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From: Kim Smith
Sent: Friday, October 30, 2020 3:14 PM
To: Leoplod PANDER ; 乐道院·潍县集中营博物馆 ; leopoldpander@yahoo.com
Subject: Re: FW: About Pearl S. Buck

This will be of interest to Mr. Wu and possibly others in the group:

http://www.canadiandragonfly.net/new-pearl-buck-museum-in-zhenjiang/

This is the notable place where the Sydenstricker family lived. Mr Wu may be able to get some information he is seeking from this museum.

Best to all,
Kim Smith





From : Kim Smith
To : 乐道院·潍县集中营博物馆
CC : Leopold Pander , Kathlin Smith , Kathlin Smith , Kathlin Smith
Date : 29/10/2020 15:17
Sujet : Re: Re: About Pearl S. Buck

Dear Mr. Wu,

Thank you for writing to me!

Though I knew Pearl Buck my entire young life when she and her husband, Richard Walsh, lived in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, I do not know very much about  her time in China, though I do know she was not born there.  Her missionary parents had come back to the US because some of Pearl's older siblings had died of tropical disease.  I have  a copy of the book Pearl Buck in China by Hilary Spurling, the last comprehensive biography, makes no mention of Weifang or Weihsien.  I cannot find any mention of time spent at Weihsien or Weifang on any other biographical source for her. 

I cannot say if Ms. Buck has any living relatives at this point.  She had one mentally disabled child of her own and adopted several children.  Though I played with them at the annual celebration she held at her estate, I did not see them otherwise. Writing to Hilary Spurling may be a good route to find out more about surviving relatives, or writing to the the following may give you some insight:

https://pearlsbuck.org/
https://pearlsbuck.org/pearlsbuckhouse/

The Weihsien paintings are in my hands, but as a part of a larger exhibition of work of his time in China during WWII.  If sometime in the future I can get high-quality reproductions of them for the museum, I shall do so, as my family would love to have him represented in the museum.  Right now we are in a COVID Shelter In Place and I do not see that happening for several months minimum.  The pictures are also in storage.  I do not have any other memorabilia from Dad's time in Weihsien, but the article he wrote and illustrated for "Asia and the Americas" (a periodical that was published by Pearl Buck's second husband) is available on the weihsien-paintings site, as well as the photos Dad took at Weihsien.  There are many photos of internees departing the camp, in the order of need for medical help and other reasons.  Leopold knows far more about this than I do.

I'm sorry I can't give you more concrete help.  If I find out more, I will let you know.  Someday I hope to visit China and visit both Weifang and Kunming.  I've copied my sister to this message as we try to keep each other informed as to inquiries to our family history.

Best to you,
Kim Smith



On Wed, Oct 28, 2020 at 7:20 PM 乐道院·潍县集中营博物馆 wrote:

Dear Kim Smith,

Hello!
I'm Neal Wu. I'm a staff member of the Courtyard of the Happy Way & Weihsien Concentration Camp Museum in Weifang, Shandong Province, China. At present, I am in charge of communicating with Mr. Leopold Pander.

With regard to the fact that Ms. Buck once lived in the Courtyard of the Happy Way, the Museum is now in dispute, hoping to find evidence to support this historical statement.

Are Pearl Buck’s family members still alive? Can some evidence be provided? For example, books, letters, etc.

In addition, I learned about your father, Mr. William A. Smith, through the weihsien painting website. He is a very great artist. Many pictures of his paintings are on the website.

Is the original of your father's paintings in your hands? There are some paintings about Weihsien Concentration Camp. Because the museum is now collecting all the historical relics of the camp.

Best wishes.
From,
Neal Wu

乐道院·潍县集中营博物馆
ldybgs@163.com




From : Janette Ley-Pander
Sent : mercredi 28 octobre 2020 16
Objet : lettre à Mr. Wu, Weihsien museum

Dear Mr. Wu,

First of all, I would like to thank you for your work.

I very much hope that you will be able to convey my thoughts to the commitee organising this very interesting New Museum, commemorating the Weihsien Compound and it’s life during the Second World War.

I have carefully read the commitee’s plans concerning the future museum projects, and send my congratulations.

However, one sentence had me intrigued, where you spoke of cultural relics, and your legitimate wish hoping contributions from ex-prisoners.

I missed attending the first 2005 Weihsien reunion, and was extremely happy to be welcomed by the Weihsien commitee in 2015. At that time you were inaugurating a museum (the first) to be held in our old Shadyside Hospital, a marvellous reunion whose memory is to be treasured ! All of us ex-prisoners were asked to bring personal belongings and artefacts, to be distributed in the museum’s various rooms and showcases, and almost all of us happily did so.

I suppose that before the beginning of the renovation works, bringing the New Musuem to life, you would have taken care of, and put safely aside, all the previous artefacts ?

I had personally offered 3 Japanese roll-call badges belonging to the Pander family, as well as a handmade schoolbag, my very first one, I was then only 5 years old ! And a few other items … I very much hope they will be seen by the public in beautiful new showcases ! I am very sorry to have nothing else to send.

I very much hope others will have better luck, finding old Weihsien souvenirs, some from three generations back, my ! how time flies !

I wish you all the best,
Very sincerely,
Janette Ley Pander





From: Kim Smith
Sent: Wednesday, October 28, 2020 2:28 PM
To: Leoplod PANDER
Cc: 乐道院·潍县集中营博物馆
Subject: Re: Re: About Pearl S. Buck

Well, I guess I was wrong about Henry Luce...he wasn't born at Weihsien either!
I guess he was born in Penglai. -

Best,
Kim





From: Leoplod PANDER
Sent: Wednesday, October 28, 2020 10:46 AM
To: '乐道院·潍县集中营博物馆' ; 'weihsien@proximus.be'
Cc: Carinne Cunningham
Subject: RE: From Neal

Dear Mr Wu,

The picture of the video you sent to me is: Madame Jacqueline de Saint-Hubert an extraordinary person, very active in the social life of the camp during our internment.

She and her family are visible on the “Wall Of Remembrance”, Go to this URL:
http://www.weihsien-paintings.org/pander/Weifang2006/Slide_Show/02_Weihsien/pano-2.png
go to the letter “S” for “Saint-Hubert”

Jacqueline was interned in Weihsien with her brother and parents … a Belgian family of four.

You can find more about Jacqueline : Go To:
http://www.weihsien-paintings.org/Christian_deSaintHubert/paintings/grid/index.php

You can find more about Christian : Go To:
http://www.weihsien-paintings.org/Christian_deSaintHubert/index.php

I also forwarded a copy of this message to her daughter in the US who could tell you more about her mother.

Hope this message helps you,
Best regards,
Leopold

From: 乐道院·潍县集中营博物馆
Sent: Wednesday, October 28, 2020 4:17 AM
To: weihsien@proximus.be
Subject: Re: From Neal

Dear Mr. Leopold Pander,

I saw a video on the website. Who is the lady in this video? What's her name? Where is she from? Can you give me a brief introduction about her?


Thank you very much for your help.

From,
Neal Wu

乐道院·潍县集中营博物馆
ldybgs@163.com




From: 乐道院·潍县集中营博物馆
To: leopoldpander@yahoo.com
Sent: Tuesday, 27 October 2020, 08:51:12 CET
Subject: From Neal

Dear Mr. Leopold Pander,

There is an error on your website. You have made a mistake in Chu Baojie's photo. I'll send you a new one.

About Pearl S. Buck, I can't open the link you sent here. Can you provide the electronic version of that article?

In addition, there is one thing that needs your help.

At present, the museum is collecting all the historical relics of the concentration camp, whatever it is, we hope to protect them in our museum.

Therefore, can you send a notice on the Weihsien painting website? We're soliciting notices for items left over from history.

Finally, the relevant government departments in China attach great importance to the Courtyard of the Happy Way & Wehsien Concentration Camp Museum. They have visited the museum many times and held meetings. Recently, I have just sorted out the relevant information and photos of the meeting, and I will send them to you.

I will keep you informed of all the important events and information of the museum.

Best wishes.
From,
Neal Wu

2020年10月27日


Leaders of State Administration of Cultural Relics come to Weifang for investigation

On October 15, Gu Yucai, deputy secretary of the Party group and deputy director of the State Administration of Cultural Relics, accompanied by Wang Lei, Secretary of the Party group and director of the Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism, visited our city to investigate the protection, management and utilization of revolutionary cultural relics. Hui Xin’an, Secretary of the municipal Party committee and director of the Standing Committee of the Municipal People's Congress, and Ma Qingmin, vice mayor, accompanied the activities.

The research group conducted a field investigation on the former site of the Courtyard of the Happy Way and Weihsien Concentration Camp, and held a forum to listen to the report on the protection and utilization of the former site of the Courtyard of the Happy Way and Weihsien Concentration Camp, as well as the opinions and suggestions of experts and scholars.

Gu Yucai fully affirmed the city's achievements in deeply excavating and studying the historical connotation of the former site of the Courtyard of the Happy Way and Weihsien Concentration Camp, and promoting the protection and utilization of cultural relics. He hoped that Weifang would speed up the renovation, protection and exhibition of the former site, enhance the renovation work, strengthen the construction of professional personnel team, and improve the operation and management level of the museum. It is necessary to make full use of the international network resources of the Courtyard of the Happy Way and Weihsien Concentration Camp, enrich and enrich the historical materials of the Courtyard of the Happy Way & Weihsien Concentration Camp Museum, expand its influence, and make it an important window for international exchanges and cultural exchanges. Gu Yucai said that the State Administration of cultural relics will vigorously support the publicity, protection and inheritance of the former sites, provide more guarantee for capital investment, collection of historical materials, exhibition and exhibition, and international cooperation, and promote the former sites to play a greater role in mutual learning between Chinese and foreign cultures and in building a community of shared future for mankind.

On behalf of the municipal Party committee and the municipal government, Hui Xin'an expressed thanks to the State Administration of cultural relics for its strong support. He said that with the care and support of relevant departments and units of the state and the province, the protection and utilization of cultural relics in Weifang, especially the former site, has entered a new stage. We will fully absorb the opinions of leaders and experts, innovate ideas and measures, deeply explore and study, enrich the team strength, increase investment, and better play the role of the former site in patriotism education and foreign cultural cooperation and exchange. We sincerely hope that all leaders and experts will continue to pay attention to the development of Weifang, and help Weifang to build a modern and high-quality city with "ecology, openness, vitality and delicacy".





From: Kim Smith
Sent: Tuesday, October 27, 2020 2:18 PM
To: Leoplod PANDER
Cc: ldybgs@163.com
Subject: Re: Re: About Pearl S. Buck

For those interested, this, as far as I know, is the most recent comprehensive biography of Pearl Buck:

Pearl Buck in China: "Journey to The Good Earth"

I did know Henry Luce was born there.

Bien amicalement, aussi, a tous et toutes.
Kim

On Tue, Oct 27, 2020 at 3:18 AM Leoplod PANDER wrote:

Dear Kim,

Many thanks for your very interesting message.
I wrote my reply directly on the website. Go To:
http://weihsien-paintings.org/TheGroup/messages/2020-10/2020-10.htm
[... it is the message just under this one ! with the book excerpts ...]

Bien amicalement
Leopold





From : Leopold Pander
To: Kim Smith
Date : 27/10/2020 a.m.
Re: About Pearl S. Buck

Dear Kim,

Extraordinary !

I too was most certain that Pearl Buck and Henry Luce were born in Weihsien as affirmed in many of the books written about the subject:

I made a scan of the Weihsien-Paintings' Website and found that:

In Gordon Helsby's book:
http://www.weihsien-paintings.org/GordonHelsby/Helsby(WEB).pdf

[excerpt]
Within the walls of the six-acre enclosure were a Bible school, hospital, bakery, long rows of single-story dormitories, and western-style homes for American missionary doctors and teachers. In fact, two notable personalities, novelist Pearl Buck and Henry Luce, founder of Time and Life magazines, had both been born there.

In David Michell's book:
http://www.weihsien-paintings.org/books/aBoysWar/ABoysWar(LaTotale)-pages.pdf

[excerpt]
Weihsien had seen happier days. In the early years of the twentieth century, the American Presbyterian Mission had established a school, seminary, and hospital there, with a number of large, American-style homes for missionary doctors and teachers. In fact, two Americans, later to become famous, were born in Weihsien — Pearl Buck, the popular writer, and Henry Luce, the cofounder of TIME magazine. When the "Courtyard of the Happy Way" was under the Presbyterians' control, it was a very pleasant and well-planned campus.

In Norman Cliff's book:
http://www.weihsien-paintings.org/NormanCliff/Books/Courtyard/eDocPrintPro-BOOK-Courtyard-01-WEB-(pages).pdf

[excerpt]
In its very earliest days two now well-known American personalities had been born here ― Henry Luce, editor of Time and Life, and Pearl Buck, popular authoress of novels based on Chinese life and customs.

Mary Previte affirms in the "Inquirer"
http://weihsien-paintings.org/Mprevite/inquirer/MPrevite.htm

[excerpt]
THE WEIHSIEN CONCENTRATION camp had once been a well-equipped Presbyterian mission compound, complete with a school of four or five large buildings, a hospital, a church, three kitchens, a bakery and rows of endless rooms for resident students. Many years before, novelist Pearl Buck had been born there, and so had Time and Life publisher Henry Luce.

Also, Langdon Gilkey writes in his book: "Shantung Compound":

[excerpt]
We were told that, years before, Henry Luce had been born there.

He makes no mention of Pearl Buck !

... and, finally, in Joyce Bradbury's book: "Forgiven but not Forgotten" the writer mentions the correct information but - nobody seems to have noticed !
http://weihsien-paintings.org/books/ForgivenForgotten/Book/ForgivenNotForgotten(WEB).pdf

[excerpt]
It was quickly claimed soon after our arrival that the US novelist Pearl Buck (The Good Earth, interalia) and US publisher Henry Luce (Time, Life, Fortune) were born in the Wei-Hsien training centre. Buck (nee Sydenstricker) was born 1892 in West Virginia USA and Luce was born 1892 in Tengchow, Shantung province. Both sets of parents were American missionaries who served in China. Buck's first husband, John Buck, who she divorced in 1934, was also a missionary in China. Consequently it is possible the parents of Buck, Luce, or Buck's first husband may have used the Wei-Hsien facility. The assertions that Buck (1892-1973) and Luce (1892-1967) were born there are not correct.

I also made a search on Wikipedia which - has the reputation of publishing "reliable" information - ... there is no mention of either of the two being born in Weihsien.

And so goes the legend !!!
bien amicalement,
Leopold





From : Ann
To : Leoplod PANDER
Date : 26/10/2020 15:40
Sujet : Re: About Pearl S. Buck

Amazing! History is wonderful!

regards, Ann McCabe

Sent from my iPad



From: Kim Smith
To: Leoplod PANDER
Cc: 乐道院·潍县集中营博物馆, leopoldpander@yahoo.com
Mon, 26 Oct at 15:36
Re: About Pearl S. Buck

This is interesting, but I think inaccurate. Pearl Buck, according to all bios I can find, was born in Hillsboro, West Virginia. [click on the bliking face]

When very young, the missionary family went to China living in several places but I see no reference to Wehsien. We were good family friends with Buck as later in life she lived in Bucks County PA a few miles from us and I visited her with my family and played with her many adopted children. In fact she had encouraged Dad and Mom to move from NYC to Bucks County. Dad and Mom were very involved in one of Pearl Buck's organizations, Welcome House, which placed mixed race children born from the Korean Conflict. James Michener and Oscar Hammerstein, other denizens of Bucks County, were also closely associated with this organization.

Pearl Buck's estate in Bucks County is a destination and very nostalgic for me to visit. One of Dad's drawings is on the wall.

Dad was in the OSS largely due to Pearl S. Buck.

He had done quite a bit of illustration for her children's books about children in China and his ability to reflect the flavor of China without ever having been out of the US made him a candidate for the job of Morale Operations for the OSS in China. Ms. Buck recommended Dad for service in China and thus he was recruited. I may have supplied some photos of illustrations he did for her in the photos I gave to Leopold. For those of you who don't know, Dad was sent east from Kunming to Weihsien somewhat after the original liberation, to record in drawing and photo and essay the transformation. The article he wrote is also available through the Weihsien site.

Best to all
Kim Smith





From : Leoplod PANDER
To : '乐道院·潍县集中营博物馆', weihsien@proximus.be Cc : leopoldpander@yahoo.com
Mon, 26 Oct at 14:37
RE: About Pearl S. Buck

Dear Mr. Neal Wu,

In this article about Eric Liddell:
https://medium.com/@penguinpress/even-on-the-edge-of-death-the-champion-ran-his-last-race-86d07f479994

… you can read that Pearl S. Buck ― who wrote a Pulitzer Prize-winning novel ― was born in Weihsien and that Henry Luce, founder of the TIME magazine ― lived within the compound as a boy.


Weihsien housed over 2,100 internees during a period of two and a half years. At its terrible zenith, between 1,600 and 1,800were shut into it at once. The place already had a past. It had previously been an American Presbyterian Mission. Born there was the Nobel laureate Pearl S Buck, who wrote the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, The Good Earth, which made China less mysterious to the millions who read it in the 1930s. Henry Luce, founder of Time and father of its subsequent empire, lived within the compound as a boy.

I hope that somebody will be able to tell you more about them …

Best regards,
Leopold





From : Rita Lewi
To : Leopold_Pander , Helen Leavey , Sancton , Molly & Leslie Soltay
Date : 26/10/2020 11:47
Sujet : Weihsien Washington DC exhibit virtual conference

Dear Leopold, Helen, Christine and Molly,

Here we have set a tentative program for the said virtual conference (see attached). We are glad that Christine and Molly confirmed with us to be our speakers. Thank you!

Leopold,
I hope that you will confirm with me to attend and be our speaker.
You have created/researched/maintained such a remarkable Weihsien-painting website, people would like to hear more about your family story and/or about the website, or, certain missionaries at Weihsien camp.

Helen,
I like your articles that published in South China Morning Post, you could tell about their stories.
1. "Remembering the seven heroes who liberated a Japanese Interment camp in Weihsien, China”.
2. "Eric Liddell’s former roommate in China internment camp celebrates his centenary and the time of his life"

Helen & Leopold,
Since we will use Zoom app. for virtual conference, please tell me what’s the best time to meet your need due to you are 6 hours ahead of our time. Our time at 2 pm to 4 pm. Is it too late for you?

Christine and Molly,
Both of you live in Canada no time change problem.

Dear All,
Please let me know if this date/time acceptable? If not, please let me know what’s the best time for you.

1. You need to download free Zoom first, we will send you link before the conference date.
2. Send me your short bio.
3. Speakers will have about 10 min.
4. Our intern, Louisa will conduct pre-recorded interview videos which will be played in case of technical difficulties; interviews will be conducted by Louisa Sorkness of Chinese American Museum. She will email you for setting up the date.

Let me know if you have any concerns.
Stay sage and well!
Best,
Rita





From: 乐道院·潍县集中营博物馆
Sent: Monday, October 26, 2020 9:17 AM
To: weihsien@proximus.be
Subject: About Pearl S. Buck

Dear Mr. Leopold Pander,

Do you know a memoir written by Mary Taylor Previte is called A Song Of Salvation.
Is there a name mentioned in the book? Pearl S. Buck.
Did Pearl S. Buck live in the Courtyard in her childhood? Is there any basis?
Is there anything related in A Song Of Salvation?

Thank you for your help.
From,
Neal Wu

乐道院·潍县集中营博物馆
ldybgs@163.com




From : Leoplod PANDER
To : Molly & Leslie Soltay
CC : "pierre.ley@pandora.be"
Date : 24/10/2020 09:21
Sujet : Re: Yahoo mail box

Dear Molly,

Thanks for the proposition.
I had the good idea of changing my navigator (Firefox) and: "BINGO" it worked ! I will now cross my fingers and hope that all the messages will stay "in" until I get to the end of my layout ...

Take care, keep safe ...
Leopold

From : Molly & Leslie Soltay
To : Leoplod PANDER
Date : 23/10/2020 20:00
Sujet : Re: Yahoo mail box

Hi Leopold. sorry that you have lost a lot of the messages you sent out. I have not deleted my e-mail in months, they include all sorts of messages you sent to the group going back and beyond May, do you want me to just forward them to you? Having no idea what you keep and delete it could be an awful lot of repeats.

Let me know and I will gladly send everything I got from you and others in our group. It will take me a while to sort through my mail.

Stay safe
Molly



From: Leoplod PANDER
Sent: Friday, October 23, 2020 11:16 AM
To: 'weihsien@proximus.be'
Subject: website

Dear All,

… Just updated the newest messages on the website for October-2020:
http://weihsien-paintings.org/TheGroup/messages/2020-10/2020-10.htm

I have been having quite a few problems lately with my mailbox which is: (…), that all the messages you sent to me on the 20th have vanished … in just the time of a blink of my eye !! If I remember well, there were about 25 or 27 messages to read. I will never know what all these messages contain but I presume that you all received the e-mail as you should have. I am sending you this one by the same way !

Now, the problem is on my side and I must fix it ! My nephew, Yves is helping me for that ― thanks to him.

All the best,
Leopold





Leopold_Pander
To: 'Neal Wu'
Cc: pierre.ley@pandora.be
Wed, 21 Oct at 16:49
RE: Normal

Dear Mr Neal Wu,

Yes ! Certainly !

As I am the moderator, you and your friends can contact me with this new e-mail address. If it is a message for the “Group” … I will then transfer the message to the entire group and add the message to the Weihsien Paintings’ website.

Go To:
http://weihsien-paintings.org/TheGroup/Group.php

scroll down and click on the month of your choice.

I am presently trying to sort out all the old messages I can find.

Best regards,
Leopold

P.S. In the “July” messages a message 7/17/2020 17:02 … have you found the names of the Chinese gentlemen posing with the “escape group” ? I would like to add that info on the website too.
L.P.





From : 乐道院·潍县集中营博物馆
To : "weihsien@proximus.be"
Date : 21/10/2020 08:16
Sujet : Normal

Dear Mr. Leopold Pander,

I can receive your email. Is this the new contact group? Can we communicate through this email?
Thank you for your work.

Best wishes.
From,
Neal Wu

乐道院·潍县集中营博物馆
ldybgs@163.com
签名由网易邮箱大师定制




From : Mitch Krayton
To : weihsien@proximus.be
Date : 21/10/2020 01:48
Sujet : Confirming your new link works

Hi Leopold,

I am in Denver, CO and may be able to offer you a similar experience that we had through Yahoo. I have the bandwidth to host this at no charge and we can link it to your website.

It is a.standard style group using the tools that part of Wordpress. If you new solution is not satisfactory, let me know if you wish to pursue this. Happy to help you keep the memories alive.

Sincerely,
Mitch

PS I am the one doing research on Helen Burton because I have her guest book from her Beijing store, the Came Bells.
M





From : Carinne Cunningham
To : Leopold_Pander
CC : weihsien@proximus.be, tapol@skynet.be
Date : 20/10/2020 22:58
Sujet : Re: New Group

Thank you, Leopold for figuring all this out.
I hope you are well.

Carinne





From : Molly & Leslie Soltay
To : weihsien@proximus.be
Date : 20/10/2020 18:50
Sujet : reply

Hi Leopold,

You have been a busy man!
My only take in this is.... You as the webmaster is lovely, but and that is a worry who can take over if anything happens. We are all elderly or past it so the next generation has to step up. Hope you will continue for a LONG time but there is a need to find someone as passionate as you are about keeping the website alive, this is not going to be easy.

The website and all the work you have put into it, all the questions and answers that may come up in years to come means this has to be active for the future.

I am sure you have it all well in hand.

Meanwhile, keep active, enjoy life, we read that Belgium is not doing well at all with C19, still better than some places, we too in Canada are watching the numbers climb.

Stay safe, let us drink to the better days to come. Perhaps we can do a "Weihsien reunion" someplace in the world where we can all get to, like say..descending on your town.

Till later,
Molly





Leopold_Pander
To: weihsien@proximus.be
Cc: tapol@skynet.be
Mon, 19 Oct at 16:55
New Group

Dear All,

… I would very much appreciate if you could send a message to weihsien@proximus.be for me to check if all is working as it should?
Easiest is to just reply to this message.
I would also like to know if our Chinese friends receive these messages from Belgium ?

xxx

What I also forgot to mention is that now (…) you can also send documents, photos, videos, … etc. via your usual mailbox software.
What happens next is that I can arrange my final layout to make those pictures and videos easily accessible to you !!
Have a look at the August-2020 messages … there are a few examples …

Best regards,
Leopold





From: Pierre Ley
Sent: Saturday, October 17, 2020 4:45 PM
To: weihsien@proximus.be
Subject: RE: New Group List

Beautifully done ! Janette

De : weihsien@proximus.be
Envoyé : samedi 17 octobre 2020 11:23
À : 'Yves Ley' ; pierre.ley@pandora.be
Objet : FW: New Group List

… et voilà le problème momentanément résolu !
Suggestions ?

à plus
Tapol





From: weihsien@proximus.be
Sent: Saturday, October 17, 2020 10:46 AM
To: 'weihsien@proximus.be'
Subject: New Group List

Dear all !
As you all know, now, the Yahoo-chat-list will be void after December 15 …
I finally decided to try the BCC solution.
As we do not all possess smartphones and as most of the other chat-group-solutions are not accessible in China, we might as well use our usual e-mail software with a connection to the Weihsien-paintings’ website ― if you agree.
I will still be the “moderator”.
xxx
So ― in practice ― I have created a new e-mail address: mailto:weihsien@proximus.be
You send your messages to that address and I will forward them to the group within a 24-hour delay. (That will be: when I turn on my computer!! ― and that I be at home.)
I have also written a short “résumé” of the messages classified by month on the Weihsien Paintings’ website. (I just wrote a page for the October messages ― click on the calendar.)
Go to:
http://weihsien-paintings.org/TheGroup/Group.php
The interesting part of it will be that our Chinese friends will have access too. No publicity ― no politics!
Now: ― if ever you do not wish to receive the messages or if you would like to join the discussion group (…) just let me know by simply sending me a message.
… And if I have a problem … I will let you know.

As we say in French:
On n’est jamais mieux servi que par soi-même !! Ha ! Ha !

Take care and keep safe,
Leopold





From: Elaine Yau
Sent: Friday, October 16, 2020 9:45 AM
To: tapol@skynet.be
Subject: Shut down of Yahoo groups


Dear Leopold,
Thank you very much for your dedication to build the Weihsien Camp website and network for the Weihsien Camp members!
I consult a computer expert friend who suggests you to explore the possibilities of the telegram (https://desktop.telegram.org/) Which can be accessed by the computer.
If there is any thing I can do, please feel free to let me know.

Best regards,
Elaine





From: weihsien_camp@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Thursday, October 15, 2020 7:03 PM
To: weihsien_camp@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [weihsien_camp] Announcing the Shut Down of Yahoo Groups

Thanks Leopold……appreciate your efforts!

regards, ann mccabe






From: Leopold_Pander
Sent: Thursday, October 15, 2020 2:28 PM
To: 'Tabatha Soltay' ; tapol@skynet.be
Cc: 'Soltay Parents' ; 'Yves Ley' ; pierre.ley@pandora.be
Subject: RE: [weihsien_camp] Announcing the Shut Down of Yahoo Groups


Hi !
Many thanks …
I just finished my siesta and was thinking of using the BCC solution via the Weihsien-Paintings’ website. As I was the “moderator” for the Yahoo website, I have ― of course ― an Excel listing of all the names of our group. Not so many in fact.
All I will have to do is to slightly modify the menu (of the website) and create new pages with all the new messages and send the URLs to the members. It will allow me to really “moderate” and the messages and the members including the Chinese folks that were not allowed to join the Yahoo Group in the previous version.
Furthermore, I will have full control of the whole thing and avoid this eternal “publicity” that appear in other similar software.
Thanks again
Take care and keep safe,
Leopold






From: Tabatha Soltay
Sent: Thursday, October 15, 2020 12:58 PM
To: tapol@skynet.be
Cc: Soltay Parents
Subject: Fwd: [weihsien_camp] Announcing the Shut Down of Yahoo Groups

Hello Leopold,
My name is Tabatha and my mother was at Weihsien. We may have met a few years ago at the 70th anniversary in Weihsien.
So Yahoo is shutting down the group function, which can be an issue for someone like you. There are not many other (free) spaces that have similar functionality, but there are options. One is MailChimp (https://mailchimp.com/pricing/) which is used by many mail-groups and is fully compliant with the new data-privacy rules in Europe. MailChimp holds the addresses and allows you to send one-way messages to people (basically it manages your distribution lists). However you (or your designate) would be the only people who have access and could send to this group.
Another is to just collect everyone’s address and send out regular e-mails from your current e-mail address. The issue here is merging the collection and creating a distribution list. Many mail programs (gmail / hotmail / yahoo) cap how many people can be sent via one e-mail so you might have to break down the group into smaller groups and send out the same e-mail a few times. The careful here is that everyone MUST BE in the “Bcc” field or you are breaking a lot of data rules. This can be cumbersome if you don’t know how to create mailing groups and makes updating information tricky.
I do not know if you actually have everyone’s e-mail addresses. If you do not, you need to get them ASAP. This can be done one of two ways:
• Send a message to the Yahoo Group and let them know that the group will be shut down and they MUST send you an e-mail with “Mailing list” in the subject line so you can create a new distribution list; or
• Send a message to the Yahoo Group and let them know that the group will be shut down and they MUST send fill out a GoogleForm if they wish to continue receiving information from you (the benefit here is you can collect other information as well: full name / physical location / age when they left the camp/ affiliation to a camp member / etc.)
The key thing will be to ensure you are compliant with the new privacy rules in Europe and the “spamming” rules in North America. People need to know that you are no sharing their information with anyone and that they can easy “unsubscribe” at any time.
I am sure this is a lot of information, but let me know if you have any questions
Tabatha Soltay


Begin forwarded message:

From: "Molly & Leslie Soltay"
Subject: Fwd: [weihsien_camp] Fwd: Announcing the Shut Down of Yahoo Groups

Date: October 14, 2020 at 21:15:41 GMT+3
To: Tabatha Soltay

Sos,
Oh great solver of problems, seems we have one goodie with the Weihsien site, all the stuff we get and are stored etc., if you have any solutions could you send it directly to Leopold, I am sure a few people are looking into it, but most of us are oldies. Tell him who you are if you have any ideas, he will then have a finger to point to when all goes down the drain. Seems a pity.
Have a great day, off for a snooze. Love Mum






From: weihsien_camp@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Thursday, October 15, 2020 6:27 AM
To: weihsien_camp@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [weihsien_camp] Fwd: Announcing the Shut Down of Yahoo Groups

Hi all,
here are some other choices.

https://groups.google.com/
Google group, I think it's the best alternative.

https://discord..com/
it's more like a chat room.
Regards,
Ding Xuan

___________________________
http://dingxuan.info




From: weihsien_camp@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Thursday, October 15, 2020 4:27 AM
To: weihsien_camp@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [weihsien_camp] Fwd: Announcing the Shut Down of Yahoo Groups

1. Looking For a Social Group? - Join Meetup - Meet New People
www.meetup.com/socialgroup
meetup.com has been visited by 10K+ users in the past month
Millions of Meetup members connect to share common interests. Why not join them? Looking for a social group? Create your own to meet people who share your interests.
Charge dues or event fees · Start up to 3 groups · Limited time deals
o Connect with people in your area, in person or online, who are curious about the ...
o Online Events
o START MOVING
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o Meetup Pro
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Leopold, I just found this on the internet. Worth looking into?
Terri





From: weihsien_camp@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Thursday, October 15, 2020 4:23 AM
To: weihsien_camp@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [weihsien_camp] Fwd: Announcing the Shut Down of Yahoo Groups

There are other forms of social media although I do not participate with any, including Face Book. I only belong to two Yahoo groups. I think Ann made a bread suggestion of contact Yahoo to see what other options may be 'out there' to use. I also don't have a a cell phone, so that's out for me. Hmm, not sure if Google has a group in their collective software.
Anybody know?
Terri





From: weihsien_camp@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Wednesday, October 14, 2020 2:32 PM
To: weihsien_camp@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [weihsien_camp] Fwd: Announcing the Shut Down of Yahoo Groups

I would suggest contacting Yahoo! I am sure others have - they may have a suggestion.
Sent from my iPad





tapol@skynet.be [weihsien_camp]
To:
weihsien_camp@yahoogroups.com
Cc:
Carinne Cunningham
Wed, 14 Oct at 09:28

Yes ! I just received it !!!!
Now I understand why it was so difficult for Carinne to join the group.
What to do next ?
Anybody has a suggestion?
Leopold





From: weihsien_camp@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Wednesday, October 14, 2020 9:52 AM
To: weihsien_camp@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [weihsien_camp] Fwd: Announcing the Shut Down of Yahoo Groups

If everyone has mobile phones could set up a what's app group.
For example I am in one with more than 80 people.
Helen Leavy (BBC)





From: weihsien_camp@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Wednesday, October 14, 2020 9:28 AM
To: weihsien_camp@yahoogroups.com
Cc: Carinne Cunningham
Subject: RE: [weihsien_camp] Fwd: Announcing the Shut Down of Yahoo Groups

Yes ! I just received it !!!!
Now I understand why it was so difficult for Carinne to join the group.
What to do next ?
Anybody has a suggestion?
Leopold





From: weihsien_camp@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Wednesday, October 14, 2020 1:16 AM
To: weihsien_camp@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [weihsien_camp] Fwd: Announcing the Shut Down of Yahoo Groups

Leopold, did you also get this email??
Terri Stewart

-----Original Message-----
From: Yahoo
To: tksweaver@verizon.net
Sent: Mon, Oct 12, 2020 11:59 pm
Subject: Announcing the Shut Down of Yahoo Groups

Dear Yahoo Group Moderators and Members,
We launched Yahoo Groups 20 years ago to connect people around their shared interests. We helped our users navigate new towns, keep in touch with college friends, learn new skills, and most importantly, build connections they may have lost or never had in the first place. While we could not have been more proud of what we accomplished together, we are reaching out today with heavy hearts to let you know that we have decided to shut down Yahoo Groups on December 15, 2020.
Yahoo Groups has seen a steady decline in usage over the last several years.. Over that same period we’ve witnessed unprecedented levels of engagement across our properties as customers seek out premium, trustworthy content. To that end, we must sometimes make difficult decisions regarding products that no longer fit our long-term strategy as we hone our focus on other areas of the business.
Beginning December 15, 2020 the Yahoo Groups website will shut down and members will no longer be able to send or receive emails from Yahoo Groups. We’ve compiled a comprehensive FAQ here that includes alternative providers and information on how this will impact your group content.
Thank you for helping us build one of the earliest digital communities — we’re proud and honored to have forged countless connections over the last 20 years and played a small part in helping build your communities.

Sincerely,
The Yahoo Groups team


Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Customer Support
701 First Avenue, Sunnyvale, CA 94089
©2020 Verizon Media. All Rights Reserved.




From: weihsien_camp@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Monday, October 12, 2020 1:55 AM
To: weihsien_camp@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [weihsien_camp] new photos

Thank you Leopold for letting us into your childhood and adventures in later life. Black sheep my foot! You sound wonderful and marvelous in your attitude and how you have helped the families with the website get connected. Many of us did not experience any of the camps but our older relatives did. I appreciate everyone's contributions to the trials of living in the camps and bringing this surreal world to the rest of us.
Terri Stewart
fo my late Aunt, Ruth H. Kunkel





From: weihsien_camp@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Sunday, October 11, 2020 11:57 PM
To: Leopold
Subject: Re: [weihsien_camp] new photos

Thank you Leopold,
So good to hear that you were a black sheep, seems many of us who came out of the camp were either goody goody or black sheep. I too like you am a black sheep. Pity we never met in Hong Kong. So you are doing things Your way and it seems to be a great way, keep it up!
Now, are there any others in our lot who can tell about their life after camp? It is just as important to know how life changed things post-war/camp for one's family for good or bad.
One story I heard from a friend who was in her teens in the camp was how free the kids were, parents used to say: "out and stay out" they ran wild, not something you can do in a town. The parents knew they could not go far the barbed wires made sure of that.
Till the next time, stay safe and enjoy the retired life you earned it.
Molly





From: weihsien_camp@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Sunday, October 11, 2020 2:47 AM
To: weihsien_camp@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [weihsien_camp] new photos

Hi Leopold,
It now seems that a lot of things are "Just in time" or "Just too late". I was sorry to hear about Mary's passing as I have known her since I was about seven years old in Weihsien Concentration Camp. This picture shows us in September 1945 as we were about to board a plane to take us to our parents in far western China.
I am still in the "just in time" category and as I have a granddaughter, Charlie, who was six at the time when I turned 80 sat on my knee and said "Pa, will you make me a promise?" to which I replied "It depends what it is Charlie". "Will you live to be 100?" My reply, "Yes Charlie, I'll try." I am now 85, so don't write me off just yet.
I have another 15 years to go!!
I'm proud to be an Old Chefusian - one of the few who was at Chefoo, Temple Hill, Weishien, Shanghai and Kuling before being "encouraged to leave" by the new Communist regime and returning to Australia.
Thanks for tthe memories Leopold.
Cheers
Ray (I was 'Raymond Moore' in those days)

www.kyema-publishing.com
National Library of Australia Archive:
http://nla.gov.au/nla.arc-151144





From: weihsien_camp@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Saturday, October 10, 2020 8:43 PM
To: weihsien_camp@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [weihsien_camp] new photos

Thanks for your personal insights Leo. Appreciate your keeping the history of the camp alive.
Mitch

_________________________

Mitch Krayton
Small Ship Cruising Concierge
Certified Travel Consultant
Verified Travel Advisor
Certified Luxury Specialist
Signature Travel Expert Select - Expedition Cruising

Krayton Travel
4255 S. Buckley Rd., #430
Aurora, CO 80013
303-365-0051




From: weihsien_camp@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Saturday, October 10, 2020 5:43 PM
To: weihsien_camp@yahoogroups.com
Subject: RE: [weihsien_camp] new photos

Hi Molly,
Thanks for the compliments (…) glad you appreciate the work and ― I must admit ― that it was a “just-in-time job” to write the truth and only the truth about our Concentration Camp. Many of the participants who helped in this virtual adventure are no longer amongst us ― Emmanuel Hanquet, Norman Cliff, Mary Previte … and many others. What is left, on this website is: History.
As for what happened after?
Good question …
My parents came into camp with two kids and left, two and a half years later, with three. A boy and a girl, or, should I say two black sheep and a one-year-old baby girl ! Ha! Ha! At four years old, I had become an undisciplined mischievous prank and things never got any better later on.
When we got back to Tientsin, Dad had to resume his job at the Bank. He was completely ruined. Our apartment was in shambles and had to be thoroughly renovated. Lucky, Dad had a good salary and the family slowly managed. I don’t remember going to school in Tientsin.
We moved to Shanghai.
There, I went to the American School ― kindergarten and then Dad decided that we had to learn French! I remember going to the Collège Français where I learned to write with a pen with the ink well incorporated in the desk with full of ink blots around the porcelain container. We played “darts” with the pens and had a jolly good time. I was more often in the corner than anything else.
No discipline.
In 1947, we left China ― Pacific Ocean, San Francisco, New York, Rotterdam and Belgium. In China, it was the revolution. No going back. I went to school in Brussels ― French. Two or three months (…) I am not sure. Then, our whole family of five went to Switzerland for the winter holidays and finally we stayed there until springtime. I remember the snow melting. No school, of course ― only playing and fooling around but on close guard of our parents. They didn’t want any more “black sheep”. Then, we took a boat: direction ― Hong Kong. It was a horrible voyage and I remember being forced to stay in the kindergarten like a dog in his kennel with full of Dutch kids brawling all over the place.
Hong Kong: Junior School. English, of course. I liked it there and made a lot of friends but I was always fighting with the toughest boy of the class and – as usual – I got a bashing every time. I was then a bit older and sent to the “big” school on the Kowloon side of the harbour.
I never integrated the British education system as I should have ― kept on fighting and almost, once, got the cane. Dad got me out of that school ― just in time. Two or three months later, the whole family was on its way back to Belgium ― never to return. In Belgium, I had to switch back to French and that was much more difficult for me as I had grown up and that French is a very difficult language indeed.
The years have passed.

I always have a revulsion for discipline and order. I always do things my way and finally, my professional life was satisfactory ― should I say. Now, retired, I still have the website to care for (keeps me busy) and ― as usual ― I do it “My Way”.
Hope this answers your question.
… all the best
Take care and keep safe
Bien amicalement,
Leopold





From: weihsien_camp@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Saturday, October 10, 2020 1:56 PM
To: Rita Lewi
Cc: weihsien_camp@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [weihsien_camp] thank you.

Dear Rita:
I would be happy to join the group.
I look forward to the time when we will be able to view the exhibition in person.
Thank you.
Christine Talbot Sancton





From: weihsien_camp@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Saturday, October 10, 2020 9:37 AM
To: 'Rita Lewi' ; weihsien_camp@yahoogroups.com
Cc: Carinne Cunningham ; 'Pamela Masters'

Subject: [weihsien_camp] RE: October Greetings

Dear ex-Weihsien prisoners living in America and Canada,
I presume that you all know that there is a new exhibit about our camp to take place in Washington, DC.
(see message below)
Please, for all of you willing to talk about it (...) could you send a message to Rita Lewi who is organising all this on behalf of the Chinese-American Museum.
Take care & keep safe,
Leopold


-----Original Message-----
From: Rita Lewi
Sent: Friday, October 9, 2020 11:13 PM
To: leopold_Pander
Subject: October Greetings

Dear Leopold,
I hope this email finds you well. We are doing well despite of the pandemic in Washington, DC.
We have recently installed the Weihsien exhibit at the museum but couldn’t open it to the public due to the pandemic. We are planning to have a virtual event to talk about this topic in mid-December this year for the 75 anniversary of the liberation of Weihsien. We would like to invite you and others to join us. We hope you can talk about your family stories and/or how you started your website, etc. Please let me know if you could suggest anyone to talk about their experience.
We will email you some photographs of the exhibit at our museum once the photos are ready. Looking forward to hearing from you.
Best regards,
Rita