Cosmopolitan Club (c. 1920-1921)

The 1921 Massasoit description of the Cosmopolitan Club says, “For years past the foreign students of the College have keenly felt the need of such an association, but for various reasons they found it impossible to give life to their aspirations. Today, through the united effort of each and every foreign student, and the splendid co-operation of the faculty and of all the American students of the College, the club is not only a reality, but it is doing splendid work and its success is sure and bound to become greater and greater . . . Some of the most important purposes may be stated as follows: To unite students of all nationalities in the College for their mutual benefit, socially, intellectually, morally, and spiritually. To promote friendly relations between foreign and American students. To bring foreign students in contact with ‘American Home Life.’ To disseminate accurate information regarding affairs and conditions of all the countries represented in the organization.”

This photograph shows the first members of the Cosmopolitan Club, which was formed during the 1920-1921 academic year at the International YMCA College (now called Springfield College). According to notes on the back, the members of the club, left to right, are: [top] F. Leguen (France), G. D. Wheeler (US), Harold C. Adams (China), Dante Joseph Abbate (Italy), Antonio L. Valdez (Peru), [second row] Geronimi Suva (Phillipines), J. Rasch (Germany), Julio Pereyra (Uruguay), Gunson Hoh (China), Henry Brandt (Switzerland), Emilio Chiapella (Uruguay), [third row] Agosto Hugo Grassi (Uruguay), Tomas B. Rodriguez (Mexico), Professor Arthur Rudman (academic advisor), Guido Graziani (Italy), Pedro Ablan (Phillipines), [fourth row] P. Luftig (Armenia), Franklin O. Westrup (Mexico), Phillips (Italy), and Serafin Aquino (Phillipines).