March/April2007CALENDAR OF CHSA EVENTS

& EXHIBITS

CHSA co-presents the following films atthe annual Asian American InternationalFilm Festival at the Castro Theatre:Hollywood Chinese (3/18, 6 pm), FlowerDrum Song (3/17, 9 pm), PavementButterfly (3/18, 12:30 pm), and Big Troublein Little China (3/16, 10 pm).

April 26Author and Chinatown native William PoyLee, will read from his new memoir TheEighth Promise. CHSA, 7 pm.

April 28The world premiere of composer Jon Jang’sChinese American Symphony, a tribute to theChinese builders of the transcontinental rail-road, will take place at the SacramentoPhilharmonic (www.sacphil.org), 8 pm

May 2CHSA is proud to partner with KQED ontheir Documenting China exhibition and pro-grams. Opening reception at KoretAuditorium, 5-7:30 pm.

May 9Remembering 1882 will honor the eventsand history of the 125th anniversary of the1882 Exclusion Act. Philip Burton FederalBuilding (450 Golden Gate, SF), 4-6 pm

May 18Tribute to UC Berkeley Professor EmeritusLing-chi Wang, recognized in AmerasiaJournal’s newly published L. Ling-chi Wang: TheQuintessential Scholar-Activist. Co-sponsored bythe UCLA Asian American Studies Center.CHSA, 6-8 pm

ExhibitMiss Chinatown USA now through June 30,Philip P. Choy Gallery.

Alice Fong: A Retrospective, now thoughsummer, Frank H. Yick Gallery.

All CHSA events are free tothe publicFor more info, call (415) 391-1188 or visitwww.chsa.org

BulletinCHINESE HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA | MARCH APRIL 2007 | VOL . 43 , NO. 1

Glamour, Glitz, and GlitterReign in Miss Chinatown USA

he reception in celebration of our

new exhibit Miss Chinatown USAwas a glamorous and grand affair. On the

evening of Friday, Febraury 23, past &

present contestants gathered at CHSA

including: Penny Lee Wong, Miss Chinatown 1948; Ruby

Kwong Chee, Miss Chinatown 1957; June Gong Chin, Miss

Chinatown USA 1958; Leona Lee, Miss Chinatown USA 1959;

Linda Shen Lei, Miss Chinatown USA 1971; Sandra Wong

Dietrich, Miss Chinatown USA 1973; Rose Chung, Miss

Chinatown USA 1981; Sandra Young Chew, Miss Chinatown

USA 1983; Ivy Hsu, Miss Chinatown USA 1994; Lori Young

Timmons, Miss Chinatown USA 1997; and Carol Chen, Miss

Chinatown USA 2005. Many pageant organizers, contestants,

escorts, and volunteers were also present.

The event was co-sponsored by the SF Chinese Chamber

of Commerce, Hawaii Chamber of Commerce of Northern

California, and United Chinese Society of Hawaii. Thanks to

Hukilau, Poleng Lounge,

Butterfly, and Takara Sake USA

for their food and beverage

donations. e

See more photos fromthe Miss ChinatownUSA reception andexhibit on pages 4 & 5.

T Miss Chinatown USA2007 court andcontestants present SueLee, CHSA ExecutiveDirector, with a specialcommemorative plaque.

riends, family, and

supporters feted

acclaimed artist AliceFong during a receptioncelebrating her solo

exhibit, Alice Fong: ARetrospective, at CHSAon February 3. Presented

luminously in varying

media—from prints,

paintings, sculpture,

watercolors, oils, and

acrylics—Alice's collection celebrates nature,

family, and Chinese American cultural

traditions. It is on display in the Frank H.

Yick gallery now through summer 2007. e

he 20th anniversary of the seminal journal

Chinese America: History and Perspectives was atthe center of CHSA’s Annual Meeting & Volunteer

Appreciation Luncheon on Saturday, January 20 at

the Empress of China. The newly renamed AnnieSoo Spirit Award, given to CHSA’s unsung volun-teers, was bestowed upon Ruthanne Lum McCunn, Judy Yung, and HimMark Lai for their years of work on the publication. Charlie Chin per-formed tongue-in-cheek poetry written to honor the three awardees.

This year’s Chinese America: History and Perspectives features the proceedings

from the October 2005 Chinese American Studies conference. If you have

not yet received yours, please contact the CHSA office at (415) 391-1188. e

C H S A B U L L E T I N n P A G E 2

CHINESE HISTORICAL

SOCIETY OF AMERICA

B O A R D O F F I C E R S

Calvin Fung, President

Robert Fung, 1st Vice President

Willard Chin, Secretary

Paul Fong, Treasurer

B O A R D D I R E C T O R S

Donald Chan

Joyce M. Chan

Linda A. Cheu

Colleen Fong, Ph.D.

Frank Jang

Agnes Lam

Alexander Lock

Kenneth Louie

Galin Luk

William G. Roop

Connie Young Yu

Jeffery P. Woo, Esq., Legal Counsel

B O A R D E M E R I T I

Him Mark Lai

Philip P. Choy

F O U N D E R S

Thomas W. Chinn

C.H. Kwock

Chingwah Lee

H.K. Wong

Thomas W.S. Wu, D.D.S.

S T A F F

Sue Lee, Executive Director

Judy Hu, Communications Manager

Lianna Koehler, Weekend Supervisor

Marisa Louie, Exhibitions Coordinator

Anna Naruta, Ph.D., Director ofCollections

Russell Ow, Bookkeeper

Candace Tom, Operations Administrator

Charlie Chin, Artist-in-Residence

T

F

Annie Soo Spirit Awardwinners Judy Yung,Ruthanne Lum McCunn,and Him Mark Lai withCHSA Executive DirectorSue Lee and BoardPresident Calvin Fung.Photo by Donald Chu.

Annual Meeting & VolunteerAppreciation Luncheon

Honoring Alice Fong

Alice Fong’s grandsons, Alexand Derek, the artist AliceFong, and daughter andCHSA board member ColleenFong. Photo by Frank Jang.

Ling-chiWang: The

QuintessentialScholar-Activist, isa commemorative

edition from

UCLA’s Amerasia Journal and the first

collection of essays from the former

Chair of UC Berkeley’s Department

of Ethnic Studies and Director of

Asian American Studies. Professor

Wang’s groundbreaking writings on

Red Envelopes:Lai Si and Hong Bao Reception

rtist-in-Resident Charlie Chin rung in Lunar NewYear at CHSA for several dozen young children and

their parents on February 10. The attendees were treated to

storytelling, Chinese folktales, and a glimpse of Charlie's

personal collection of vintage red

envelopes. Every child also received an

authentic red envelope for good luck! e

M A R C H A P R I L 2 0 0 7 n P A G E 3

n The Eighth Promise, authorWilliam Poy Lee provides a rare

glimpse of the Chinese-American

immigrant experience from a moth-

er-son perspec-

tive. This affect-

ing tale criss-

crosses both time

and place from

his mother’s war

torn childhood in

China during the

1930s to the

housing projects

of San Francisco’s Chinatown to

the counterculture of North Beach

in the 1960s. Exuberant and

sprawling, The Eighth Promise is told

in two voices: the author’s own

and that of his mother. The moth-

er’s perspective provides a sense

of tradition and culture as the

author becomes completely

American—only to realize that his

simple Toisan farmer mother has

been his greatest wisdom teacher.

It is a stunning tale of injustice, for-

titude, survival, and ultimately

redemption. e

I

Chinatown in MiniatureHSA is proud to pre-

sent historical ren-

derings by renowned

Hollywood set designer

and Chinatown native

Frank Wong. Through thedesign and furnishing of

detailed miniature rooms,

Wong offers meaningful,

first-hand interpretations

of San Francisco China-

town’s past and the lives of its people. Works on display include: scenes

from a Chinese laundry, a single occupancy room in the International

Hotel, and an herb store on Clay Street. Six miniatures are now perma-

nently installed in the CHSA Wells Fargo Foundation Learning Center.

Please inquire at the front desk to see them. e

Honoring Ling-chi Wang,Quintessential Scholar-ActivistMay 18, 6-8 pm, CHSA Museum

Reading withWilliam Poy Lee:The Eighth Promise

April 26, 7-8 pm CHSA Learning Center

C

L.

ACharlie Chin showsvintage red envelopesto young attendees.Photo by Frank Jang

bilingual and higher education,

Chinatown politics, and U.S./China

relations have actively shaped the

domestic and global frameworks in

the field of Asian American Studies.

For the future, they will continue to

have great relevance to the rela-

tionship of Asian Americans to

American society and to Asia while

serving as essential readings for

educational research, transnational

studies, and historiography. e

C H S A B U L L E T I N n P A G E 4

Miss Chinatown USA1958 June Gong Chin,Miss Chinatown USA2005 (and the currentlyreigning Miss SanFrancisco) Carol Chen,and Miss Chinatown1948 Penny Lee Wong.

Jean Moon Liu, daughter of 1915Chinatown Queen Rose Lew, and RoseLew’s granddaughter, Roxine Chow.

Felicia Lowe, MissCongeniality1965, with thebeaded cheongsaam she wore onparade night.

Miss Chinatown USAReception & Exhibit

P H O T O S B Y F R A N K J A N G

Cindy Hu and guest,Darryl Higashi, andDaniel and VyoletChu dance to themusic of Da CastilloBoys at the end of afestive evening.

Miss Chinatown Then& Now: Rose Chung,Miss Chinatown 1981,poses next to a shot ofher crowning glory.Photo by Calvin Jeng.

Miss Chinatown USA escortBenji Wong and 1969 contestantMelanie Feng Kolda.

M A R C H A P R I L 2 0 0 7 n P A G E 5

Miss ChinatownUSA 1971 LindaShen Lei, MissChinatown USA1958 June GongChin, CHSAmember SarahChoy, Amy Tan,1959 contestantPatricia HewLee, 1969contestant LindaLew Woo, andRosalind Jeong.

appy Year ofthe Boar! The

Lunar New Year

event sponsored by

PG&E at CHSA on

February 26, 2007

was a smashing suc-

cess! Despite the

rain and hail, more

than 300 people

filled the museum,

enjoying wine &

hors d’eurves while

mingling the night away. Attendees included San Francisco Supervisors

Aaron Peskin and Ed Jew, District Attorney Kamala Harris, as well as friends

of PG&E, CHSA members, and community folks. e

HA Very Piggy New Year!

(left) Bill Lee, his wifeCarolyn, Mary EllenO’Brien, Doug Chan,and Ditka Reiner ringin the year.

(below) Greg Chew ofDae Advertising withCHSA’s Sue Lee.

Exhibit volunteer Carolyn Shek (2nd from left) and MissChinatown USA 1994 Ivy Hsu, with friends.

1969 contestant Stephanie Lum Castorpoints to herself in the exhibit.

C H S A B U L L E T I N n P A G E 6

Karen Jue Iovino, Calvin Jue &Gail Garcia (via Frank Jang):More than 600 photos by HarryJew, depicting the Miss ChinatownPageant, San Francisco Chinatown,

Angel Island, Locke, andother historically significantscenes.

Francis Wong: Copy of Oct23, 2006 Chicago Tribunereview of 11th annual AsianAmerican Jazz Festival Finale.

Anonymous: State ofCalifornia certificate ofincorporation for “Sai GarJeong Yee” Benevolent Asso-ciation [Chung YeeAssociation], dated August22, 1907, headquartered at37 Spofford Alley, San

Francisco, in original frame.

Connie Young Yu: Digital videocassette copy of Jung Sai—ChineseAmericans, Sanders & MockProductions, American FilmFoundation, 1977; DVD copy ofWomen Warriors, composed ofMaking Up, Chonk MoonhunterProductions, 1974, and The Year ofthe Ox: The 1973 Chinatown LivestockShow, 1985.

Alex Lock: Pan Am Airlines menufeaturing Dong Kingman watercolorof San Francisco Chinatown NewYear’s parade, Grant and California.

Julian Low & Elaine Joe: Fouralbums—Chris Iijima and CharlieChin, Back to Back (1982, East/WestWORLD Record); Jon Jang, Are YouChinese or Charlie Chan? (1984, RPMRecords); Jon Jang, The Ballad or theBullet? (1987, AsianImprovRecords), inscribed to the donor;Fred Houn, A Song for Manong—Thesoundtrack to Part 3 of Bamboo thatSnaps Back Featuring The AsianAmerican Art Ensemble and KulintangArts (1988, AsianImprov Records)

Him Mark Lai: Donor’s summary ofinterviews with members of andresearch on the Jeong YeeAssociation (Chung YeeAssociation), 37 Spofford Alley,San Francisco, and the GarmentWorkers Guild, Jinyihang (Gam YeeHong), of San Francisco.

Connie Young Yu: San FranciscoExaminer, May 10, 1969, page 15,“The Golden Spike’s unsungHeroes” by Connie Young Yu; Fall1972 Bulletin of Concerned AsianScholars, Special Issue: Asian America;

Dong Kingman fills San Francisco’s Chinatown with dragons in thiswatercolor for a Pan Am Airlines menu. Gift of Alex Lock, 2006.59

Jon Jang appears onThe Ballad or theBullet? (1987,AsianImprov Records).Gift of Julian Low andElaine Joe, 2006.60.3

AccessionedDonationsOctober 12 toDecember 4, 2006SUBMITTED BY ANNANARUTA, DIRECTOROF COLLECTIONS

M A R C H A P R I L 2 0 0 7 n P A G E 7

Request for DonationsHSA is currently reorganizing its collections and is looking for

the following equipment:

r Map drawers

r Metal storage cabinets

r High resolution flatbed scanner

r Fireproof filing cabinet

r Camera tripod with swivel head

r Photocopy machine with pdf scanning capability

Please contact Anna Naruta at (415) 391-1188, x103 or

anaruta@chsa.org with inquiries about potential equipment

donations. Thank you! e

C

Scan of Kem Lee photo of CathayPost American Veterans of theForeign Legion parade in SanFrancisco Chinatown; Four post-cards of the paintings at Kan’sRestaurant painted by Jake Lee in1963 to educate about andcelebrate Chinese American historyand culture; Postcard of rubbing ofpoem carved into wall of detentionbarracks at Angel IslandImmigration Station; Copy of 1948Chinese Press article, “ChineseMourn Death of Historian WilliamJ. Hoy;” Copy of East West July 11,1967, pages 1-2; Bound volume ofHarper’s, December 1882–May 1883;Exhibit catalog and brochure from2005 and 2006 New York andGerman gallery shows by MarleneTseng Yu; four black and whitephotos, late 1910s–early 1920sChicago: Tuen Hip Wey Associationon first (1919) and thirdanniversary; 1921 group portraitoutside Mon Sang & Co.

In Memory of Ruby Tom Joe: Copyof collection of newspaperclippings about Tom Gunn thatincludes both primary source andsubsequent historical features, acopy of Willie L. Nye’s biographicalresume of Tom Gunn for a KRON-TV project, 1971, a copy of theSmithsonian Institution materialon Tom Gunn, 1989, and photo andpaperwork relating to 1973-1974exhibit CHSA and CCF exhibit forwhich Tom Gunn items wereborrowed from the family.

Anonymous: Digital images of TomGunn collection items held byfamily members; includingnewspaper articles, photos, badgesand identification, and personalremembrances of pioneeringaviator and native San FranciscanTom Gunn, 1890-1925; authorizedfor donation to CHSA.

Paul Louie: Seattle Timesarticle of Nov 5, 2006, onWing Luke AsianMuseum’s salvage-attentive renovation ofthe East Kong Yickbuilding, where donorgrew up, in Seattle’sChinatown; NorthwestAsian Weekly article,“[Seattle] Chinatown gateproject delayed.”

Anonymous: Hip WoChinese School yearbookand commemorativealbum, 1924-1960.

Charlie Chin: SouvenirProgram for “Pear Gardenin the West,” June 14-17, 1984, TheFirst San Francisco ChineseAmerican Performing Arts Festival.

DONATION TO THETEACHING COLLECTION

Judith Wilkes:Sheet music ChingChong (Chicago,1917), music byLee S. Roberts,words by J. WillCallahan.

With a photographic career spanning fourdecades, Harry Jew captured images of historicevents, family and individual portraits, andscenes of everyday community life. Harry JewCollection, Gift of Karen Jue Iovino, Calvin Jue,and Gail Garcia, 2006.54.450

Pioneering aviatorTom Gunn’s 1912Aero Club Licenselist his residence,358 Fifth Street,Oakland.Anonymous Gift,2006.63

Visiting the Museum?HSA can provide pre-arranged exhibit tours to

groups of 10 or more. Make reservations by

calling (415) 391-1188, x101 or by emailing

info@chsa.org. e

CHINESE HISTORICALSOCIETY OF AMERICA

965 CLAY STREET

SAN FRANCISCO

CALIFORNIA 94108

415 391-1188 TEL

415 391-1150 FAX

INFO@CHSA.ORG EMAIL

WWW.CHSA.ORG WEBSITE

TIME DATED MATERIAL

Nonprofit Org.

U.S. Postage

P A I D

Permit No. 9103

San Francisco, CA

The CHSA Bulletin is published bi-monthly. To contribute articlesabout Chinese American community and historical news and events,

please submit articles to judy@chsa.org.

Editor: Judy Hu || Design: Elaine Joe

TransitionsHSA welcomes Judy Hu on board as theirnew Communications Manager. Her

responsibilities include media and public rela-

tions, community outreach, marketing, and

programming. Judy has worked the past few

years in public relations at a local, alternative

publishing house. She has also been actively

involved in the community with many local

groups and political campaigns. Beginning with

this issue, she is also the new editor of CHSA’s

Bulletin newsletter. Judy can be reached at (415)

391-1188, x107 or judy@chsa.org. e

In MemoriumHSA notes the passing of Alice Lee, alongtime member, volunteer, and support-

er on January 6, 2007. We also honor the mem-

ory of Chaney N. Wong, the former ExecutiveVice President of Trader Vic’s Restaurants, who

died on January 4, 2007. e

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