About the exhibit
A digital companion to the "Gateway to the East: China at the 1904 St. Louis World’s Fair" exhibition, held at Washington University in St. Louis, in the John M. Olin Library Ginkgo Reading Room, from January 27 to April 21, 2024.
2024 physical exhibit organizers
Dr. Zhao Ma, associate professor of Modern Chinese History & Culture, with:
Chenguang Zhu (Boston University),
Ke Ren (College of Holy Cross),
WashU students Lingran Zhang (class of 2021), Claire Huang (class of 2023), Jenny Rong, Maggie Machionni, and volunteers from St. Louis area middle schools.
Department of Special Collections, WashU Libraries:
Miranda Rectenwald, curator of local history
Jessi Cerutti, exhibits manager
Ian Lanius, graphic designer
Supporters
Our special thanks to Leung Tung Peter Young, the Memory Lab at Washington University, and the James S. McDonnell Foundation for support of the exhibit.
And gratitude to the Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis Mercantile Library at UMSL, St. Louis Public Library, The First Historical Archives of China, Teddy Ulett, and Bruce Millinger for loan of materials in the exhibit.
2025 Digital exhibit
Created 2024-2025 by WashU Libraries staff Sarah Swanz (Humanities Data Curator / Data Services librarian) and Miranda Rectenwald (curator of local history) with assistance from Jodie Xiao (WashU class 2029).
Designed using OmekaS. Published online September, 2025.
Contact
WashU Libraries, Department of Special Collections
MSC 1061-141-B
One Brookings Dr.
St. Louis, MO 63130, USA