Shui Kong Yuen, known as Mac, immigrated from Japan-occupied Hong Kong and attended Union College from 1938-1942. Rollerflex camera in hand, he became the college's "unofficial cameraman," documenting nearly every aspect of student life. After graduating, with a Bachelor's degree in economics, Yuen returned to Hong Kong where he led a remarkable life of service before developing over 2,000 negatives from his college years and donating the prints to Union's Archives. As an Archival Research Evans Fellow, Jane Mae Schreiner spent the summer of 2025 examining Yuen's extensive college in Union's Special Collections and Archives Department. The seventeen photographs in this exhibition have been carefully selected and sequenced by Ms. Schreiner for display purposes only. While a particular narrative emerged during her research, she makes no claim to know Yuen's intentions or feelings at the moment of capture. These works speak for themselves without an imposed storyline. 

          Though Yuen''s photography has been displayed before, it has never been considered fine art. His work demonstrates an undeniable understanding of space, composition, and cultural context that transcends mere documentation. These images reveal an artist who could simultaneously capture genuine student life while acknowledging the weight of global conflict. This duality elevates his photography beyond its archival function. Throughout this exhibition, the looming presence of WWII permeates scenes of collegiate normalcy. Tanks rest on campus property, fighter-plane posters line dormitory walls, and moments of cultural tension surface unexpectedly. Yuen's lens captured a generation of students navigating their education under the shadow of war, creating a body of work that resonates as both historical document and powerful artistic expression. Today's students have similarly experienced their college years against the backdrop of significant global events, making Yuen's photographs not merely historical artifacts but mirrors reflecting an enduring reality.

A Little About Jane Mae Schreiner

Summer 2025 Evans Research Fellow & Curator

          In the summer of 2025 I was selected to work as a fellow with Union's Special Collections & Archives Department. I applied as a deliberate step away from the fine-art that had dominated my collegiate experience and to challenge myself to contribute to the collection with an artistic perspective. I did not know it then, but this would transform my view of archives and open doors to careers in the arts I had let go unnoticed. As part of my original project proposal, I reaquainted myself with the Shui Kong Yuen photograph collection. I had engaged with this collection once, with my photography class, two years prior to my application to the fellowship, and it struck me as undeniably artistic. During my independant exploration, of the over two thousand silver prints and negatives, I felt that they had been brushed off as two-dimensional captures of student life. Within them, I found thoughtful and complicated themes of a student constantly plagued with reminders of the war, his separation from his family and culture, and an embrace of Union as an oasis. From my first visit, I wondered why photographic collections, like what Yuen had created, were not treated as fine-art. This project ignited a passion in me, to explore the blur between art and archives; questioning whether or not designating the title of "fine-art" to something provided it more value. To understand why this collection had not met the qualifications of our institution's fine-art delineation, I conducted biographical research to connect with the person behind the lens. This information was invaluable, allowing me to properly curate a selection of images from the extensive collection while learning about the complex inner-workings of archives. Understanding the mind of Yuen allowed me to step into his shoes and see what he may have during image capture. I worked to create a timeline of his life, referencing his photography to provide glimpses of his mental state, personality, and interpersonal themes. As I continued my research, the collection fostered a love for archives, management, and curation. I advocated for my findings, providing me the privilege to create my own exhibition of the pieces and bring them to view for all of you. This work and the confidence it created, allowed me to branch out and connect with others. I spoke to collections managers, conservators, and more from museums like the Metropolitan Museum of Art for their expertise; pushing myself out of my comfort zone to gain further perspective in preparation for this exhibition. Connecting with these experts served a dual-purpose. It gave me the opportunity to imagine myself five years ahead. I stepped into their shoes and allowed myself to find what inspired me the most.

          I found that, beyond archives, connecting with others, managing my own project, and recovering something that may have been lost was one of the most transformative experiences I have ever had with art. This fellowship not only gave me the clarity to confidently identify what I want to do as a career, but taught me the fundamental skills necessary to pursue it in and beyond my studies here at Union.

Digital Exhibition Team

Alli Smith '26  (Web Designer)

Jane Mae Schreiner '26 (Lead Curator & Evans Research Fellow)

For more information on any of the collections or materials referenced in this site, please contact Special Collections & Archives.