First Korean Congress

There were Koreans from New York, Ohio, Illinois, Michigan, Missouri, Wyoming, Nebraska, Iowa, Colorado, California, Pennsylvania and one from London. There was Dr. Syngman Rhee, who was chosen as one of the Korean representatives to the Paris Peace Conference, 1919 by the Korean National Association (), but failed to obtain permission to travel to Paris. The conference was presided by Philip Jaisohn and opened by a prayer and a speech of Rev. Floyd W. Tomkins, rector of the Church of the Holy Trinity, Philadelphia in Rittenhouse Square and president of the Philadelphia Chapter of League of Friends of Korea, which had 25.000 members in United States and Hawaii. ==The three days of conference==

In the morning of first day there were the speeches of • President Jaisohn • Miss Nodie Dora Kim, student in Oberlin College, Ohio, post-war minister in Korea • Prof. Herbert A. Miller, professor of sociology in Oberlin College, Ohio • Prof. Alfred J. G. Schadt In the afternoon of the first day a message was approved for the Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea to “declare that we pledge the moral, material and physical support to the cause of our country’s freedom”. ==The League of Friends of Korea==

The League of Friends of Korea was an organization that was created during the First Korean Congress. The first branch of the League was founded by Reverend Floyd W. Tomkins and George Benedict in Philadelphia. The League spread quickly gaining branches in many U.S. cities including Washington D.C., Chicago, and New York City. The branches of the League hosted mass meetings where they would educate members on the situation in Korea. Meetings featured multiple lectures from members along with the development of new branches. Meetings often led to participants sending resolutions to Congress asking for action from the U.S. government to show sympathy for the Korean people. The details of various mass meetings of the League of Friends of Korea were published in the Korea Review, a magazine written by Korean American activist Philip Jaisohn. The objectives of the League as seen in their first resolution were: “To inform the American public as to the true conditions in the Far East. To extend sympathy and encouragement to the oppressed people of Korea in their struggle for freedom. To use its moral influence to prevent the recurrence of cruel treatment to which the Koreans have been subjected. To secure religious liberty to the Korean Christians.” ==Gallery of images==

Koreancongrresslittiletheater.png|Delegates in front of the Little Theater Koreancongressdelegates.png|Delegates Koreancongressstudentdelegates.png|Student Delegates Koreancongresssoldier.png|Uncle Sam’s Korean Soldier Koreancongressparade.png|Parade on Independence Square behind Independence Hall Koreancongressindependencehall.png|On Independence Hall behind Independence Hall Koreancongressrhee.png|Dr. Rhee Koreancongressjaisohn.png|Dr. Jaisohn Koreancongresssidestreet.png|In front of Independence Hall (facing Chestnut Street) ==References==