Who's Who in China (3rd edition)/Kuo Ping-wen

Dr. P. W. Kuo

郭现文字摩

(Kuo Ping-wen)

Dr. P. W. Kuo was born at Shanghai in 1880. He entered Lowrie Institute, Shanghai, in 1893 and graduated from it in 1896. From 1896 to 1897 Dr. Kuo was instructor of Lowrie Institute. From 1897 to 1906 he was in the Customs and Postal services at Shanghai, Kashing and Hangchow. In July 1906 Dr. Kuo went to America to pursue higher education. На prepared himself for college at Wooster Academy for two years. From 1908 to 1911 he studied Science at the University of Wooster, receiving the degree of Ph. B. in 1911. From 1911 to 1914 Dr. Kuo attended Columbia University in New York where he specialized in education. In 1912 he obtained the degree of A. M., and in 1914 that of Ph. D. The subject of his doctor's dissertation was "Chinese System of Public Education" which has since been published in book form. In the same year he was given a diploma in Education, Teachers' College, Columbia. During his stay in America, Dr. Kuo manifested an unusual amount of leadership and showed great interest in religious works. He was editor-in-chief of the Chinese Students' Monthly, 1908 to 1909; editor of the Wooster Voice, 1909 to 1910; officer of the College Y. M. C. A., 1909 to 1911; officer of the College Literary Society, 1910 to 1911; general secretary of the Chinese Students' Christian Association, 1910 to 1912; President of the Chinese Students' Alliance, 1911 to 1912; elected to Phi Delta Kappa in 1912, and to Tause in 1913; and was awarded the Livingston Fellowship in Education, Columbia Teachers' College 1912 to 1913. In 1914 before his return to China, Dr. Kuo joined the Kiangsu Educational Commission to Europe and American as a member. He returned to China in July 1914. During 1914 and 1915 Dr. Kuo was an editor at the Commercial Press, Shanghai. In 1915 he became Dean of the Government Teachers' College, Nanking. In 1916 he was elected president of the Lowrie Institute and also of the Chekiang Provincial College. In 1917 he was chairman of the Educational Commission to Japan and the Philippines. Since 1917 he has been editor and director of the Commercial Press. In 1918 Dr. Kuo was appointed by the government as President of the Teachers' College, Nanking. During 1917 and 1918 he was Advisor to the Military Governor of Kiangsu. He became president of the Nanking Y. M. C. A. in 1915. In 1919 Dr. Kuo was chairman of the Educational Commission to Europe and America to study after-war educational problems and returned to China the late part of the year. Then he gave a series of lectures on the educational conditions in America and Europe. Since 1922 Dr. Kuo has been President of the South-Eastern University of which the Goverment Teachers' College formed the nucleus. He has also been the president of the College of Commerce at Shanghai. In January 1923 Dr. Kuo was appointed by President Li Yuan-hung to serve as member of the National Educational Sinking Funds Commisson.