Ruth Harkness facts for kids
Ruth Elizabeth Harkness (born September 21, 1900 – died July 20, 1947) was an American fashion designer and a well-known person in society. She became famous for her amazing trip to China in 1936. On this trip, she brought the very first live giant panda to the United States. What made it even more special was that she didn't bring the panda in a cage, but carried it gently in her arms!
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Ruth's Amazing Panda Adventure
Ruth Harkness was born in Titusville, Pennsylvania. Her husband, Bill Harkness, had gone to China in 1934 to find a panda. Sadly, he passed away in Shanghai in early 1936. Ruth, who was living in New York City at the time, decided to finish his important mission herself. She wanted to bring a live panda back to America.
The Journey Begins
Ruth traveled all the way to Shanghai. There, she met two helpful people: Quentin Young, an explorer from China and America, and Gerald Russell, a British expert on nature. Together, they started their exciting search for a giant panda.
They traveled through cities like Chongqing and Chengdu. Finally, the team reached a high, mountainous area. On November 9, 1936, they made an incredible discovery! They found a tiny, nine-week-old panda cub.
Meeting Su Lin
The team named the baby panda Su Lin. This name was inspired by Quentin Young's sister-in-law, and it meant "a little bit of something very cute." Su Lin was very young, so Ruth and her team fed the cub with baby formula from a bottle during their long journey back to Shanghai and then to the United States.
When Su Lin arrived in America, the panda became a huge sensation! Everyone in the American press was talking about this adorable new arrival. Su Lin eventually found a home at the Brookfield Zoo in Chicago, where many people could come and see the famous panda.
More Panda Expeditions
After her first successful trip, Ruth Harkness went on two more expeditions to find giant pandas. In 1937, she brought back a second panda named Mei-Mei. However, she did not find another giant panda on her third and final trip.
Ruth's Life After Pandas
After her adventures in China, Ruth wrote a book about her experience with Su Lin. It was called The Lady and the Panda. This book shared her exciting story with the world.
Ruth continued her travels and writing. She visited Peru, where she wrote about her experiences in a book called Pangoan Diary. She also traveled to Mexico and wrote articles for Gourmet magazine, sharing her love for food and travel.
Ruth Harkness passed away on July 20, 1947, in an apartment building in New York.
Ruth's Legacy in Film
Ruth's amazing story has even been told in movies! An IMAX film called China: The Panda Adventure was made about her expedition in 2001. As of 2016, another movie, Lady and the Panda, was being planned. This film, written and directed by Justin Chadwick, aims to tell more about Ruth Harkness's incredible life.
