Pearl S. Buck Museum in Zhenjiang (Jiangsu) China is Amazing

Timeline display of books written by Pearl S. Buck

Replication of the living room in the Pearl S. Buck House in PA

Bust of Pearl S. Buck a gift from Pearl S. Buck International donated by Bucks County Sculptor Madeline Smith

I had the honor of traveling to Zhenjiang (Jiangsu Province) China this past June for the 120th Birth Year Memorial Celebration of Pearl S. Buck. Zhenjiang is the area where Pearl S. Buck lived as a child and returned to teach after graduating from college. In total, Pearl Buck lived 18 years in Zhenjiang. The City of Zhenjiang embraced Pearl Buck and her legacy by renovating her former home and designating it as a National Historic Attraction. More recently, they renovated the beautiful Pearl S. Buck Museum which was built directly across from her historic home. Donna Rhodes, the Curator of the Pearl S. Buck House in Bucks County, PA, provided her expertise in the renovation, and our small group of twenty people were deeply impressed with the attention to detail and accurate transcriptions throughout the museum. I was most impressed with the timeline of books written by Pearl S. Buck, as I have never seen such a wonderful visual display of her books in one place. I could have spent the entire day in the museum looking at the displays, and I look forward to my return visit to Zhenjiang.  I encourage everyone visiting China to visit Zhenjiang and the Pearl S. Buck Musuem and Historic House there.  You will be amazed at the continuing legacy of Pearl S. Buck in China.

Janet L. Mintzer
President & CEO
Pearl S. Buck International
www.pearlsbuck.org

Pearl S. Buck Museum in Zhenjiang China Receives Gift from Pearl S. Buck International

Helen Wolf, of Bucks County, PA, a volunteer at Pearl S. Buck International and wonderful quilter, donated this beautiful quilt for me to take as a gift to the Pearl S. Buck Memorial Museum in Zhenjiang (Jiangsu Province China), in celebration of its grand reopening on the occasion of the 120th Birth Year Anniversary of Pearl S. Buck. The quilt is being received by the Li Jinfu, Curator of the Pearl S. Buck Memorial Museum.

Janet L. Mintzer
President & CEO
Pearl S. Buck International
www.pearlsbuck.org

Bucks County Artist Aurelia Neives-Callwood Featured in Pearl Buck House in Nanjing

 

Bucks County Artist, Aurelia Neives-Callwood, donated a beautiful painting of the Pearl S. Buck House Bell Door in PA (USA) which I presented to the restored Pearl S. Buck House on the Campus of Nanjing University at the grand opening ceremony.   

Janet L. Mintzer
President & CEO
Pearl S. Buck International
www.pearlsbuck.org

Pearl S. Buck Symposium in Zhenjiang, Jiangsu, China

Yesterday was a very exciting day for the legacy of Pearl S. Buck.  The opening ceremony and symposium commemorating the 120th birth year of Pearl S. Buck was a huge success.  Robert Griffiths, US Counsel General, Ambassador Nicholas Platt, and many other dignitaries and scholars were in attendance.  Special thanks to the Zhenjiang Municipal Government and the Zhenjiang Pearl S. Buck Research Center.  Today, we will attend the grand re-opening of the Pearl S. Buck Memorial Hall in Zhenjiang.  More to follow.

Janet Mintzer

President & CEO

Pearl S. Buck International

www.pearlsbuck.org

Doodle This!

Pearl S. Buck International is recognizing the 120th anniversary of the birth of Pearl S. Buck on June 26 and we think that is “Google-Doodle-worthy.”  

We’ve all seen them…those great pieces of art that catch our eye as we launch our searches on Google. We are looking for Google to honor Pearl S. Buck on June 26 with a doodle.

As humanitarian, author, and child advocate, Pearl S. Buck touched the lives of two million. Pearl S. Buck International strives to uphold her legacy through adoption, child sponsorship and community cultural and writing programs.

Think about how many more lives we can touch if Google helps us build awareness through a Google Doodle.  Hundreds of millions of searches are conducted on Google each day. A Google Doodle will put her name in front every person who does one from the Google search page.

The Pearl S. Buck Birthplace in Hillsboro, West Virginia has begun a rallying cry to reach out to Google. We are echoing that cry here and are asking for your help.

There is no formal process for proposing a Google Doodle, and suggestions can come from anywhere. Google only takes suggestions via email at proposals@google.com. We are sharing a  template message below, drafted by Michael Toler, Ph. D from the Pearl S. Buck Birthplace Foundation, explaining why Pearl S. Buck is an important cultural figure. Feel free to cut and paste it, and to send it as is. Better yet, personalize it with your story, but keep it simple, polite and short. That way it is more likely to be read.

Time is of the essence, and we appreciate you sharing in our campaign to get a Google Doodle on June 26, honoring Pearl S. Buck on the occasion of  the 120^th anniversary of her birth. 
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Dear Google,

With hundreds of millions of searches performed every day, a global reach into even most remote corners of the world, and a reputation for accuracy and reliability, to be the subject of a Google Doodle on your birthday or some significant anniversary has become a great honor. The late author and humanitarian Pearl S. Buck deserves such an honor and I am writing to suggest you consider running a Google Doodle on the 120th anniversary of her birth, which will be June 26, 2012.

Pearl Buck is best known as a novelist. She won a Pulitzer Prize in 1932 for her novel The Good Earth, and became the first American woman to win the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1938. She wrote prolifically throughout her life, and her work did a great deal to demystify China and Asian culture for the West. But she was more than a novelist: She was a tireless advocate for peace and cultural understanding, and she was a political journalist who felt compelled to speak out on civil rights and women’s issues.

In all, Pearl Buck published more than eighty books, including novels, story collections, nonfiction, translations and children’s books. Many were translated into different languages and published around the world. Fifteen were Book of the Month selections, and most were best-sellers. The fact that her work was so widely read is part of what makes her so important. The empathy she brought to her characters, be they Chinese peasants or American housewives, shaped the way a whole generation of readers felt about other nations and cultures. No wonder she has been praised by the likes of modern-day writers Maxine Hong Kingston and Toni Morrison.

Though she is most remembered as a writer, Pearl Buck’s humanitarian endeavors should not be overlooked. She was generous with her time, labor and money in support of causes she believed in, and there were many, many such causes. Most notably, she set up The Welcome House, an agency for the adoption of Asian-American and other mixed race children who, at the time were considered “un-adoptable” by most orphanages and placement agencies. Indeed, few people have done as much to change attitudes on the rights of the child as Pearl Buck.

Please consider a Google Doodle honoring Pearl S. Buck for June 26, 2012. She certainly deserves it.

Sincerely,

___________

Nanjing University Grand Opening of the Pearl S. Buck Memorial House

(Front L to R - Peter & Terry Conn, Janet Roberts
Back L to R - Steve Harnsberger, Janet Mintzer, Hilary Spurling)

I had a wonderful trip to Nanjing University for the opening of the Pearl S. Buck Memorial House in celebration of the 110th Anniversary of Nanjing University. What a wonderful way to celebrate the school's rich history by renovating the former home of Pearl S. Buck as a memorial to her.The University also conducted a Symposium on Pearl S. Buck's Years in Nanjing. It was so interesting to have authors Peter Conn and Hillary Spurling participating in the discussion as well as filmmaker Donn Rogosin and other important Chinese scholars such as Liu Haiping and Junwei Yao. I was truly humbled to be in their presence at such a momentous occasion.

What a wonderful experience it is to be continuing the legacy of Pearl S. Buck. 

Janet L. Mintzer, President & CEO

Pearl S. Buck International

www.pearlsbuck.org

Pearl S. Buck International Orchestrates a Partnership

Last night was pretty amazing.  I went to philanthropist Happy Rockefeller's home in NYC for a special reception to celebrate the launch of the Philadelphia Orchestra's Inaugural Residency in China, as part of my role on the Orchestra's Global Advisory Council.  The view from her Fifth Avenue apartment was directly over Central Park, and her home was beautiful.  Happy was warm and welcoming.  She told me that she has read many Pearl S. Buck books but has not visited the Pearl S. Buck House in Bucks County, PA, (yet).  Of course, I extended a warm welcome for her to visit soon.  Henry Kissinger was among the guests at the reception as well as Ambassador Nicholas Platt, PA Senator Mike Brubaker, and Freda Wang, Executive Director of Asia Society and 30 others.  When Allison Vulgamore, President & CEO of the Philadelphia Orchestra spoke, I could see why she is a compelling leader.  I actually got chills when she recalled that the Philadelphia Orchestra's visit to China in 1973 was to benefit the Chinese people, and today, through this new residency program in China, the Orchestra shall benefit as well as Chinese people. I sincerely hope that Pearl S. Buck International can help to build this exciting residency program in China. The initiative certainly fits with our mission to promote and develop an understanding of the value and attributes of other cultures, cross cultural appreciation and worldwide partnerships.  The Philadelphia Orchestra and Pearl S. Buck International are committed to a partnership with the people of China and a growing relationship built on trust and responsibility.  I cannot wait to see the Orchestra's performance in Shanghai on June 6th.  More to follow...

Janet Mintzer
President & CEO
Pearl S. Buck International
www.pearlsbuck.org