Unearthing China's past: Henry Luce Foundation gift supports Anthropology and East Asian Studies

$430,000 to support interdisciplinary research, teaching and library collection

McGill University’s Faculty of Arts announced today the gift of $430,000 by The Henry Luce Foundation of New York to support three new initiatives between the Departments of Anthropology and East Asian Studies that will integrate the study of Chinese history and historiography, Chinese archaeology and archaeological theory. This generous donation contributes to Campaign McGill: History in the Making, the most ambitious fundraising drive ever launched by a Canadian university.

“The financial support of The Luce Foundation reflects the importance it places on promoting the study of Chinese historical archaeology,” Prof. Griet Vankeerberghen, Chair, Department of East Asian Studies, said. “This grant will enable us to enhance McGill’s strong commitment to East Asian Studies and Anthropology by providing dedicated resources to this important intersection of scholarly work.”

The Luce Foundation’s grant, over the course of three years, will allow the Faculty of Arts to establish a new faculty position in East Asian archaeology, two doctoral fellowships, and to continue building the East Asian collection in the McGill Library.

The Henry Luce Foundation was established in 1936 by Henry R. Luce, the co-founder and editor-in-chief of Time Inc., to honour his parents who were missionary educators in China. The Henry Luce Foundation seeks to bring important ideas to the centre of American life, strengthen international understanding, and foster innovation and leadership in academic, policy, religious and art communities.

Campaign McGill: History in the Making was launched in October, 2007, with a starting goal of $750-million. This landmark initiative will help ensure that McGill remains one of the world’s leading academic and research institutions.

McGill, Canada’s leading university, has two campuses, 11 faculties, 10 professional schools, 300 programs of study and more than 33,000 students. McGill’s Faculty of Arts is the oldest, largest, and most diverse faculty in the University. It includes approximately 6000 undergraduate and graduate students, 270 tenured and tenure-track faculty, 18 academic departments, 20 interdisciplinary programs and a School of Social Work.

For more information on McGill’s goals and priorities, visit:
www.mcgill.ca/campaign