Contents

• President's Message
• From Hearth to Heaven: Chinatown Living
• Second Annual Historymaker Awards
• Historymakers of 1998
• Heading East Arrives in Southland
• Remarq Donates Webhosting Service to the Museum
• Judge Lew Selected as 1998 Person of the Year
• The MCAH at China Expo U.S.A.
• Museum Donors
• What's New with the Museum!
• Board of Directors and Newsletter Staff

Greetings! I am pleased to report that I have been elected to serve another term as President of the F-MCAH Board, allowing me the opportunity to again work with an impressive Board of Directors. On behalf of the Board, I offer our warmest wishes to you and your family. May you enjoy a joyous and prosperous 1999, the lunar year of the hare!

As we start the new year, I am conscious of how much the Friends of the Museum of Chinese American History has accomplished in 1998, and how far we have come toward our goal. Our plans are proceeding on schedule, and we look forward to the Museum's opening in the year 2000 - the year of the dragon - with growing excitement and anticipation.

As those who were able to attend can attest, the Second Annual Historymaker Awards was a resounding success. My heartfelt thanks goes to the dinner committee and the many volunteers who made the event successful and memorable. If you were unable to attend, make your plans now to join us next year.

A variety of exciting events are planned for the next two years as we moved toward the Museum's opening. Watch for future announcements of these events and get involved! Be a part of the effort to preserve our history and celebrate our accomplishments.

Here's to another great year in 1999, as we move another step closer to the opening of the Museum!

Yours truly,
Ronald S. W. Lew

From Hearth to Heaven: Chinatown Living, the Museum's newest exhibit, will be on display from February 23, 1999 to March 31, 1999.

This exhibit will bring to life the untold stories of L.A.'s first Chinese American community.

In conjunction with the exhibit, guest speakers will lecture on topics such as Chinese herbs and the tradition, practice, and importance of the Chinese New Year celebration. Author Angi Ma Wong will also present a lecture on Feng Shui on February 27, 1999 from 2 P.M. to 4 P.M. at the El Pueblo Gallery.

The rare artifacts to be displayed at the gallery include furnishings, supplies, clothing, and photographs from Old Chinatown homes, herb stores, general merchandise stores, produce markets, laundries, schools, temples, and churches. Included in the exhibit will be the histories and artifacts of two pioneer Chinese American families - the Sees and the Fongs. The Fong family had run an herbal store outside of the Chinatown area in the 1930s. The See family, the subject of the best-selling book, On Gold Mountain, has operated antique shops from 1888 to the present as well as the Dragon's Den Cafe which was open during the Great Depression.

The exhibit and its related programs are not only for Chinese Americans who wish to search for their roots, but also for all Americans who seek a deeper understanding of the multicultural history of Los Angeles. From Hearth to Heaven will present to the public the essential roles which Chinese Americans played in the development of this region. In keeping with El Pueblo Monument's mission of reflecting the diversity of Los Angeles, the exhibit will also emphasize the multi-ethnic linkages between the Chinese American community and the City of Los Angeles as a whole.

From Hearth to Heaven is made possible by a grant from the California Council for the Humanities, a state affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Top row (L to R):
Dunson Cheng, Cathay Bank President and Board Chairman
Albert C. Lum, SCCLA co-Founder
Pete Chin, CCBA Vice President of Supervisors
Ronald Lew, F-MCAH President

Front row (L to R):
George T. M. Ching, Cathay Bank co-Founder
Mary H. Chu, SCCLA President
Fung Chow Chan, Cathay Bank co-Founder
Angela Levy, Bessie Loo's daughter
Dr. Dan Louie, Jr., F-MCAH Charter President

Thanks to the Museum's enthusiastic supporters, the Friends held another successful Historymaker Awards gala. The banquet took place in the Crystal Room of LA's Regal Biltmore Hotel on October 6, 1998. Over 460 individual donors, dignitaries, and representatives from sponsoring corporations attended this fundraiser to honor the nine individuals who have made a significant impact toward the advancement of the Chinese American Community.

The gala was organized by F-MCAH's 12-member event committee, headed by chairwoman Julia Keh and co-chairs Munson Kwok, Chi Mui, and Betty Wong Oyama. Upon arrival, guests admired a temporary exhibit about the MCAH and its artifacts set up by volunteers Pingy Quon and Deron Quon. Deborah Ching and Frank Kwan served as the mistress and master of ceremonies. During the ceremony, the Friends' president, Judge Ronald Lew, recognized and expressed appreciation to the major museum sponsors, Center for Chinese Medicine, Kaiser Permanente, and Robert and Edith Jung, for their generous donations. After dinner, guest artists Yan Lin and Kana Miyamoto performed an elegant dance entitled Magic and Majesty of Mulan. Next, Jean Bruce Poole, the museum director of El Pueblo de Los Angeles Historical Monument, presented a report on the progress of the MCAH project.

The Second Annual Historymaker Awards has generated enthusiastic response from the Southern California community. Donations continued to arrive during the months after the awards banquet. In fact, the Friends has raised approximately $70,000 toward Museum development during the past year. A supportive banquet attendee also arranged for the Museum to be listed on her company employees' charitable donation list. It is this kind of assistance in promoting the MCAH and continued participation in its activities that will help the Friends to achieve its goal of opening the Museum doors in the year 2000.

Cathay Bank

Cathay Bank

At a time when there were no banking services available in Chinatown, a group of individuals recognized the need for financial services to Chinese immigrants and their businesses in order to promote economic development within the community. With this mission, Cathay Bank opened its doors in 1962 as the first Asian American community bank in Southern California. Sensitive to the needs of the community, Cathay Bank provided education and consultation to its clients so they could optimize business and personal opportunities.

Today, Cathay Bank operates a network of 21 offices and branches throughout California, with representative offices in Hong Kong and Taiwan. In acknowledging Cathay Bank's place in Chinese American history, recognition must be given to its seven founders as individuals of vision. They are Fung Chow Chan, George T. M. Ching, Gerald T. Deal, and the late Dr. Tin Y. Kwong, John MacFaden, Thomas Quan, and John Varela.

At the banquet, the Friends presented business category awards to founders Fung Chow Chan, George T. M. Ching, and Gerald T. Deal. Dunson Cheng, president and chairman of the board of Cathay Bank, accepted the award on behalf of Mr. Deal who was unable to attend.

Fung Chow Chan

George T. M. Ching

Gerald T. Deal

Southern California Chinese Lawyers Association

Established in 1975 by Albert Lum, Judge Delbert Wong, and several of their colleagues, the SCCLA has been committed to improving access to legal services for the Chinese American community. And now it is an organization of four hundred people, said Mr. Lum of the SCCLA's development after more than 20 years, It is the best volunteer bar association in the state of California. Today, members give hundreds of hours as volunteer attorneys at the Asian Pacific American Legal Center and the Chinatown Service Center which provides community education about law and the legal system. In addition, SCCLA is active in advancing civil rights, professional development, and youth development through student scholarships, internships, and as models of leadership.

Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association

Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association

The historymaker award for community empowerment was awarded to the Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association. The CCBA has been a key leadership institution in the Chinese American community in Southern California for nearly 110 years. Representing the CCBA at the ceremony was its vice president of supervisors, Pete Chin. Upon accepting the award, he explained the origin of the organization, Way back in the beginning of Chinese history in America, the Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association united all of the family associations as well as the tongs so that Chinese Americans could live in harmony in America.

The CCBA's continuous service and advocacy focuses on improving the community through its programs to better communications among Chinese American community organizations. Preserving our history and traditions and helping our youth and elderly, the CCBA has also worked to build the LA community through supporting organizations such as the Chinatown Service Center, the Chinatown Public Library, and the Museum. Over a century later, historymaker CCBA continues to be a voice for the Chinese Americans.

Iris Chang

As Ms. Chang was required to travel throughout the U.S. to promote her book, she was unable to attend the banquet. Board member Angi Ma Wong accepted the award on her behalf and read a statement which the author had prepared. My hope is that the success of my book, Ms. Chang said in her statement, will inspire others to rescue important historical events from oblivion, a noble mission shared by the Museum of Chinese American History. She continued her statement in support of the Museum, As Chinese Americans, we desperately need a record of our one hundred fifty years of struggle and achievement. We owe it to ourselves to document our pioneers in every field from railroads to rocket scientists. The topic of Iris Chang's next book will be the experience of the Chinese in America.

Dan Louie, Jr., Ph.d.

Dr. Louie is the charter president of the Friends, serving for nearly a decade during the formative years of the project combining a political acumen with an ability to tap the necessary resources and support to build the project's needed momentum. As a result of Dr. Louie's leadership and his board of directors' dedication in these beginning ten years, the Museum is now within sight of its realization.

Bessie Loo

As Bessie Loo was unable to attend the ceremony, her daughter, Angela Levy accepted the award on her behalf. The Museum of Chinese American History has been close to her heart, Mrs. Levy announced to the banquet guests on her mother's behalf. It's wonderful what you all are doing and what you have achieved, and my mother thanks you very, very much.

Mrs. Loo passed away in October 1998 at the age of 97.

Heading East is a traveling exhibit documenting over the 150 years
of California Asian Pacific Islander experience.

The Friends is proud to announce the Southern California debut of Heading East: California's Asian Pacific Experience, the definitive traveling exhibit documenting over 150 years of Asian Pacific Islander experience in the Golden State. It is also the main Asian Pacific celebratory contribution of the California Sesquicentennial. The exhibit is created by Friends board member Munson Kwok and MCAH curator Suellen Cheng, moonlighting as the executive producers., They collaborated with Sesquicentennial Commissioner Beulah Quo who originated the idea for the exhibit. Heading East is an official Golden Partner of the Sesquicentennial, and F-MCAH is an official co-sponsor.

Bound by the requirements of portability and limited space, the exhibit strives to capture the spirit and sense of this historical pageantry in images, while details of history for the more scholarly inclined are nested in a series of intricate, but attractively placed timelines detailing the essentials of Asian American history. At its grand opening at the main library of the state capital, Sacramento, and later at its showings in the Silicon (Santa Clara) Valley, the work has received high praise for its colorful and dramatic three dimensional, interactive design, created by Mike Nakayama. The exhibit contractor was the Asian American multi-media firm, Visual Communications, which is headed by Linda Mabalot.

The exhibit tells the California Asian Pacific story in six parts, starting with a section about the coming of immigrants entitled Following the Dream. Then follows a section on their settlement and survival, Ties of Gold, and another about their influential effects on California commerce then and now, entitled Enterprises. Three additional sections examine the evolution of community, acculturation, and the legacy of contributions to shaping the California civilization.

In the Southland, Heading East is available for viewing during the next few months. From January 12-29, 1999, it will be on display at the Alhambra City Hall in conjunction with the San Gabriel Valley's Chinese New Year celebration. In Orange County, visitors may see the exhibit at the Barclay Theater in Irvine on March 3 and 4, 1999. Later, the exhibit will travel to selected county libraries as well as to the Los Angeles Theater Center complex during Asian Pacific American Heritage month. Companion to the latter showings is the original musical on the same theme, first presented by East West Players last May.

Heading East: California's Asian Pacific Experience has been partly funded by the California State Library grants from the Library Systems Technology and by support from AT&T. For further information on scheduling or the project, please contact Callie Chung at (213) 680-4462 or chung@apanet.org.

Founded in 1995, RemarQ, formerly known as Supernews, is the world's number one provider of Web-based and Usenet discussion group services. The company is also committed to helping local, national, and international non-profit organizations and institutions for higher learning with its individual support, corporate sponsorship, marketing, and technology assets.

RemarQ's donation to the Museum was made possible by the generosity of Ms. Min Jung Kim, Marketing Communications Specialist, who arranged for the webhosting support. The MCAH also wishes to thank Adland Lee and Richard Peiper for providing technical assistance during the set up process. Finally, the Museum is grateful to webmaster Alvin Wong, the principal and senior computer consultant at Hummingbird Software, for his continued dedication in designing and improving the Museum's website.

Judge Lew has been a leader, advisor, and teacher, not only in the legal community, but also in the community at large. A role model and leader in the Chinese American community, Judge Lew is a founder of the Chinatown Service Center and the Southern California Lawyers Association, serving as its president in 1979. He has also been the president of the Friends of the Museum of Chinese American History since January 1998. Most notably, however, he played an important role in incorporating LA's immigrant Chinese community into institutions of the city and the nation.

A graduate of the Southwestern University of Law, he worked for two and a half years as a deputy city attorney, then embarked on a notable private practice career in 1974. In 1982, he was appointed to the Los Angeles Municipal Court, and two years later, he was elevated to the Superior Court. In 1987, President Reagan appointed Ronald Lew to the federal bench where he now serves in the Central District of California. Judge Lew was the first Chinese American appointed to the United States District Court in the continental U.S.

A native Angeleno, Ronald Lew is the son of first generation Chinese immigrants. The third of nine children, he was born in the backroom of his parents' laundry in 1941. During his formative years, the expatriate Chinese community in Los Angeles, as in most cities of the U.S., was not policed and governed by local authorities but by the Chinese themselves through various family and fraternal organizations. Although there were similar organizations for other immigrants such as Irish, Jewish, and Italian Americans, the separation between the Chinese community and mainstream America was more drastic due to the long history of self-sufficiency in and racial prejudice against the Chinese American community. In fact, prior to the 1970s, a Chinese person was seldom seen in court. They were also seldom seen behind or in front of a desk at any governmental agency.

Lew's father and a few other like-minded community leaders foresaw that the era of the insular Chinatown would eventually come to an end. He encouraged his young son to pursue a career in law, hoping that his son Ronald could eventually help to integrate the Chinese community into the American system.

With the arrival of a new generation of Chinese immigrants and the American-born generation becoming more assimilated into American culture, by the 1970s, the era of isolated, self-governing Chinese community was coming to an end. Ronald Lew, then a lawyer with experience in the public sector and with a respect for and understanding of the Chinese community's self-sufficiency and insularity, played a key role in opening the door between the two systems. True to his parents' vision, his effort significantly effected this transition.

Judge Lew, the son of immigrants who rose to become the first Chinese American appointee to the U.S. District Court in the continental U.S., is an inspiration for all Americans and particularly for the Chinese American community. The Friends salutes its president, Judge Ronald S. W. Lew, for the high honor of being chosen Person of the Year for 1998 by Metropolitan-News Enterprise.

Volunteer Fred Gong (L),
El Pueblo curator Suellen Cheng (C),
and Friends board member Elmo Gambarana (R)
at the China Expo.

The Friends occupied one of the one hundred booths at the recent China Expo U.S.A. held at the L.A. Convention Center from December 11 to 13, 1998. From noon Friday until late evening Sunday, board members Munson Kwok and Elmo Gambarana, curator Suellen Cheng, and volunteers Agnes Fung, Jim Fong, and Fred Gong, presented bilingual exhibit panels with historic photos to the stream of mostly Chinese-speaking visitors passing by their corner booth. Numerous passers-by stopped to ask questions about the Museum project and to admire the color photos of the Garnier Building and the layout of the MCAH. All left with a better knowledge of the Museum aided by literature, such as newsletters and membership information. Several visitors also left their addresses for future contact.

The F-MCAH wishes to thank TV station KSCI (Channel 18) for furnishing the booth which allowed the Friends to share information on the Museum with the China Expo attendees.

(L to R) Museum donors Pedro Chan of the Center for Chinese Medicine,
Edith and Robert Jung, and Leland Wong of Kaiser Permanente with
F-MCAH president Ronald Lew.

PATRON SPONSORS
Center for Chinese Medicine
Edith and Robert Jung
Kaiser Permanente

BENEFACTOR SPONSORS
Home Savings of America
KSCI TV Channel 18
Wallis Foundation

GOLD SPONSORS
Anonymous
Cathay Bank
Kong Chow Benevolent Association
Matthew Lin, M.D.
Pacific Bell
Prudential Preferred Financial Services
Taipe Economic and Cultural Office

SILVER SPONSORS
Chicago Title Company
Coors Brewing Compnay
DCH Automotive Group
Regal Biltmore Hotel
Rusnak Automotive Group
South Pasadena Chinese American Club

COMMUNITY SPONSORS
American Chinese Garment Contractor Association of Southern California
American Families with Chinese Adopted Children
California State University System
Catellus Develpment Corporation
Faye Chan
Howard Chan
Raymond Chan
Betty Chim
Chinatown Service Center
Chinese American Citizens Alliance, Los Angeles Lodge
Chinese Historical Society of Southern California
Friends of the Chinatown Library
Elmo Gambarana
Gee How Oak Tin Assocation
Golden Security Bank
Miranda Hoh, Rusnak
Annie Jeng
Julia Keh
Robert Kwan
Munson and Suellen Cheng Kwok
Jean Lau
Allen Lee
Billy Lew
Dorothy Lew
Los Angeles Chinatown Corporation
Dan Louie, Jr., Ph.D.
Sam S. and Lai Y. Low
Megatoys
OCA-GLA and Friends
Panda Management Company, Inc.
Don and Margaret A. Quon
Soo-Hoo Leung Family
Roland Soo Hoo
Southern California Chinese Lawyers Association
Standard Savings Bank
Tim Sui, M.D.
Lawrence Tan, Tan Holdings
Jeffrey Tung
Wah Hing Noodle
The Walt Disney Company
Wong Family Association
Betty and Joseph Wong
Paul Zee

FRIENDS

Altus Flutes America, Inc. John Chan Kenneth M. Chan John Chang Ruby Chang Shireen Chang Weilie Chang Lupe Chee Stephen Cheng Pamela Grace Chin Robert Chong Stanley and Lorri Chow Chris Cheung, Wonder Food Bakery Johnson Chu Mary Chu Benson Chui David and Helen Chung William Chun-Hoon James J. Cook Michael Duchemin F. See On Company Susan Dickson Carol Duan Robert Eng William Estrada Cindy Fong Frances Fong Jim Fong Steven A. Fong Saykin Foo Nadine Miki Fujimoto Ronald G. Fung Mae Tsi Hom Roger Hong Sharon Hoy Karen Huie Alice Hwang Jerde Partnership, Inc. William M. And Anita C. Jeung Bill L. and Jean D. Jong Albert Jung Ka Wah Bank Limited Roger and Helen Kaneko Gary Kawaguchi Lisa See Kendall Ed King Beulah Kwoh Irvin Lai William and Ines Lai Elaine Lau Roy E. and Linda L. Lau Fred A. Lee Holly Rose Lee Patrick Lee, T. C. Realty Richard and Patricia Soohoo Lem Marian Lee Leng Christopher Leong Leslee Leong, F. Suie One Company William and Joyce M. Leong Edith Leung Lisa Leung, State Farm Insurance Shirley Lew Amy Lewis Ted Lieu

Aimee E. Liu Clyde Loo Joseph Loo Albert C. Lum Albert J. Lum Franklin Mah Eleanor Mar Patricia T. Mar Thomas A. and Elizabeth McDannold Harriet Moore Jeffrey H. and Christine C. Murakami Kay and Miyoko Nakagiri Miles Nan Ming Ng William B. Paullin Jean Bruce Poole Ella Quan Wilson B. Quan Irene and Jimmie Quon Lai Queen Quon Marilynn Quon Gary Shek Pauline Shum Kathleen A. Siu Michael S. Smith Alfred Soo-Hoo Roland and Bonnie Soo Hoo Strategic Systems Architects Inc. Julius Sue Eric Sun Diana Wong Tang Ronald Taw Clara Tom Doris Tom Emmaline C. Tom Herbert W. Tom Pin Fun Tsai Joseph Tseng University of Southern California Betty H. Wang Karen Wang Camille Wing Angi Ma Wong Cy Wong Hon. Delbert and Dolores Wong Gay Yuen Wong Ronald Wong Tyrus Wong Yep H. Wong Elaine Mae Woo Serena D. Woo Hon. Julia Wu Sylvia Wu Winston Wu James Yan Lisa H. S. Yang Bing Get Yee John Yee Ronald N. Yee Sue Yee Stanley Yep Donna Young Jeannette E. Young Rose Zee

Seeking Volunteers for New Exhibit

MCAH Exhibit Travels to Alhambra

Article Contributions Welcomed

Join the Friends as a Member

Seeking Chinatown Tour Guides

Correction

(This has been corrected in the on-line Fall 1998 newsletter (~156K) - Webmaster)