Trivia Tuesday: Wm. Theodore de Bary, U.S. Naval Officer and Sinologist, Elevated Asian Studies at Columbia and Beyond

Sources of Chinese Tradition, compiled by Wm. Theodore De Bary and Irene Bloom, is a seminal collection of primary readings for scholars, students, and general readers. For over 40 years, the readings in this volume on the social, religious, and intellectual traditions of China have been praised as authoritative resources in the field of Chinese studies. De Bary began his study of Chinese as a sophomore at Columbia University. He underwent intensive training in Japanese while serving in the U.S. Navy in the Pacific Theatre during WWII. Upon his return from military service, De Bary earned a PhD from Columbia. He immediately joined the faculty after graduating and worked at the University until a few months before his death in 2017 at the age of 97.