Wu Tingfang and members of the Chinese Legation in Stewart Castle, c. 1896-1901
Washington, D.C.
Photograph by Frances Benjamin Johnston
Courtesy of the Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division, LC-USZ62-77434
Wu Tingfang during his U.S. tenure, 1908
New York, New York
Courtesy of the Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division, LC-B2-72-12
Menu for a dinner held in honor of Wu Tingfang, 1900
New York, New York
Courtesy of the Rare Books Division, The New York Public Library, Astor, Lenox and Tilden Foundations, 476289
Wu Tingfang served the Qing Dynasty as minister to the United States from 1896 to 1902 and also from 1907 to 1909. Educated in Hong Kong, Wu possessed exemplary English skills. He traveled extensively delivering lectures on Chinese culture and history. As a result of his work, Wu increased American knowledge about China and gained widespread respect.