Doshisha University Collection
Scope and Contents
This is an artificial collection of materials relating to Doshisha University and the Doshisha-Amherst connection. There materials are largely correspondence, photographs and ephemera.
Dates
- 1914-2012
Conditions Governing Access
There is no restriction on access to the Doshisha University Collection for research use. Particularly fragile items may be restricted for preservation purposes.
Conditions Governing Use
Requests for permission to publish material from Doshisha University Collection should be directed to the Archives and Special Collections. It is the responsibility of the researcher to identify and satisfy the holders of all copyrights.
Biographical / Historical
Amherst College and Doshisha University have been closely connected since the founding of Doshisha Academy in 1875 by Joseph Hardy Neesima, an 1870 graduate of Amherst College. Since that time, many students and professors have traveled between the two institutions and a number of special initiatives have taken place to strengthen and celebrate the bond that they share. Amherst House at Doshisha was build in 1932, with a guest house added in 1962; it serves as a center for cultural exchange. The Amherst-Doshisha Fellowship has sent an Amherst graduate to Doshisha to teach English every year since 1958. Numerous faculty and student exchanges have taken place and there have been many formal visits between the Presidents and other dignitaries.
Extent
4 Linear feet (2 records storage boxes, 2 oversize archives boxes, 1 flat box, 1 oversize flat box)
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
Correspondence, ephemera, photographs, printed matter and media documenting the long-standing connection between Doshisha University in Kyoto, Japan and Amherst College.
Arrangement
This collection is organized into four series:
- Series 1: General
- Series 2: Photographs
- Series 3: Publications
- Series 4: Scrapbooks and Photograph Albums
Immediate Source of Acquisition
The materials in this collection have come from a wide variety of sources over many years. They have been gathered together and organized primarily by material type. This collection continues to grow.
Chronology
- 1843
- Joseph Hardy Neesima (AC 1870), the founder of Doshisha, is born in Edo (Tokyo).
- 1864
- Neesima stows away on an American schooner bound for the United States, risking capital punishment for violating Japanese law, in order to pursue his dream of seeing the world and learning about Christianity.
- 1865
- Neesima arrives in the port of Boston and enters Phillips Academy in Andover, Massachusetts.
- 1866
- Neesima is baptized at the chapel in Andover Theological Seminary.
- 1867
- Neesima completes his study at Phillips Academy and enters Amherst College.
- 1870
- Neesima graduates from Amherst College and enters Andover Theological Seminary.
- 1874
- Neesima graduates from Andover Theological Seminary. At the 65th annual meeting of the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions, held at Rutland, Vermont, Neesima appeals for funds to establish an institution of higher education based on Christianity in Japan, and obtains a pledge of $5,000. He returns to Japan for the first time in ten years.
- 1875
- Doshisha Academy is established on Teramachi Campus with eight students and two teachers, Neesima and J. D. Davis.
- 1876
- Campus is relocated from Teramachi to Imadegawa.
- 1877
- Establishment of Doshisha Girls' School is approved by Kyoto Prefecture.
- 1879
- The first 15 students graduate from Doshisha Academy.
- 1886
- Doshisha Chapel (designated a national important cultural property) is completed.
- 1887
- Library opens at Shojakukan, the present Yushukan (designated a national important cultural property). Doshisha Hospital and Kyoto Training School for Nurses are established.
- 1888
- "The Aim in Establishing Doshisha University" is published in major newspapers and magazines.
- 1890
- Joseph Hardy Neesima dies at the age of 46.
- 1893
- Doshisha emblem is adopted.
- 1894
- Clarke Divinity Hall, the present Clarke Memorial Hall (designated a national important cultural property), is inaugurated.
- 1912
- Doshisha University (School of Theology, Faculty of Political Science and Economics and Department of English) and the Advanced Course of Doshisha Girls' School are approved under the Senmon Gakko (professional school) Ordinance.
- 1920
- Doshisha University (Faculty of Letters, Faculty of Law, Graduate School and Preparatory School) is approved under the University Ordinance.
- 1932
- Amherst House, a student residence hall, is built on Doshisha University campus as a memorial to Neesima and Stewart Burton Nichols (AC 1922), the first Amherst student representative.
- 1940
- Joseph Hardy Neesima Memorial Monument (Ryoshinhi) is erected in the courtyard in front of Yushukan.
- 1944
- Doshisha Engineering College is established.
- 1948
- University (School of Theology, Faculty of Letters, Faculty of Law, and Faculty of Economics) is approved under the New School System Ordinance.
- 1949
- Faculty of Commerce and Faculty of Engineering are established.
- 1950
- Master's Programs (Graduate Schools of Theology, Letters, Law, Economics, and Commerce) are established.
- 1953
- Doctoral programs are established.
- 1955
- Master's program in Engineering is established.
- 1975
- A ceremony commemorating the centennial of the school's founding is held.
- 1986
- Tanabe Campus, the present Kyotanabe Campus, is opened and the classes of Doshisha University and Doshisha Women's College of Liberal Arts start there.
- 1991
- Graduate School of American Studies is established.
- 1995
- Graduate School of Policy and Management is established.
- 2004
- Faculty of Policy Studies, Department of Information Systems Design and Department of Environmental Systems Science in Faculty of Engineering, Law School, and Graduate School of Business are established.
- 2005
- Faculty of Culture and Information Science is established. Faculty of Letters and Graduate School of Letters are restructured and reorganized. Faculty of Social Studies and Graduate School of Social Studies are established.
- 2006
- Doshisha Elementary School is established.
- 2007
- Graduate School of Culture and Information Science is established.
- 2008
- Faculty of Life and Medical Sciences and Faculty of Health and Sports Science are established.
- 2009
- Faculty of Psychology and Graduate School of Psychology are established.
- 2010
- Graduate School of Global Studies established
- 2010
- Graduate School of Health and Sports Science established
- 2011
- Faculty of Global Communications established
- 2011
- Doshisha International Academy Elementary School established
- 2011
- Doshisha International School, Kyoto scheduled to be established
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Mariah Leavitt
- Date
- 2012
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Repository Details
Part of the Amherst College Archives and Special Collections Repository
Amherst College Archives & Special Collections
Robert Frost Library
61 Quadrangle Drive
Amherst MA 01002-5000
(413) 542-2299
archives@amherst.edu