Thomas Scovel photograph albums, 1979

Summary

Creator:

Scovel, Thomas, 1939-

Abstract:

Thomas Scovel was born in Jining, China in 1939. He worked as a professor of linguistics, publishing numerous books and articles on the subject. The collection consists of three photo albums from the 1979 trip that Scovel and his family took to China. Photographs document the classes that Scovel and his wife, Janene, taught in the country as well as some of the people that the family met during the trip.

Extent:

0.5 linear feet

Language:

English

Call Number:

2016062 Aa 2

Authors:

Finding aid created by Devon Proudfoot, August 2016

Background

Scope and Content:

The Thomas Scovel photo albums consist of three photograph albums from Scovel, documenting his 1979 trip to China. Photographs are of Thomas and his wife, Janene, as they taught children the English language at the Tientsin Foreign Languages Institute. Other photographs show the places that the family visited, like Scovel’s childhood home, as well as the events they attended, and the family’s daily routines. Some of the photographs are accompanied by description of the events from Scovel.

Biographical / Historical:

In 1939 Thomas Scovel was born in Jining, China and was raised in the country until 1956 when he moved to the United States. Scovel received his master’s degree from the Ohio State University and later his Ph.D. from the University of Michigan before becoming a professor of linguistics at the University of Pittsburgh and San Francisco State University. Scovel has published numerous articles and books on linguistics, specifically concerning languages of Asian countries such as China and Thailand

In 1979 Scovel and his wife, Janene, were some of the first Americans to be invited to China to spend the year as guest teachers at the Tientsin Foreign Languages Institute. During this trip the two taught Chinese students the English language, while visiting locations from Scovel's youth. During the trip Scovel wrote about the social and economic changes that were taking place throughout the country in his book titled, The Year China Changed.

Acquisition Information:

Donated by Thomas Scovel (donor no. 11402 ) in December 2015. Donation was facilitated by Joseph Ho.

Subjects

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Subjects:

Photograph albums.
Language and languages -- Study and teaching.
Teaching -- China.
Education -- China.

Names:

Scovel family.
Scovel, Thomas, 1939-
Scovel, Janene.

Places:

China -- Description and travel.