For some reasons, Pen Wen Baldwin Sun’s PhD dissertation on the coverage of China by the American Press has been forgotten by Chinese communication scholars.In light of its content, this dissertation   should rightfully be recognized as one of the earliest communication research efforts by Chinese scholars. Through re-reading this dissertation in the context of Sun’s evolving sociological thought, this article attempts to analyze    what   motivated him to select   this topic for dissertation and why he ceased to do communication research after returning to China. Rediscovering   this paper serves to throw light on the enclosed and linear nature of prevailing narratives about the history of communication research in China.