Meritorious Service Record

Paul Fredrick Douglass was a prominent American educator and advocate for Korean independence.
From February 27 to March 1, 1942, he attended the Korean Liberty Conference (재미한족전체대표회의) at the Lafayette Hotel, where he delivered a speech supporting and sympathizing with Korea’s independence movement. On February 28, as President of American University, he invited conference participants to a reception at his residence to encourage their efforts.
On February 9, 1943, Douglass sent a letter to Christian supporters, emphasizing that Christianity in Korea could only survive and thrive if Korea gained independence from Japanese rule. He urged Christian leaders in the U.S. to write letters to senators and congressmen, rallying support for Korean independence.
On April 8, 1943, Douglass co-hosted a ceremony celebrating the 24th anniversary of the founding of the Korean Provisional Government, alongside the Korean Commission (주미외교위원부) in the U.S., the Korean-American Council (한미협회), and the Christian Friends of Korea (기독교인친한회). The event was held on the American University campus, with First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt and other key American officials in attendance.
In May 1943, he issued a public letter to Christians worldwide, urging support for a resolution in the U.S. Congress calling for official recognition of the Korean Provisional Government in Chongqing. He encouraged mass petitioning efforts to push the U.S. government toward action.
On August 25, 1944, as President of the Christian Friends of Korea, Douglass wrote to President Franklin D. Roosevelt, requesting a message of encouragement to be read at a National Humiliation Day event on August 29, 1944, at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York. The event, organized by the Korean-American Council, aimed to commemorate Korea’s annexation by Japan and reinforce international support for Korea’s independence.
Paul Fredrick Douglass passed away in 1988.
In 1950, the South Korean government posthumously awarded Paul Fredrick Douglass the Order of Merit for National Foundation (Independence Medal) in recognition of his contributions to Korea’s independence.