Gail Harris

Harry Russell Caldwell, an American Christian missionary, was born on March 22, 1876, in Cleveland, Ohio. He graduated from Grant University in Tennessee and came to China in 1900, to preach in Yanping (now Nanping city), Fujian. In the fall of 1903, he moved to Fuqing to continue his missionary work and served as the principal of Peiyuan Academy (the predecessor of Fuqing No 3 High School). The Carolyn Johnson Memorial within the current Fuqing No 3 High School was built through his efforts. He stepped down as principal in the fall of 1906, having returned to the United States for several months in the fall of 1905 to treat an illness. He married Mary Belle Cope on September 22, 1902, and she also taught English at Peiyuan Academy from 1903 to 1908. Harry Caldwell retired and returned to the United States from Fuqing in 1944, and later worked in the insurance industry in New York. He passed away on December 28, 1970, at the age of 95.

In addition to his significant contributions to education, Harry Caldwell was also a renowned hunter. He authored the book Blue Tiger. His former residence in Kuliang is located in the castle villa of Yixia Village.

Gail Harris, Harry Caldwell's granddaughter, was born in 1941 and currently resides in Knoxville, Tennessee. Before retiring, she served as a Community Services Director for the Knoxville County Community Action Committee, where she was responsible for issuing social assistance to low-income individuals.

Gail Harris and her parents were all born in China, and she spent part of her childhood in Kuliang. This experience fostered a deep affection for China. Through her writing, she continues to share her family's stories in China, carrying on the legacy of cultural exchange between China and the United States.


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