Comrade Song Qingling and children, 1982
Song Qingling (宋庆龄, also known as Mme Soong Qingling, 1890-1981) was born into a rich Christian family that played an important role in Chinese politics in the first half of the 20th century. Qingling and her sister Ailing studied at the Wesleyan College for Women in Macon, Georgia; her sister Meiling attended Wellesley College in Wellesley, Massachusetts. Qingling married Sun Yatsen in 1915, whereas Ailing married the banker and political figure H.H. Kung, and Meiling married Chiang Kai-shek.
Grandmother Song together with us, 1985
As the widow of Sun Yatsen, Song Qingling became an important member of the elite of the People’s Republic of China. She was present on the Tiananmen rostrum when Mao Zedong delivered his speech inaugurating the PRC in 1949. But despite her elevated position and high political visibility, she was only officially inducted as a Party member one week before her death.
Although being one of the Vice-Chairpersons of the People’s Republic, her influence in political matters was limited. Instead, she busied herself with various welfare activities, ranging from heading the Women’s Federation to a number of committees involving (orphaned) children.
Vice-chairman Song and representatives of advanced youngsters, 1963
