[img_inline align=”right” src=”http://padnws01.mcmaster.ca/images/Sheng_Angela.jpg” caption=”During a recent episode of the History Detectives on PBS, Angela Sheng (left), assistant professor of art history, discusses the origins of a smoking jacket belonging to a U.S. Marine with Gwen Wright, architectural historian at Columbia University.”]When Angela Sheng, assistant professor of art history, was asked about the origins of an elaborately embroidered smoking jacket dating back to the late 1930s, the only clues she had were the initials M.W.D., 4th Marines and Shanghai, China.

The clues were embroidered on the jacket, which was featured on a recent episode of the History Detectives, a PBS show that solves mysteries about historical artifacts. Sheng's contribution to the show was filmed at the Textile Museum in Washington, D.C. and aired on July 21.

The 4th Marines were stationed in Shanghai during the civil war from 1937 to 1939. Their mandate was to protect U.S. business interests in the international zone, but as tensions grew, they were evacuated to the Philippines and some were imprisoned by the Japanese.

Sheng concluded that the embroidered jacket's imagery told a story about its owner and the high quality of the embroidery reflected a strong bond between the person who made the jacket and the recipient.

“I like artifacts that reveal pluralistic truths that are not necessarily recorded in texts,” said Sheng.

Further investigation revealed that the jacket belonged to Michael Walter Dowham, a U.S. Marine who befriended and promoted a Chinese employee. The employee's wife was so grateful for her husband's promotion that she made the jacket for the Marine as a token of her appreciation.

Sheng teaches several courses at McMaster University, including Art and Visual Culture in East Asia and Aspects of Canadian Art.

“We have a very diverse student population with diverse interests,” said Sheng. “They are looking for courses that speak to them.”

Last year, one of her students researched the Inuit art collection at the McMaster Museum of Art.

“They all feel enriched by the course,” said Sheng. “I try to empower my students to see for themselves and undertake projects with confidence by looking at art, making art and having fun.”