ZHANG DAQIAN (1899-1983)

Professor Aileen Wei (born Huang Anli, 1912-1995) was born in Beijing and had a successful career as an educator, diplomat, and translator. She received a B.A. from Yenching University in 1932 and at the outset of her career served as a diplomatic official in London. After emigrating to the United States, she earned an M.A. from the University of Chicago in 1943. She worked at Yale University as a language instructor and then went on to co-found the Chinese Language Program at Seton Hall University in 1959, where she remained until 1978. Professor Wei also served as language consultant for the U.S. Army and State Department. In 1972 she and Professor Wang Fangyu (Fred Wang, 1913-1997) hosted a visit and art demonstration at Seton Hall by artist Zhang Daqian, who painted this for her at the time.