Contents

• Getty Summer Internship Grant
• Sun Wing Wo Store
• Update on the Garnier Building
• President's Message
• MCAH Road Show
• Initiative for MCAH
• Gifts
• Brushstrokes of Old Chinatown
• Greetings from El Pueblo
• 1993 Donors
• Museum Theme Set
• Museum Volunteers

Philip Cheng and Robin Dong with Suellen Cheng at the completion of their 1993 Getty internship.

The Friends of the Museum of Chinese American History and the El Pueblo de Los Angeles Historical Monument were extremely pleased to receive a grant from the Getty Multicultural Summer Internship Program and to have the opportunity to work with outstanding two students this summer. They were Robin Dong and Philip Cheng.

Robin Dong is a senior at the University of California, Los Angeles while Philip Cheng is a senior at Pomona College. Both are Chinese Americans with some knowledge of the Chinese language. Their personal lives represented a blend of Chinese and American culture. Strong interest in their roots and in the history of the Asians in America was the main motivation for them to apply for the summer internship. With their enthusiasm, Robin and Philip quickly became valuable members of the team contributing to the process of the Museum of Chinese American History project.

The goal of Robin and Philip this summer was to assist the museum staff at El Pueblo in planning the re-creation of the Sun Wing Wo store as one of the permanent interpretive exhibits of the museum. To achieve this goal, several steps were taken under the guidance of curator Suellen Cheng. At first they immersed themselves in the background history of the Chinese in Los Angeles by reading articles, looking up maps and business directories of old Chinatown. After that, Robin and Philip were involved in various research activities throughout the summer. Their research activities included:

• checking and analyzing the U.S. Censuses at the Family History Center of the Mormon Temple in Westwood,
• conducting and transcribing oral interviews with the descendants of the founder of Sun Wing Wo store,
• interpreting immigration files obtained from the National Archives,
• studying and surveying photographs in the El Pueblo archives and other sources for pictures of the interior of the Sun Wing Wo store and other Chinese-owned general merchandise stores,
• searching for film footage at the UCLA Film Archives,
• examining artifacts, ledger books and photographs to determine appropriate items to be included in the exhibit,
• preparing a detail information package for twelve museum consultants who attended a museum workshop scheduled in late summer,
• visiting Kong Chow Temple, a 102 year old temple, and several old-time stores of Chinatown including F. Suie One Company, a 110 year old Chinatown store now located in Pasadena.

Philip indicated that the extent of his activities with the Museum of Chinese American History project far exceeded those of his peers who were interns elsewhere. Robin described her research experience as a lot like doing a puzzle and making the pieces of the findings fit.

As a result of Robin's and Philip's ability to penetrate difficult areas of research and their determination to solve historical puzzles, the following accomplishments were achieved for the Museum of Chinese American History project:

1. The development of a list of artifacts to be displayed in the Sun Wing Wo store exhibit in the Garnier Building.
2. A story line for the store exhibit. The story line included the history of the building, the commercial activities of the store, and the social history of people who were involved in the store.
3. An article on the Sun Wing Wo store to be published in the current newsletter of the Friends of the Chinese American History.

On October 6, Robin and Philip were invited by the Chinese Historical Society of Southern California to give a talk illustrated with slides on their research experiences and findings regarding the history of the Sun Wing Wo store. Their presentation received high praise from those who attended the meeting. The two interns represented the Friends an the museum project very well and further enhanced our public relations in the community.

Since college-age visitors are among those whom our museum will serve, Robin and Philip's questions about the museum contents and their views of what would interest young, inquiring museum visitors have been very helpful to the staff. Their interpretation of the history of the Sun Wing Wo store has added an important new dimension to the exhibit plan.

Both Robin and Philip were not only hard workers but also great team players in the office. They were sincere, thoughtful, and willing to step in and help under any circumstances. They got along very well with the El Pueblo staff and added extra energy to the office environment. They accomplished their goals in a very satisfactory manner.

Interior of Sun Wing Wo store, 1902. (Courtesy of Billy Lew) See bigger picture and detailed description (35K JPEG)

If you wanted, you could go there to buy a new pair of Chinese-style cotton shoes or work clothes. You could purchase some dried Chinese mushrooms or abalone for that favorite dish. You might deposit or withdraw some cash for the coming week. If you were unable to write Chinese characters, you could ask one of the clerks to pen a letter to your family in China for you. That was Sun Wing Wo and Company in Old Chinatown.

Located in the Garnier Building at 419-421 Los Angeles Street, Sun Wing Wo Company was one of the first general merchandise stores in Old Chinatown. Ow Bue Lew opened its doors in 1891 until the store was moved to the New Chinatown location in 1948. As part of the first set of tenants ushered into the Garnier building, Sun Wing Wo saw the earliest days of the old Chinatown and witnessed generations of changes and diversity. And as one of the last to depart, Sun Wing Wo saw also its final days, as well as the emergence of the new Chinatown.

Sun Wing Wo was a classical Chinese store with shelves of canned and dried goods and displays of affordable daily clothing. It sold mostly Chinese products, like rice and Ng Ga Pei wine; but, it also sold some American products, including the very popular perfumed soaps. Later pieces of ethnic art and rattan furniture were sold there. The store had diverse groups of customers. They were not only Chinese. Some Caucasians came by to buy mostly rattan furniture. Among other customers were Japanese and Mexican Americans who enjoyed Chinese goods and staples. But the most familiar and loyal clients remained the Chinatown residents. Many customers would come on weekend from outside of the Los Angeles area and stock up for the week on tea, rice, wine, nut oils, canned foods, and other Chinese goods.

Sun Wing Wo was never more of a hot spot than during the beginning of the lunar year, The entire store would be dressed up for the occasion. For two weeks, the employees would don special Chinese attire, scrolls hung down from the mezzanine, lanterns were raised, and special items such as firecrackers were put on display.

In many ways Sun Wing Wo was the only link that many of the first Chinese had to the outside world. It made America seem a less lonely place. For many of the men who did not speak English, the store was their resident banking facility. As an agent of the Bank of Canton, Sun Wing Wo was authorized to write out drafts and send money to families back in China. In addition, employees of the store would write letters to wives and children for these men. Many of them had never received any type of formal education before coming to America.

Most of these men worked long hours outside of Chinatown and had little time for relaxation. Occasionally, they would meet with other Chinese at Sun Wing Wo to chat. Billy Lew, grandson of the founder of the store, recalls the socializing. Chairs were set up near the front entrance, and the men would sometimes sit around all day, drinking tea and eating. For many customers, it was a comfortable respite from their day's chores. Los Angeles' Chinatown was a first stop for many of the early Chinese immigrants, who came with nothing but big dreams. Sun Wing Wo welcomed these young men and sometimes provided them with their first jobs as stockboys. Most of the men who worked there were partners, and at one time there were as many as twenty partners. Each had specific positions, from salesman to bookkeeper to manager. And these men, having merchant status, were able to petition the government for permission to bring their families to the United States.

Coming to a strange new land without any knowledge of the English language or American culture, these pioneering Chinese were able to overcome many of the hardships. Sun Wing Wo facilitated the adaptation process while at the same time preserving traditional Chinese culture. It made America a less lonely place.

Philip Cheng and Robin Dong
Getty Summer Interns

The City, through the Mayor, is in process of appointing a new Authority (or Commission) to administer El Pueblo de Los Angeles Historical Monument. While awaiting this action, the Friends decided to move ahead with the completion of the plans for the museum space which is part of this Historical Monument.

At present the City has a contract with the Old LA Company to restore and develop the Pico Garnier Blocks. When the Economic Tax Act of 1986 was passed, taking away the tax credits for the restoration of National Register Buildings, the Old LA Company decided that their project, as originally planned, would not be financially feasible. So they asked to renegotiate their contract. A decision regarding the revised contract is awaiting the appointment of the Commission.

Because of the possibility that the State grant which is funding the rehabilitation project might run out if the project is delayed, the Friends decided to hire an architect to complete the plans for the museum space and to prepare specifications for the bid process which will be conducted by the City. In this way the project will go forward while waiting for the Authority to be appointed.

Accordingly, a Request for Proposals outlining the scope of the project was sent out to thirteen architectural firms that specialize in historic preservation and restoration. Of the eight proposals received, four architects were asked to come for interviews with a selection committee consisting of Dr. Dan Louie, Jr., Chair, Gilbert Leong, Eugene Moy, and Jean Bruce Poole. After the interviews, the panel selected Wm. Scott Field, principal of Parkinson Field, Associates as project architect.

Mr. Field is now hard at work on the plans for the museum installation. Under their contract, the Old LA Company is responsible for the structural work in the building, but they cannot continue with the project until a decision is made about their proposed contract revision. This does not need to hold up our project, however, as the certificate of occupancy can await the completion of the seismic work for the whole building and, having the plans for the museum space ready to go should enable our project to move forward and also make it possible for the Monument not to lose its grant from the State.

Jean Bruce Poole

I'm very glad to write to you again to let you know that we are actively working on several projects for our museum. Firstly, after putting out notices and interviewing the top three candidates, we engaged the services of Parkinson Field Associates, an architectural firm, to look into our location, and meet with city officials, etc. in order to come up with plans for reconstructing our bay, both for the historical restoration and also for general floor plans for our museum.

We are still meeting with the city officials to speed up the seismic work in the Garnier building so that we can start work in our bay. This delay due to City discussions on the contract with the developer, Old Los Angeles Co., is not only holding up our work, but is costing the city a great opportunity to develop another tourist attraction right across the street from Union Station.

We need to thank Miss Chinatown 1993, Jeannie Chan, and her court for presenting us with a check for 3,000 dollars for our museum project. These proceeds are part of the funds totaling almost 12,000 dollars raised by the queen and her court for several projects that they felt important to the community.

Thanks to the Getty Foundation for supporting two summer interns to help with our research for our museum last summer. We are asking them to fund two more this year and I'm optimistic that it will happen.

I am also happy to report that after getting 6,900 signatures for CALPAW's 1994 bond initiative, the bond issue had qualified, and if passed, we will be getting 500,000 dollars for our museum. Be sure to tell your friends to vote for this bond issue. We are the only museum receiving funds from these bonds as the remainder is for parks, etc.

Finally, I would like to invite you all to come and see a beautiful historical art exhibit now open in the El Pueblo Gallery. Over fifty beautiful original paintings of Old Chinatown are on display.

As we go to press the Mayor is actively selecting commissioners for the new Authority which will govern El Pueblo Monument.

My love to all of you and our board thanks you again for your constant, unfailing support.

Yours very sincerely,
Dan Louie, Jr., Ph.D

The MCAH portable exhibit of 1993 was first shown in Chinatown's Bamboo Plaza at New Year.

What to do for Chinese New Year? This annual query was answered by the Friend's Board for the Year of the Rooster with the idea of Portable MCAH. The Friends' second exhibit brings MCAH and Chinese American history to Los Angeles. Working with El Pueblo staff, Jerry Jann and Robert Kwan hatched the idea of a portable, compact exhibit on wheels, movable by station wagon or small pick-up. The whole arrangement would be set up or disassembled in fifteen minutes. Their secret to success is the use of magnetic strips on each photo board for a quick and adjustable mounting.

Using the photo resources of El Pueblo and the Chinese Historical Society, Portable MCAH gives a fast but lasting impression of the history of Chinese Americans in Southern California. The centerpiece of the new exhibit is a map overlay, vintage 1900, showing Old Chinatown stores and buildings on top of today's El Pueblo Monument and Union Station. The composite map is the meticulous work of Suellen Cheng, Jim Fong, and Jerry Jann.

Working furiously, the team, which also included Jean Bruce Poole, Bob Large, and Herb Tom, was able to meet the deadline for Alhambra's Chinese New Year celebration the weekend before the formal opening in Chinatown's Bamboo Plaza. The new exhibit ran during Parade weekend and the following weekend as the Chamber of Commerce extended festivities.

Placement of Portable MCAH in the walkways of malls has thrusted Chinese American history before a wider and more diverse audience than ever before. In particular, the exhibit was attractive to first generation immigrants and their children, who may have had no prior exposure to this history.

Exhibit portability meant easy showings for a week at Castelar School for that student body. The Chinese Historical Society featured the exhibit during its May meeting. Leslie B. Lew and Lawrence Lai, students at California State University, Northridge, used this exhibit as part of their Asian Pacific Heritage Month program and exhibition: Chinese in Los Angeles. The exhibit was also shown at the Valley Community College and the Department of Water and Power.

The exhibit successfully sat on the grass of Echo Park during the July Lotus Festival as part of the Chinatown Booth run by the Chinese Historical Society and the Chinese American Citizen's Alliance. Portable MCAH finished a very busy year as part of Chinatown's salute to the reopening of the Central Library, integrated into a photo exhibit at Public Safety Association's Police Service Center.

Munson A. Kwok
Member, Board of Directors

Initiative for MCAH

For the first time, Chinese American historical projects are included in a statewide bond initiative. Entitled Parklands, Historic Sites, Wildlife, and Forest Conservation, this proposed legislation will provide $500,000 of the restoration and rehabilitation of the Garnier Building, expressly for the Museum of Chinese American History. An additional $500,000 will be allocated to the restoration of the historic immigration barracks of Angel Island in San Francisco Bay.

Friends of MCAH members, together with the supporting efforts of the Chinese Historical Society of Southern California and the Chinese American Citizen's Alliance, have worked all summer to gather its mandated share, 5,000 signatures or more, to put this initiative on the June 1994 ballot. The Chinese Americans and their friends in Southern California have successfully obtained a total of 6,930 names of registered voters, well exceeding our original goal.

Statewide, over 500,000 valid signatures were required for this $2 billion bond issue of hundreds of projects. With the help of thousands of dedicated volunteers, 725,943 signatures were gathered throughout the state. This campaign for better parks is conducted every 4 to 6 years by CalPAW, Californians for Parks and Wildlife, a non-profit consortium of conservation groups.

Pres. Dan Louie, Jr., Initiative Committee Chair Elmo Gambarana, Edith and Robert Jung, and Munson Kwok led a sterling drive for signatures at the Los Angles Zoo, local area malls, key Chinatown restaurant locations, and at churches, neighborhoods every weekend. Tens of volunteers from three groups were involved. Especially successful was the collection of over 700 signatures on Lotus Festival weekend at the Chinatown booth sponsored by the Chinese Historical Society of Southern California and the Chinese American Citizen's Alliance. Other targeted special events were Nisei Week and El Pueblo City's Birthday.

Working the booth at the City's 212th Birthday celebration on Labor Day was unusually rewarding. Several old timers of Chinatown approached us and related to us their fond memories of this very location in their youth. Apparently, these older men would return to the scenes of their youth whenever such a public event occurred.

This campaign has shown that when a project contributes positively to the community, people will exercise their desire to make it happen.

Brushstrokes features original works of California pioneer artists Martin Jackson, Dong Kingman, Wing Kwong-Tse, Jake Lee, Gilbert Leong, Charles Payzant, Leo Politi, Joseph Weisman, Sally Wheeler, Tyrus Wong, and Florence Young. The selected works of these artists, who have obtained fame in their own right in various ways, illustrate life in old Chinatown from about 1920 to 1940. Old Chinatown was located in and around El Pueblo Monument before the community moved to its present location north of Macy Street.

This exhibit intended to allow as many people as possible to experience the charm of these beautiful paintings and to learn more about the history and life of the Chinese Americans in Los Angeles.

The Chinese Historical Society of Southern California is co- sponsoring Brushstrokes. Members of both the Chinese Historical Society and the Friends have volunteered their time to make this exhibit possible. The committee members for this exhibit are Robert Kwan, Jerry Jann, Elmo Gambarana, Edith Jung, Munson Kwok, Gilbert Leong, Billy Lew, Tyrus Wong, Suellen Cheng, Jean Bruce Poole, Tamryn Stoll, Julie B. Sandoval, and Jim Fong.

Through El Pueblo's capable and energetic curator, Suellen Cheng, I have been introduced to the contributions of the Chinese Americans in Los Angeles, their mistreatments and triumphs, and how the history of these people weave in to the general fabric of our local history. The more I learned, the more strongly I began to share Suellen's zeal for the Museum project. The story of the Chinese Americans in Los Angeles is a compelling tale that deserves a showplace. And perhaps this Museum has never been more desirable than in our time, when various races and ethnicities are reaching out to understand one another -- to thrive on our diversity, rather than permitting it to provoke turmoil.

At present, we are still stalled in the transition period between control of El Pueblo Monument by the Board of Recreation and Park Commissioners and the eventual creation of a separate El Pueblo department with its own seven number commission, called the El Pueblo Authority. Although developments in this regard are not in the immediate control of my office or the other El Pueblo history staff, I assure you that all efforts continue at a brisk pace to be ready for action when the Authority is seated. On behalf of El Pueblo, I thank you for your continuing support of this project and your unflagging determination to see it to fruition.

Cordially,
Linda J. Barth
Associate Park Director for History
El Pueblo de Los Angeles Historic Monument

DONORS
Southern California Chinese Produce Merchants Association
Lincoln Leung Memorial
Miss Chinatown Jeannie Chan and her court

SPONSORS
Holly R. Lee
Gilbert Leong

FRIENDS
Stan Chow
Katherine Dress
Colly M. Gee
Martha and Ross Jennings
Fred Lee
Martin V. Lee
Leslee Leong
Anita and Richard Lim
Herbert W. Tom

MEMBERS
Erna P. Anderberg
Randall Bloch
Paul Chace
Evelyn Cucchiarella
Karen Huie
Linda Lum
Stanton Mu
William Byrne Paullin
Iris Sun
Alice Yen

The team arrived at a consensus for a revised museum mission statement: The mission of the Museum of Chinese American History in Los Angeles is to share the richness and vitality of the Chinese American experience and bring to life their challenges and achievements which have contributed to the dynamic and diverse community of Southern California.

During the workshop, the consultants also exchanged much information and developed significant ideas and directions for museum development. With their helpful advice, the museum exhibit plan is evolving.