Sun Yat Sen Memorial Hall, located on the Queens campus of St. John’s University, serves as a dedicated space for the study and appreciation of Asian cultures, with a particular focus on Chinese heritage. Opened in 1973, the hall was initially established to house the Center of Asian Studies. The center has since supported research, publications, and special programs related to Asian culture.
The building is named after Sun Yat-sen, recognized as the Founder and President of the Republic of China. He played a key role in shaping modern Chinese history and promoted ideals of freedom and democracy from 1911 until his death in 1925.
Paul K.T. Sih, Ph.D., who founded the center and was a history professor at St. John’s University, described the decision to name the hall after Sun Yat-sen by stating: “because he was the great leader of the modern world. He influenced all the people throughout Asia and beyond.” Dr. Sih served as director of the center starting in 1959 and contributed scholarly works on Chinese history and literature.
The architectural design was led by John S. Lynn from Taiwan, Japan, along with Herman C. Knelbel from Westbury, NY. The octagonal structure features traditional Asian elements such as glazed yellow roof tiles imported from Taiwan, green marble interiors, and a white marble terrace.
Support for constructing Sun Yat Sen Memorial Hall came from private donors and institutions in Taiwan. The project cost one million dollars and occupies 12,000 square feet on campus property.
In addition to housing the Center of Asian Studies, Sun Yat Sen Memorial Hall contains several other facilities:
– The Chin Ying Asian Library was established in 2006 through a gift from Professor and Mrs. Chin Ling Wang. It includes carved panels that were originally part of the Pavilion of the Republic of China at the 1964–65 New York World’s Fair.
– The library’s collection offers reference materials in English, Chinese, Japanese, and Korean covering philosophy, theology, history, literature, art, business, economics, and political science.
– The Vincentian Center for Church and Society (VCCS), which began at St. John’s in 1994 to promote academic work related to social justice within a Vincentian framework.
– The Dr. M.T. Geoffrey Yeh Art Gallery provides public exhibition space for contemporary artists as well as student-curated exhibits.
– Other amenities include a Faculty Lounge and an Inclusivity Resource Center under Multicultural Affairs that offers an affirming environment for students and guests.
