Parts one and two of an interview with Knight Biggerstaff, Professor Emeritus of the History Department. Biggerstaff chaired the Department of Asian Studies from 1946 to 1956, helping to create the university's China (now East Asia) and Southeast Asia programs. He chaired the history department from 1956 to 1963. He discusses the development of China Studies, the East Asia program, and the Southeast Asia Program at Cornell. He also addresses the relationship of area studies to other fields, and the future of China and other area studies. The interview was conducted by Martin Hatch of the Southeast Asia Program and Music Department, and Takashi Shiraishi of the History Department. Martin Hatch is now a Professor Emeritus in the Music Department, and Takashi Shiraishi is now chancellor of Kumamoto Prefecture University.