Placement Bureau Reference for John Henry Gray (May 27, 1937)
Description:
This is a form of recommendation that was sent on April 28, 1937 and completed on May 27, 1937 on behalf of Dr. John Henry Gray, a Springfield College (then known as International YMCA College) alumnus, who was in the process of applying to a job as the Director of Physical Education. The form was sent by George Affleck, the director of Division of Health and Physical Education of the College, and completed by Chengting Thomas Wang (C. T. Wang; Wang Zhengting; 王正廷), the Ambassador to the United States from China. Interestingly enough, he doesn't actually fill out the form but simply writes a statement. The statement says, "I have know J. Gray for over twenty years. He was our first Physical Education Director in our YMCA work & was largely responsible for the spread of physical education in China. I certainly feel he is qualified as Director of Physical Education.". Dr. John Henry Gray is a member of class 1904. After he graduated from Springfield College (then known as International YMCA Training School), he entered Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons and graduated with his M.D. degree in 1908. He then served as the Physical Director of the Calcutta, India, Y.M.C.A. and National Physical Director of the Y.M.C.A.'s of India, Burma and Ceylon from 1908 to 1919. In 1916, he received Honorary Degree of Master of Physical Education from Springfield College. He went to China in 1920, served as National Physical Director of the Y.M.C.A.'s of China until 1927. From 1928 to 1931, Dr. Gray was the National Physical Director in India and Acting Principal of the Y.M.C.A. College of Physical Education, Madras, India. He traveled to Burma in 1933 and worked as the General Secretary of the Y.M.C.A., Rangoon, Burma until 1938. He began his second career at the age of 60 and joined the physical education faculty of Long Island University. Dr. Gray died October 19, 1964.
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