First Public Release of Letters from Missionary Horace Grant Underwood

In a significant historical revelation, over 60 letters exchanged between Horace Grant Underwood (1859–1916), a missionary who founded Yonsei University's predecessor, Yeonhui College, and his son, Horace Horton Underwood, have been made public for the first time. These letters, written during the year before Underwood's passing, reflect his aspirations for establishing a university in Korea that would match American standards. The correspondence, which includes letters exchanged with Elmer Ellsworth Brown, the president of New York University, spans 14 years and was discovered last year in the NYU archives.

Underwood's letters, totaling 98 pages, express his commitment to advancing higher education in Korea, emphasizing the need for industrial education and the establishment of a business school. He argued for a shift in cultural attitudes towards commerce, which had been historically undervalued in Korea.

Arriving in Korea in 1885, Underwood dedicated over 30 years to missionary work, establishing orphanages and churches, and publishing the first Korean-English and English-Korean dictionaries. In 1915, he founded the Chosun Christian College (the precursor to Yeonhui College) in Seoul, where he initiated the first business program in a Korean university. Despite opposition from fellow missionaries who favored establishing schools in Pyongyang, Underwood's vision prevailed, leading to the selection of Seoul as the site for the university.

In a letter dated May 1915, Underwood informed Brown of the commencement of regular university operations in Seoul and requested updated educational materials from NYU. He stressed the importance of defining educational progress and the necessity of various academic departments, including English literature, philosophy, and the sciences.

In letters written in September and October 1915, he highlighted the critical need for business education in Korea and the establishment of facilities for industrial training. He envisioned students learning practical skills such as brick-making and woodworking, emphasizing the importance of preparing future leaders in Korea.

Underwood's deep affection for Korea is evident in his letters, where he expressed pride in his son, who quickly learned the Korean language and chose to forgo his studies at NYU to help manage Yeonhui College. Underwood passed away in October 1916, but his legacy continued through his son, who carried on his educational mission.

The letters, preserved in excellent condition thanks to Brown's practice of keeping copies, will be published in a book on April 10, coinciding with the 140th anniversary of Yonsei University.