Three Students in Traditional Garb (1917)

Item Information

Title:
Three Students in Traditional Garb (1917)
Description:
This lantern slide, “Three Students in Traditional Garb (1917),” shows three International YMCA College, now Springfield College, students dressed in traditional outfits and holding weapons. These students are, left to right, Wen Lin Wang, Walter David Owl, and Shih Ching Wang. They are standing in the middle of what is most likely the West Gymnasium in Judd Gymnasia. Shih Ching Wang is holding two hook swords, which have substantial hand guards, a hook near the tip, and a dagger-like hilt. Martial artists typically use the sharpened back like a regular sword, the hook for tripping enemies and catching weapons, the crescent guard for blocking, and the hilt as a dagger. When used as a pair, the fighter can loosely connect the two swords, thereby extending the blade to almost six feet. Walter David Owl is holding a bow and arrows. Wen Lin Wang appears to be wielding two dao, which are single-edged Chinese swords primarily used for slashing and chopping. While dao have varied greatly over the centuries, most are moderately curved and single-edged. The hilts sometimes curve in the opposite direction as the blade, improving its handling. Wen Lin Wang (class of 1921) and Shih Ching (class of 1921) are both from Peking, China. Walter David Owl was a Cherokee Indian born in North Carolina. He graduated from the Hampton Normal and Agricultural Institute in 1915 and from Springfield College in 1918. After graduation, he spent some time working for the YMCA and teaching at the Haskell Institute (Lawrence, Kansas). In 1927, he received his Bachelor of Divinity from Colgate-Rochester Seminary. Owl spent the majority of his subsequent career ministering to the Iroquis Indians of the Cattaraugus Reservation in New York. He was the 1932 recipient of the American Indian Council Fire's Golden Arrow Award for notable contributions to the improvement of American Indian Life. He spent the summer of 1956 as president of the National Fellowship of Indian Workers, representing Protestant ministers and lay leaders serving Indian American throughout the nation. Text on border reads, "YMCA College Students (Amer. Indian David Owl) 2 Chinese C.L + S.C. Wong."
Creator:
The Association
Date:
1917
Format:
Photographs
Location:
Springfield College Archives and Special Collections
Collection (local):
College Archives Digital Collections
Series:
Lantern Slide Collection
Subjects:
Springfield College
Springfield College--Alumni and alumnae
International Young Men's Christian Association College
Springfield College--Students
Judd Gymnasia
Springfield College--International
West Gymnasium
Wang, Shih-Ching
Wang, Wen-lin
Owl, David W.
Springfield (Mass.)
Lantern slides
Bows (Weapons)
Arrows
Headdresses
Indigenous peoples
Places:
Massachusetts > Hampden (county) > Springfield
Extent:
3x4 in
Link to Item:
http://cdm16122.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/ref/collection/p15370coll2/id/3531
Terms of Use:
Text and images are owned, held, or licensed by Springfield College and are available for personal, non-commercial, and educational use, provided that ownership is properly cited. A credit line is required and should read: Courtesy of Springfield College, Archives and Special Collections. Any commercial use without written permission from Springfield College is strictly prohibited. Other individuals or entities other than, and in addition to, Springfield College may also own copyrights and other propriety rights. The publishing, exhibiting, or broadcasting party assumes all responsibility for clearing reproduction rights and for any infringement of United States copyright law.
Contact host institution for more information.
Publisher:
Springfield College
Identifier:
LS-01-55