Early Construction of the West China Union University Museum

The West China Union University Museum, initially established as a teaching-affiliated institution of the university, began its preparatory construction in 1914. Based on historical archives preserved by the present-day Sichuan University Museum, including missionary correspondence and museum meeting minutes, this study examines the historical facts regarding the museum's early-stage collection sources, venue construction, and exhibition practices. It investigates the cultural relics acquisition system and exhibition space planning to demonstrate the implementation characteristics of modern museum concepts in western China. Furthermore, it explores the achievements between missionaries and local scholars in field archaeology, ethnic cultural relic surveys, and borderland investigations across western China, analyzes the academic traditions and historical value formed by the museum during the first half of the 20th century.