NEWS ’n NOTES
CHINESE HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA Spring 2008 Dinner 415 Bernard St., Los Angeles, CA 90012; Voice: 323-222-0856; Fax: 323-221-4162; Email: [email protected]; Web: www.chssc.org; Saturday, May 3, 2008 @ 6:00 p.m. Serving Our Communities: Chinatown Heritage & Visitors Center: 323-222-0856
Almansor Court Celebrating Chinese April 2008 Location— Alhambra, California American Associations April Program Castelar Elementary School Multipurpose Room 840 Yale Street, Los Angeles Chinatown. Open to the public, free admission and parking, enter Portrait of a Chinese Diplomat: See page 4 from College Street between Yale and Hill Streets. Sir Chentung Liang Cheng May 2008 Program— Dora Ho, President of Chinese Wednesday, April 2, 2008 @ 7:00 p.m. American Librarian Association, will give a presentation May 7, 2008 @ 7:00 p.m. at Castelar
Elementary School.
Around CHSSC
Archiving Family History Workshop Interviewing Family Members
By Anna Gee
Chinese Historical Society Members and friends who attended the of Southern California “Interviewing Family Members” workshop received 415 Bernard St. a couple of nice surprises. First, Teresa Barnett, Sir Chentung Liang Cheng long-time head of the Oral History Research Center Los Angeles, CA 90012-1703 Reproduced from a photograph by J. E. Purdy in the Library of Congress (OHRC) of the University of California at Los Angeles Library, brought an additional resource By Lorena Tong person, Alex Kline. He is currently interviewing members of the Korean American community for an This program was originally scheduled for OHRC project, and described by Barnett as one of November 7, 2007, but had to be cancelled due to technical difficulties. Fortunately, we can now (Archiving, continued on page 5) present it on April 2, 2008. As a diplomat Sir Chentung Liang Cheng was Inside this issue:
knighted twice by Queen Victoria. He mitigated the
treatment of Chinese immigrants in the U.S. and Upcoming Programs Archiving Family History Workshop negotiated a Boxer Rebellion indemnity from the Ch‟ing Ming Observation U.S. that not only funded the prestigious Tsinghua Historical Chinatowns University in Beijing, but also enabled thousands of Spring 2008 Dinner Chinese students to study in the U.S. Moreover, he
was known for his great love of baseball.
Chinese Historical Society of Southern California Chinese Historical Society of Southern California April 2008 April 2008
Ch’ing Ming Observation at the BOARD OF DIRECTORS CHSSC 33rd Annual Spring Dinner Community Calendar Gift Donation Form for Raffle or Silent Auction Chinese Shrine in Evergreen Cemetery Officers Saturday, May 3, 2008
Kenneth L. Chan, President Bone Marrow Drives Donor‟s name will be printed in the program if this Gilbert Hom, Vice President Asians for Miracle Marrow Matches Donation Form is completed and received by CHSSC Eugene Moy, V.P. for Programs Various locations throughout Los Angeles area Friday, April 25, 2008. Ben Nakayama, Treasurer Information: (888) 236-4673 www.asianmarrow.org Albert Chang, M.D., Secretary Donor Name______
William Gow, Membership Secretary Thursdays, 3:00 p.m.—7:00 p.m. Title______Chinatown Farmers Market Members at Large 727 N. Hills Street, Los Angeles Chinatown Company______
Pete Chinn Saturday, April 5, 2008 @ 6:00 p.m. Ernesto Con Address______San Gabriel Valley Cultural Association
Susan Dickson Fundraising Dinner with raffle prizes City, State, Zip______Empress Pavilion, Los Angeles Chinatown Irvin Lai $50 per seat or $400 per table of 10 Telephone______Jeannie Liu Margaret Leong, Chair of Banquet Committee
Donald Loo, Ph.D. Telephone # 323-819-0577 ___ Yes, I am donating a gift item or gift certificate
George Yin to CHSSC‟s 33rd Annual Spring Dinner. Saturday/Sunday, April 5 and 6
11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Description of Item/Gift Certificate: (Please Cherry Blossom Festival complete one form for each item/certificate) Come and learn about the history of the Los Angeles County JACCC Plaza
Cemetery where Los Angeles‟ early Chinese immigrants and the poor Los Angeles Little Tokyo ______were buried. News ‘n Notes Editor, Yvonne Chang We will be honoring three people whose actions helped preserve Tuesday, April 8, 7:30 p.m. ______the history of those buried in this cemetery and gave their memory Lecture—Garden Beyond the Garden dignity: Professor Louise Yuhas Value: $ ______ Irvin Lai—Past President of Chinese Historical Society of MISSION STATEMENT Huntington Library Friends Hall
Southern California. San Marino, CA ___ Gift Certificate/Merchandise Enclosed. Mike Ten—Councilman, City of South Pasadena. The Chinese Historical Society of
Randy Bloch—Chairman, Chinese Shrine Preservation Southern California was organized in Saturday, April 26, 2008 @ 6:00 p.m. ___ Please create Gift Certificate for me using the Committee. November, 1975. The purposes of the South Pasadena Chinese American Club information stated above. Society are: 1) to bring together people Dinner Party with karaoke and raffle prizes
WHEN: Saturday, April 5, 2008, 12:00 noon to 2:00 p.m. with a mutual interest in the important NBC Seafood Restaurant, Monterey Park, CA WHERE: Chinese Shrine Evergreen Cemetery history and historical role of Chinese $50 per seat Deadline for receipt of all donations is Monday, 204 E. Evergreen Avenue, Los Angeles, CA and Chinese Americans in Southern RSVP, Alice Hwang, [email protected] April 28, 2008. Please contact CHSSC to make pick-up Admission: Free California; 2) to pursue, preserve and 626-799-2760 communicate knowledge of this history; arrangements, 323-222-0856, [email protected]. After the Ch‟ing Ming ceremony there will be a traditional feast of and; 3) to promote the heritage of the The Chinese Historical Society of Southern roast pork and dim sum. Chinese and Chinese American commu- California is a 501 © 3 non-profit organization . Please return this form to: nity in support of a better appreciation CHSSC Donations are tax deductible to the extent allowable of the rich, multi-cultural society of the by law. 415 Bernard Street United States. Los Angeles, CA 90012
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Oregon after Major Arthur Chin, a Chinese Heinlenville Archaeological Excavation National Association of Asian Publishers American World War II fighter pilot. Chin was born in Portland, Oregon in 1913. He Historical Chinatowns Heinlenville is the third historic Chinatown in A group of Asian American publishers met in helped organize the Portland Chinese Aero Club San Jose (See March 2007 News „n Notes, page 6). Orlando, Florida in February 2008 to establish the and started taking flying lessons while still in high Fiddletown Preservation Grant For decades, the site lay buried under San Jose‟s National Association of Asian Publishers (NAAP). school. Chin fought valiantly and was severely Corporation Yard, but the public was treated to an According to the Newsroom of USAsian Wire, burned when his Gloster Gladiator was hit by The California Culture and Historical archaeological excavation open house March 15, “NAAP‟s mission is to develop the Asian American enemy fire and exploded. Endowment announced on February 27, 2008, that a 2008. market and to increase advertising share for Asian For his bravery he received numerous medals, grant of $208,000 will be awarded to the Fiddletown Heinlenville was home to 2,000 Chinese Pacific American publishers, including both including the Distinguished Flying Cross. He Preservation Society (FPS) to restore 2 buildings. immigrants from 1887 to the 1930s. Archaeologists English language and Asian language media.” returned to Portland in 1949 where he worked in the Fiddletown, located 40 miles southeast of from the Anthropological Studies Center, Sonoma NAAP has identified over 400 Asian print, U.S. Postal Service. He died in September 1997. Sacramento in Amador County, was once a vibrant State University are working with the Redevelopment electronic and online publishers throughout the Later, he was inducted posthumously into the Chinese community. It is unique in having four gold Agency, City of San José to unearth selected areas of United States. American Combat Airmen‟s Hall of Fame. rush era structures remaining from its 19th century Heinlenville and early Japantown. By the 1900s Chinatown. A gambling hall and a general store were Japanese immigrants began to set up businesses along NAAP will focus on: constructed around 1855-1862, and are in danger of the edge of Heinlenville and Japantown was 2008 Spring Fundraising Dinner Update crumbling from years of ravages. Across the street is developed. It survived WWII internments. the Chew Kee Museum, a historic Chinese herb store 1. market research, 2. matching circulation verification and analysis that was restored in the 1980s. with the needs of advertisers, and Each current CHSSC member should have The Proposition 12 California Heritage grant 3. developing new leaders in the field of Asian received a letter and registration form from the was awarded to the PFS by the California Office of Pacific American publishing. Dinner Committee Chair on the details of the Historic Preservation in 2002. Additional funds were fundraiser. raised from local grants, Chinese organizations, and Buying power of Asian Pacific Americans is For non-members please see page 4 of this private donations. These efforts verify recognition for growing three times faster than APA population newsletter for details. the importance in telling the story of the Chinese contribution to California‟s development. growth.* Attendees at NAAP‟s charter meeting Some of the table sponsors to date include East The FPS will continue to seek funds for the included: Jay Chen, publisher and president of West Bank, Northrop Grumman, South restoration of these two buildings. The event will be Asian Fortune; Ted Fang, editor and publisher of Pasadena Chinese American Club, and San held April 5, 2008 as part of the 4th Annual AsianWeek; Nghi Huynh, publisher and editor of Gabriel Valley Chinese Cultural Association. Asian American Press; Greg Macabenta, publisher Fiddletown Heritage Day celebration to welcome the We need continuing support in order to run our and editor of Filipinas Magazine and Ang Panahan seasonal opening of the Chew Kee Museum--a programs, monthly speaker meetings, walking newspaper; and Nhien Nguyenm editor of historic Chinese herb shop that is open Saturdays tours of historic Los Angeles Chinatown, and International Examiner. from noon to 4 p.m. during the months of April Archaeologist Sandra Massey examines an item publications. through October. It is one of the few places where excavated. Photo courtesy of Anthropological Studies * Sources: Kaiser Family Foundation/San Jose Some of CHSSC‟s publications are Duty and visitors can find authentic artifacts and furnishings of Center, Sonoma State University. Mercury News 2004, Selig Center for Economic Honor, Bridging the Centuries, Linking Our Lives, Chinese life in the early days of California. Growth, InterTrend Communications, 2006. Sweet Bamboo, and Originations and Admission is free, although donations of $1/child, For more information on the excavation project please Destinations. Every year we publish Gum Saan $2/adult and $5/family are suggested. For further see Sonoma State University‟s website, Journal, a semi-academic journal of articles that information, visit www.fiddletown, call Gwen www.sonoma.edu/asc/projects/sanjose/SanJose.htm Chinese American explore the historical, cultural, and humanistic Johnson at (209) 256-3222 or e-mail aspects of Chinese American experiences. [email protected]. WWII Aviator Honored Last, but not least we publish a monthly All proceeds from the event benefit the Restoration of Chinese Structures project. The On Februry 26, 2008, the U.S. House newsletter and hold monthly speaker programs for members and the public. Chinese were instrumental in building California, yet Committee on Oversight and Government Reform so little remains of their first settlements. unanimously approved David Wu‟s legislation to name a United States Post Office in Beaverton,
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(Archiving, from page 1) start! Recording oral history may be the Chinese Historical Society of Southern California hardest of the areas of gathering family history. The the most thoughtful interviewers she knows. importance of preserving and organizing the photos 2008 Spring Dinner Together, they took us, 18 people, through various and documents you have may be a no-brainer. Honoring Chinese American Clubs for their Services to the Community pitfalls and problems which might arise in conducting Genealogy is something of a tradition, with Chinese Saturday, May 3, 2008 @ 6:00 p.m. interviews, especially of family members, as well as families who can trace their lineages back through how to prepare ahead, the trade-offs of various many generations. Oral history ---not so much. Almansor Court recording instruments, the bottom line of permission 700 S. Almansor Street, Alhambra, California Recognition is given to the history of emperors and forms and copy rights, and the uses of transcripts and important people. Stories of regular people, our various end products. In the process, they shared REGISTRATION FORM (Deadline Monday, April 28) viewpoints, our day-to-day realities have not been stories from Alex‟s experiences interviewing jazz thought to be important. They have been lost, partly musicians and members of art institutions and from Sponsorship Levels due to such circumstances as the distance of different Teresa‟s experiences helping graduate students. __Diamond $5,000 (2 Tables for 20, VIP reception with honorees) shores, the chaos of wars and famines, and the chill of Then they had us interview each other to __Platinum $4,000 (1 Table for 10, VIP reception with honorees) immigration circumstances, raids, and McCarthyism, practice what we had learned, assigning the theme __Gold $2,500 (1 Table for 10, VIP reception with honorees) and partly due to the pressure of survival. But if “growing up Chinese American”. According to __Silver $1,250 (1 Table for 10) enough stories of grandmothers and grandfathers are Chong Lew, “constructing a series of questions recorded and eventually archived, a scholar will be and interviewing each other was the moment of truth Individual Seats able to piece them together to tell us more about a for each of us. It was not as easy as I had thought. larger story of our pioneers beyond what we have Number of Seats: ____ x $ 125 = $______An insight from this experience was the synergy of now. interviewer and interviewee plays an important part I (We) cannot attend but would like to make a donation of $______in helping the "truths" that comes forth.” The second
surprise of the day, was how much fun we had Name: ______Phone: ______interviewing each other, both because of differences and commonalities. Chong and others thought that it Address: ______would be good to practice on each other more, both to Acknowledgement gain interview skills and to get to know each other. VISA/MC Account #: ______If you missed the workshop, you can find a Thank you to Winnie Lew, Esther Yee, Lupe Chee, summary of helpful points by contacting the office. Expiration Date: ______Signature: ______Mary Mu, Ken Chan, Frieda and Allan Wong, Tim And---you can come to the next workshop. On April and Annie Siu, for providing refreshments at the 19th, we will help participants develop a set of Total Amount: ______March 5, 2008 program meeting. preparatory questions, informed by historical
timelines and themes. Board members of the Society, Please make your check payable to CHSSC and mail to CHSSC, 415 Bernard Street who know their Chinese American history, will be Los Angeles, CA 90012. Credit Card payment can be mailed or faxed to 323-221-4162. there with various time lines with which you could Announcements synthesize a unique family timeline and to guide the Choices of Entrée: Steak------Sea Bass------Vegetarian brainstorming of themes, which would help inform the questions. Name: ______Entrée:______There will be a presentation by Angi Ma Wong , If you cannot make it, you can always begin on Feng Shui for the Year of the Rat. It will be on Name: ______Entrée:______your own. It can be as simple as having a Monday, April 21, 2008, @ 6:30 p.m. at the Los conversation with a family member and recording it. Angeles Chinatown Branch Library. Limited parking Name: ______Entrée:______(Tips to get started from the workshop: remember to available on premises. record the stories told at family gatherings; ask Name: ______Entrée:______questions about the pages in a photo album or ask Name: ______Entrée:______about a treasured family item.) No matter how simply, it only matters that you Thank you for supporting CHSSC !!
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