Meritorious Service Record

Herbert Adolphus Miller attended the First Korean Congress in Philadelphia (April 14-16, 1919), where he delivered a speech endorsing the March 1st Movement under the principle of self-determination. He was deeply moved by the Korean people's unwavering commitment to fight for freedom and stressed that both men and women must work together for democracy worldwide.
On May 16, 1919, Miller was elected Vice President of the League of the Friends of Korea in Philadelphia. Alongside Reverend Tomkins, he helped organize a major event at the Philadelphia Academy of Music on May 23, where he condemned Japan’s brutal suppression of Koreans and called for the U.S. government’s intervention based on the 1882 Korea-U.S. Treaty. A resolution demanding U.S. diplomatic support for Korea’s independence was adopted and sent to the U.S. President and Senate.
Miller consistently supported the Korean independence movement over the years. He attended March 1st Independence Day celebrations in 1920, 1921, and 1922, hosted by Korean students at Oberlin College, where he read declarations and gave encouragement speeches.
In 1923, he was appointed Vice President of the Pan-Pacific Conference, which sought to promote peace and cooperation among nations in the Pacific region.
In 1929, he visited Seoul, where he delivered a lecture titled “The Cause of World Conflicts” at a Shinganhoe-sponsored event at Cheondogyo Memorial Hall. When Japanese police surrounded the venue, he halted his speech, stating, “I have never given a lecture under police surveillance before.” Outraged, he declared, “I will report this incident to the American press.”
Miller retired from Bryn Mawr College in 1940 but continued to advocate for Korean independence. On January 16, 1942, he joined the Korea-America Association National Committee, which included influential Americans supporting the Korean Provisional Government in Chongqing. He actively backed Syngman Rhee’s diplomatic efforts to gain U.S. recognition of the Korean Provisional Government.
He passed away on May 6, 1951, in Asheville, North Carolina.
In recognition of his contributions, the South Korean government awarded him the Order of Merit for National Foundation (Independence Medal) in 1950.