I have been researching the life of Polish author in 1920s China Stephanie Rosen-Hoa aka Horose / 华罗琛 and her husband Hua Nangui / 华南圭 since several years. As I was spending a week working in Paris, I took a few hours to follow their steps in the French capital.
Stephanie Rosenthal arrived in Paris probably around 1900. She studied biology at the Paris Sorbonne University, publishing her thesis in 1910. Sorbonne University, or Université de Paris is located in the left bank of the river Seine, in Quartier Latin between 5th and 6th district. This area has long been the seat of many institutional educations in Paris. The main building was rebuilt in the late 19th century. This is where Stephanie Rosen-Hoa attended university. It is still used today.
Above picture was the main entrance of the science faculty, that was moved to a modern building in 1956. The Sorbonne building includes a whole block as seen on below picture. The tower is a location of an astronomy observatory, part of the faculty of science.
In the meantime, Hua Nangui / 华南圭 was attending engineering school ESTP (Ecole Supérieure des Travaux Publics) in 1907-1908. The school was located at the corner of Boulevard Saint-Germain / Rue Thenard also in the Latin district. It was actually a few steps from Sorbonne University, giving Stéphanie Rosenthal and Hua Nangui plenty of opportunities to meet after having become acquainted.
The original building no longer stands, as it was replaced by an streamline design building in 1936. Designed by Johannes Chollet et Jean-Baptiste Mathon, it has similarities with building from Leonard & Vesseyre buildings in Shanghai from the same period. Although this is not the location of ESTP Paris campus anymore, the name of the school is still written on the top of the façade.
The corner side on Rue Paul Thenard is typical of its time. One the windows on the both of the main entrance stand nice wrought iron decorations with the ESTP school initials, The building is close in style with the Callot building in neighbouring Saint-Germain des Prés designed in 1933. The former ESTP building now houses the Paris Campus of the New York University. It also features a large bookstore on the ground floor called Eyrolles, after the original founder of ESTP.
Leon Hoa (Hua Lanhong / 華攬洪) , the son of Hua Nangui and Stephanie Rosen-Hoa also graduated from ESTP in 1936. He saw this building although it is not sure that it was opened before his graduation.
Altough teaching at ESTP was delivered at above location, the school had another location in Cachan, a few kilometers South from Paris. This location had accommodation for 97 students as well as sport facilities and space for practical applications. It is possible that Hua Nangui lived there at his arrival in France but nothing is sure on that matter.
Walking in the area, I crossed through beautiful Jardin du Luxembourg a few steps away from both campuses. It’s easy to imagine Stephanie Rosen-Hoa and Hua Nangui spending time there together before or after their wedding in 1908.
My last stop following the steps of Stéphanie Rosen-Hoa took me to the 7th district. 1 Bis Rue Vaneau was the last location where Stéphanie Rosen-Hoa lived in Paris until the mid 60s.
As explained a previous post, she was a friend of Noble Price for litterature 1947 winner André Gide. She was also his neighbour as they lived in the same building. Stephanie Rosen-Hoa left Paris to France in 1966 and never returned to Paris.
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