Chinese Students' Alliance

Iowa Law

First International Students

Cover of the 1933 Chinese Student Handbook

The Chinese Students’ Alliance

The Chinese Students‘ Alliance was formed in 1902 by Chinese college students in San Francisco. They intended to unite “all Chinese students on the broad, general ground of patriotism.”

The Alliance provided a forum for students to connect through directories, meetings, and several publications, including The Handbook of Chinese Students in the U.S.A. and Who’s Who of the Chinese Students in America. The Chinese Students’ Monthly offered articles in English on popular and political topics.

In 1930, “due to political opinion divergences, the Alliance was paralyzed.” It remained inactive for several years and finally disbanded.

The Chinese Civil War between the Kuomintang (KMT) government and forces of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) began in 1927.

Iowa Law Students in the Chinese Students’ Handbook

Historic Black and White photo of Old Capitol Mall c. 1933

^{South Capitol Street circa 1972}

According to the Handbook, all four of our Chinese law students lived at 325 S. Capitol Street in 1933. The Old Capitol Mall is there now, but up until the 1970s there were apartment buildings and small shops lining the street.

newspaper clippings of student addresses in Chinese Student Handbook

Title page of Who's Who in Chinese Students in America

Page of Chinese Student Directory from the Handbook

Chinese Students’ Handbook Advertisements

Image of interior cabin on the Presidential Liner Steamship — A tourist class cabin on a Presidential liner.

The Chinese Students’ Handbook advertised many types of businesses, including travel agencies.

In 1900, Dollar Steamship Lines took over the routes covered by Pacific Mail Company. Dollar operated the President line of ships until the Great Depression.

In 1938, Dollar declared bankruptcy. The company was sold and renamed American President Lines.