On December 23, 2022, the 134th anniversary commemorate of the birth of Ms. Ida Pruitt, an international friend from the United States, the founder of the social service system of modern Chinese hospitals, the creator and leader of the China-US Promotion Association, a famous educator and translator was held. On that day, China Industrial Cooperation Association (CICA) guided the Shaanxi Provincial Industrial Cooperation Association to hold the first "Ida Pruitt Birthday 134th Anniversary Symposium and Ida Pruitt Academic Seminar" online. The meeting was presided over by Qin Quan'an, Executive Member of the China Industrial Cooperation Association (CICA) and Secretary-General of the Shaanxi Provincial Industrial Cooperation Association.
Chairman of the China Industrial Cooperation Association(CICA) International Committee，Ke Makai gave a speech introducing the life and history of Ida Pruitt, emphasizing that Ms. Ida Pruitt was born in China and was very familiar with the Chinese society and culture, especially the grassroots people, which enabled her to successfully create a hospital social service system and participate in some movements in CICA later, making an indelible contribution to the Chinese people's war of resistance and revolution. It is of great value to commemorate Ida Pruitt and study her historical contribution.
Dr. Jiang Bo, a Standing Committee Member of the Shaanxi Provincial Political Consultative Conference, Vice President of CICA and Chairman of the Xi'an PeiHua University, delivered a speech on behalf of the Shaanxi Industrial Cooperation Association. He introduced the process of restoration and reconstruction of Shaanxi Industrial Cooperation Association, the research of Northwest Industrial Cooperation, the popularization of Industrial Cooperation culture in universities and the achievements of Xi’an PeiHua university in building research and publicity platforms, expressing more support for the development of industrial cooperation.
Cheng Ma, a former researcher at the Literature Research Institute of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, was the first expert in China to systematically study Ida Pruitt's early birth in Huangxian County, Shandong Province, and his family's life in Shandong Province in publicizing, founding schools and carrying out medical relief, as well as the translation of literary works about Chinese culture written by her parents. Cheng Ma shared the progress of his decades of research on the early life of Ida Pruitt, his visits to Ida Pruitt 's family and research experts in the United States, especially his consultation and collation of Ida Pruitt 's historical materials in several university libraries in the United States and his publication of a series of books entitled "American Mother and Daughter's Chinese Feelings" and the ongoing translation of "China's American Daughter- Ida Pruitt 1888 ~ 1985";
Professor Liu Jitong and Professor Yin Hui from the Medical School of Peking University shared their research experience " Ida Pruitt: Messenger of Cultural Exchange between Chinese and American Medical Social Workers and Modern Health Welfare System"; Professor Shang Yaning from Shaanxi Normal University, a member of CICA International Committee, shared her research on Ida Pruitt as a translator of "Gengzi West Hunting Talks" and "Four Generations of the Same Family" in English; Professor Wang Chunxia from Zhejiang University of Finance and Economics shared her research results " Ida Pruitt and the Social Service Department of Beijing Union Medical College Hospital"; Mr. Ke Makai, Chairman of the CICA International Committee, also shared his parents' short-term assistance to its development in the United States in the late 1940s. The Special Research Committee of CICA invited Mr. Kuang Ying, a historian of CICA Bailie Vocational College, in Shandan, to share his views on " Ida Pruitt's Contributions and Status in CICA Movement and Bailie Vocational College ".
Li Jianping, former secretary of Mr. Aili, former Vice Chairman of the Chinese People’s Association for FrienDship with Foreign Countries , Vice President of CICA International Committee; Mr. Nie Guangtao, a member of CICA International Committee and the alumni of Shandan Bailie Vocational College; Shi Hong, Director of Rewi Alley Research Center of Lanzhou City University, and a member of standing committee in CICA; Li Zhiming, Secretary-General of North China Liaison Office, Executive Committee of CICA International Committee; Mr. Liu Guozhong, an alumni of Gansu Shandan Bailie Vocational College, and Zhang Zhanqin, an expert of CICA International Committee and Baoji Industrial Cooperation Research, were invited to attend the meeting.
Professor Marjorie King, former Executive Committee of CICA International Committee, Professor of Arizona State University, famous expert on Pruitt and biographer of China's American Daughter-Ida Pruitt 1888 ~ 1985, and some Representatives of Ida Pruitt's relatives were invited to attend the meeting online and shared their early contacts with Ida Pruitt with the delegates. Life fragments and some precious materials, including pictures and objects they have kept together, as well as some details of Ida Pruitt's life in her later years, and the current situation of her family.
The meeting agreed that the conference was the first academic seminar held in China for many years to study Ida Pruitt's life and history. The conference made it clear that December 23 was her exact birthday, and her Chinese name was 浦爱德; The meeting also agreed that all parties should set up a research and exchange platform for Ida Pruitt as soon as possible, strive to collect and collate more historical materials of Ida Pruitt’s research, contact relevant institutions and archives centers at home and abroad, establish a horizontal exchange mechanism, and strive to establish a research and exchange center for Ida Pruitt in Longkou, Shandong Province or Beijing. In December next year, we will organize a symposium to commemorate the 135th anniversary of Ida Pruitt's birth and the second Ida Pruitt’s Research Seminar.
