limited to 5 items per day.
Contact:
rbml@library.columbia.edu