Contents

• President's Message
• CAM Salutes Historymakers of 2000
• Historymaker Awards 2000: Prelude to Celebration
• Thank You, CAM Volunteers
• Chinese American Museum Site Update
• Historic Museum Director Jean Bruce Poole Retires
  After 24 Years of Service
• Chinese Genealogy: A Basic Introduction
• Billy Lew, First Los Angeles Chinese American C.P.A.,
  Passes Away at Age 88
• CAM's Chinese New Year Banquet
• Homage to Honorable Emigrees
• Sharing and Preserving Heirloom Photographs
• The Wey Wong Family: A Family History
• CAM at Rose Parade 2001
• Chinese American Museum Supporters (November 1999 to Present)
• CAM & Community News
• Send Us Your Favorite Recipes!
• CAM Job Opportunity: Assistant Curator
• Board of Directors
• Staff & Consultants
• Newsletter Staff

Greetings! On behalf of FCAM, I would like to express my sincere appreciation for your enthusiastic support during the past year. FCAM was able to come this far in establishing the Museum only because of your generous donations of artifacts, funds, and services and your attendance at our public events.

Early this year more than 200 of you celebrated the Year of the Snake at CAM's Chinese New Year banquet. In November 2000, over 500 of you joined the Museum at the Fourth Annual Historymaker Awards to pay tribute to the achievements of honorees Gareth Chang, Joan Chen, Deborah Ching, Y.C. Hong, and the Chinese Historical Society of Southern California. Because of your contributions, these two successful banquets netted over $100,000 combined.

Your generous support will go a long way toward developing CAM, an educational institution that will give voice to the present Chinese American community in Southern California as well as bring to life its past history. Preserving this community's heritage has also been made possible by your donations of artifacts such as photos and film footage and your sharing of family stories through oral history interviews and personal writings. Only with the help of your own families' artifacts and your own words can CAM become a living museum of the Chinese American experience. I encourage you to continue sharing your family stories with the Museum, so that we can give the gift of knowledge about Chinese American heritage and culture to future generations of Southern Californians.

That you and I are working together to create a museum for the young became especially meaningful to me when my grandson was born a few months ago. When I was a boy, my parents showed old family photos and told us fragmented stories about our ancestors, so that my eight siblings and I would not forget our family history. Today, I am proud to work with you to establish an institution to record the Chinese American community's collective experience for our children and grandchildren. I am heartened to know that by the time my grandson learns to walk, he will be able to walk through the newly-opened Museum, which will help him learn about where he came from and about the achievements and history of his own community.

Let us continue to work together to create CAM for our children and grandchildren. I look forward to working with you in the months to come, so that we can soon open the doors of the Chinese American Museum!

Yours truly
Ronald S.W. Lew ( )

(L-R) FCAM president-elect Debra Yang, Irvin Lai representing the Chinese Historical Society of Southern California, Gareth Chang, Joan Chen, Deborah Ching, Nowland Hong representing Y.C. Hong, mistress of ceremonies Mirandah Hoh, and FCAM president Ronald Lew.

The Chinese American Museum honored Gareth Chang, Joan Chen, Deborah Ching, You Chung Hong, and the Chinese Historical Society of Southern California at the Fourth Annual Historymaker Awards on November 17, 2000. More than 500 supporters attended Historymaker Awards 2000, whose theme was "Prelude to Celebration," at Hilton Universal City & Towers. This banquet raised a net amount of over $100,000, a record breaker over both the 1999 and 1998 fundraisers.

I'd like to thank you for sharing the vision that we have for the Chinese American Museum, FCAM president Ronald S. W. Lew announced to supporters at the ceremony, Only by working together can we make the vision come true. Among the individuals who attended the Historymaker banquet in support of CAM were Assemblymember George Nakano, State Board of Equalization Member John Chiang, Ambassador and Mrs. Jason Yuan, El Pueblo Commission President Maria Pacho, and El Pueblo General Manager Samuel Luna.

Hosted by media luminaries Frank Kwan and Miranda Hoh, the awards banquet also included recognition of major donors as well as a presentation on the forthcoming CAM exhibitions by Museum designer Tom Hartman of I.Q. Magic. Performers included the International Children's Choir of Long Beach, zheng soloist Xiao Qing Chu, and Chinese folk dancers from the Sydney Dance Institute.

Under the leadership of event chair and board member Robert Kwan, over 50 banquet committee members, including FCAM board members, El Pueblo staff, and Museum volunteers, organized the 2000 awards ceremony. Banquet co-chairs Dr. Pedro Chan, Barbie Chien, Dr. Munson Kwok, and Linda Sun also played key roles in the success of the Fourth Annual Historymaker Awards.

Since 1997, CAM has annually presented Historymaker awards to individuals and organizations, which have made significant contributions toward the growth, vitality, history, and prominence of the Chinese American community in California. Please join us for the Fifth Annual Historymaker Awards at Hilton Universal City & Towers on December 9, 2001!

By Robert Kwan ( )
Second Vice President

Miss Los Angeles Chinatown Second Princess Cheryl Shih (L), Queen 2000 Dana Yee (2nd fr R), and Third Princess Queena Wei (R) attended the ceremony to honor Historymaker Joan Chen (2nd fr L) and the four other award recipients.

Over 50 banquet committee members, including (L-R) Yvonne Liu, Vicki Chien, David Calderon, Barbie Chien, Christina Li, Sharon Chow, Hoa Truong, curator Suellen Cheng, and community outreach coordinator Jing-Chiou Liou made Historymakers 2000 the best CAM award celebration to date.

Jennifer Pai (L) of Jennifer Fine Jewelry Corporation contributed a set of pearl and diamond earrings, pendant, and ring toward the fall fundraiser silent auction.

CAM supporter Andrew Chern (L) of Panda Management, Inc. won a lithograph by artist Ting Shao Kuang in the silent auction. FCAM president Ronald Lew (R) presented the prize to Mr. Chern.

(Front row, L-R) City of Montery Park Mayor Pro Tem Francisco Alonso, Evergreen Publishing & Stationery owner Bing Liu, and UCLA professor H. H. Chou attended Historymakers 2000 in support of the Museum.

Distinguished Service Award
Chinese Historical Society of Southern California
( )
The Chinese Historical Society of Southern California (CHSSC) was the founding organization of the Chinese American Museum. A joint discussion during the mid-80s between El Pueblo Monument and CHSSC led to the creation of CAM. Through its Chinese American Museum Fund and the singular efforts of Howard Quon, then president of Chinese American Citizens Alliance in Los Angeles, the Society raised the first $72,000 for the CAM project. Since then, CHSSC and its leaders have continued to assist in Museum development by providing financial support, resources, and community participation. In 2000, CHSSC celebrated its Silver Anniversary of service to the community as a "full service" historical society. This moment is particularly auspicious for CAM to confer the Distinguished Service Award upon the Chinese Historical Society of Southern California. Its president, Mr. Irvin Lai, accepted the award on behalf of the organization.

Business Leadership Award
Gareth Chang
( )
After 20 years of brilliant achievement with McDonnell Douglas Corporation, Gareth C. C. Chang continues his stellar career as a board member of Apple Computer, Inc. Chang has brought renown not only to his California alma maters, California State University, Fullerton, Pepperdine University, and USC, but also to Beijing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics as an honorary professor and the Oregon Joint Professional Schools of International Management as an adjunct professor. In addition, he is one of two personal advisors to Phil Knight, CEO of Nike. Whether as president of McDonnell Douglas Pacific and Asia, of DirecTV Japan, or as chairperson of Star TV, he is a shining example of leadership in a fast-paced environment. As the executive chairperson of Click2Asia, he has shared his extensive Asian media experience as well as government and business contacts for the benefit of the company. Because of his contributions to the Asian Pacific community and his business foresight as an entrepreneur, Mr. Chang deserves recognition as a Historymaker in Business Leadership.

Excellence in the Arts Award
Joan Chen
( )
Starting her acting career at age 14, Joan Chen won China's Best Actress Award as a teenager. Her international stardom was ignited by her association with Lorimar Productions in the 1980s. Famous for her roles as the empress in Roberto Bertolucci's The Last Emperor and the enigmatic Josie Packard in the TV series Twin Peaks, Ms. Chen seeks new heights in her artistic career. Her debut as a director led her to the prairies of Tibet. Shot on the sneak and mostly at night in Shanghai and on the Tibetan border, Xiu Xiu: The Sent Down Girl (1998) tells the coming-of-age story of a girl whose childhood was uprooted by the communist's cultural revolution policies of the 1970s. This film swept the Golden Horse Awards in Taiwan and earned her the opportunity to direct Autumn in New York starring Wynona Rider and Richard Gere. Her achievements, both as a performer and filmmaker, place her as an outstanding Historymaker in the arts.

Community Service Award
Deborah Ching
( )
Deborah F. Ching is the president of Los Angeles Women's Foundation. Before accepting her new position, she was executive director of the Chinatown Service Center, the largest community-based Chinese American service organization in Southern California. The non-profit organization assists immigrants and refugees through a wide range of services including social adjustment, psychological counseling, employment, naturalization, and community health clinics, and is developing affordable housing. In addition to her work in the Chinese American community, Ms. Ching has been involved with other organizations and communities as past president of the Asian Pacific Planning Council from 1992 to 1994, co-founder of the Asian & Pacific Islander California Action Network (APIsCAN), former board director for the New Economics for Women, and RLA (formerly Rebuild Los Angeles). Currently, she is also the chair of the Community Technology Policy Council and serves on the board of directors of the Multi-Cultural Collaborative and the Universal Task Force for Pacific Bell. Ms. Ching's achievements place her as an Historymaker in community service.

Dr. Dan Louis, Jr. Award for Lifetime Achievement
You Chung Hong
( )
You Chung Hong (1898-1977) was a trailblazer for the civil equity, social engagement, and economic advancement of Chinese Americans. Having earned two degrees in law, he was the first Chinese American to graduate from USC Law School and, in 1933, to be admitted into practice before the U.S. Supreme Court. Establishing his practice at 445 Ginling Way showed his commitment to the construction of New Chinatown in 1938.

Mr. Hong devoted tireless decades to community service. During high school, he taught English to his Chinese-speaking countrymen. From 1918 to 1928, he served as interpreter for the U.S. Immigration Service. He fought for the revocation of the infamous Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 and testified before the U.S. Senate Hearing Committee on immigration laws. He served as president of the Chinese American Citizens Alliance, an organization that worked to secure equal economic and political opportunities for Americans of Chinese descent. His achievements place him as a Historymaker in Chinese American history. Y.C. Hong's son, Nowland, accepted the award on behalf of his father.

(L-R) Curator Suellen Cheng, I.Q. Magic designers Robert Ball and Valerie Herzberg, FCAM board member Munson Kwok, I.Q. Magic president Thomas Hartman, El Pueblo historic museum director Jean Bruce Poole, Choy and Associates architects Barton Choy and Brent Palmer, and FCAM board member Eugene Moy at CAM.

The exciting news is that the City of Los Angeles is making 1,100 square feet of additional space in the Garnier Building available for the CAM. This will go a long way toward easing the congestion in the Museum space. Although CAM will be housed in two of the City's most historic buildings, the previously allocated amount of space was, nevertheless, narrow and confined.

On Friday, January 12, architect Barton Choy, exhibit designer Tom Hartman of I.Q. Magic, members of their staffs, El Pueblo and CAM staff, and FCAM board members Robert Kwan, Munson Kwok, and Eugene Moy met to plan the use of both the old and the new space. Visiting the site together helped this team of individuals envision how to best utilize the additional rooms and incorporate them into the overall CAM design. It was also invigorating to have so many people who are deeply concerned with the creation of the Museum meeting together to formulate plans.

The architect and CAM staff have also met with representatives from the City's General Services Department to discuss cost estimates for the renovation work in the two buildings. Once this is determined, plans for the new space are completed, and funds are made available, the actual construction can start.

Jean Bruce Poole
Acting Executive Director, Friends of the Chinese American Museum &
Retired Historic Museum Director, El Pueblo de Los Angeles Historical Monument

Jean Bruce Poole (C) with former assistant curator Estella Chung (L) and El Pueblo curator Suellen Cheng (R).

The Plaza, the Avila Adobe, Sepulveda House, Italian Hall, Pico House, Firehouse, and Garnier Block are reminders of how rich a heritage Los Angeles has to celebrate. Through the efforts of many individuals over the years-scholars, historians, archeologists, architects, volunteers, and docents-as well as community and corporate organizations, El Pueblo de Los Angeles Historical Monument will continue to enrich our community for years to come. Over the past 24 years, these groups have worked with Jean Bruce Poole, one of the central architects of the park's emergence as a major landmark of Los Angeles history.

Mrs. Poole has served at El Pueblo since 1977 as senior curator and head of the History Division and its museum program. Prior to her employment there, Jean was assistant director of the California Historical Society, managing the Southern California office for five years. She is also an active scholar, having authored and co-authored a number of publications on local history and historic preservation. The Getty will be publishing her forthcoming book on the buildings and people of El Pueblo Historical Monument this year. Additionally, Jean co-edited along with historians Judson Grenier and Doyce Nunis, A Guide to the Historic Places in Los Angeles County.

In her service to El Pueblo, Mrs. Poole has brought to her work a philosophy of sound and accurate historic preservation that has elevated the standards of research and restoration work at the Monument, where early Los Angeles as a Ramona land persisted as a theme when she arrived there. Mrs. Poole more accurately envisioned the necessity of inclusion of all the different ethnic and cultural groups who had shaped and diversified the City's early growth. Her vision and support of inclusive history will result in two new museums at El Pueblo, the Chinese American Museum and the Historic Italian Hall. Her vigilance played an important part in successful efforts to preserve the 1932 whitewashed mural, America Tropical, by David Alfaro Siqueiros. Her appeal to the public for assistance in this project has reaped community support from different sectors of the City.

The numerous exhibitions frequently displayed at El Pueblo over the years are examples of Mrs. Poole's vision of the Monument as a repository for the City's history. The exhibitions on the restoration efforts of America Tropical, the history of water in Los Angeles, the women of El Pueblo, and the Sepulveda House are examples of these. Noted scholars and exhibit designers have served as consultants for these projects, guaranteeing the highest level of accuracy and professionalism.

Mrs. Poole has earned numerous awards for her work. Last year, the Los Angeles City Historical Society honored her with the David Cameron Award, California State University Northridge honored her with the Phenomenal Woman Award for Public History, and the California Preservation Foundation awarded her the Presidents Award for "outstanding achievements and stewardship of El Pueblo Monument for more than twenty years." The California Historical Society recognized Mrs. Poole's lifelong service in historic preservation by presenting her the 1990 Irene and V. Aubrey Neasham Annual Award. Mrs. Poole's work resulting in the rehabilitation of the Pico-Garnier block was honored with the 2001 California Preservation Foundation Design Award. Recently, the Los Angeles City Council honored her with a special certificate for her dedication to historic preservation.

Mrs. Poole's service to the City are too numerous to mention in their entirety, but suffice it to say, Los Angeles is a beneficiary of her vigilance as a preservationist of local history. After 24 years of service, Mrs. Poole retired from El Pueblo Historical Monument in early 2001. She will, however, continue to work with the Friends to help establish CAM.

By Estella Chung
Former Assistant Curator

Jia Pu, translated as "genealogy record" and also known as Zu Pu is a record of a clan's history and lineage. It documents the origins of the surname, the migration patterns of the clan, the family lineage, the ancestral biography, the story of the locality, etc.

The origin of Jia Pu spans many eras and has been found as early as the Shang Dynasty (1523-1028 B.C.). Family trees of clans then were written on turtle shells, cow bones and bronze. Prior to the invention of writing, Chinese genealogical information was recorded by tying knots on ropes. Objects such as miniature arrows, shoes, cradle, bronze coins, kneecaps of goats and pigs were tied to the knots to show the number of generations and members (male and female), etc. in a family. This information was also verbally passed on to the later generations. Such were the earliest forms of Chinese genealogical record.

The written "Jia Pu" contains entries about the migrations of the people and social evolution. It tracks the growth of the clan members by recording in detail their political, military and academic achievements. It also eulogizes the clan's ancestors and encourages the future generation to do worthy causes to maintain the good name of the clan.

A "Jia Pu" usually begins with the primogenitor, the earliest ancestor, who first settled or moved to a place and started his family there, and should end with the contemporary generation that draws up the genealogy. The intermediate ancestors are to be enumerated in between. The primogenitor's sons and descendents compose the first six generations and are tabulated on one form. The primogenitor's first-born son and subsequent first-born grandsons are listed vertically downwards on the right, while the brothers of the first-born are listed laterally on the left. Descriptions of each generation are confined in relatively narrow, horizontal divisions of the form. These spaces contain information such as the individual's name and aliases, date of birth and death, and official rank.

"Jia Pu" usually does not have prominent records of the women in the family. This is because in Chinese families, greater emphasis is placed on the sons who will carry on the family name. When daughters marry, they are considered a part of their husband's family. Although their names are mentioned in both their family and in-law's Jia Pu, their significance is usually marginalized since they are considered unlikely to extend the family's lineage.

The perception towards the objectives of Chinese genealogical research has tremendously changed over time. Researchers are now studying Chinese genealogies as a supplement to other areas such as social economic history, geographical history, history of law, population history, religion and culture, history of overseas Chinese, inheritance practices, and biography of historical figures. Recent works in the field has dispelled the myth that Chinese genealogical research is only a pastime hobby for the amateur genealogist.

By Danny Boey
Chief English Editor
www.Chineseroots.com

Billy W. Lew, 1912-2000.
(Courtesy of Anna Lew)

The Chinese American Museum and the Los Angeles Chinese community lost one of its most revered members on Wednesday, December 13, 2000 when Billy W. Lew passed away at his home. He was 88 years old. The memorial service was held on December 21, at Forest Lawn Cemetery-Glendale in the Church of the Recessional. Billy was the first Chinese American certified public accountant in L.A. as well as FCAM's treasurer since its establishment. He left his wife of 44 years, Anna, and his son, John. FCAM would like to express heartfelt condolences to Mrs. Anna Lew and the family.

Billy was born in L.A. on December 20, 1912, on Apablasa Street in Old Chinatown at what is now Union Station. He grew up around the Old Plaza, on Los Angeles Street at the noted Sun Wing Wo Store in the historic Garnier Building. The family came from the Toishan, Hoiping district of Guangdong Province, China. Through his mother's influence, Billy was raised in the Presbyterian Church. He received his bachelor's degree at the University of Southern California in 1941, majoring in foreign business relations. He was always proud that he had mastered reading and writing Chinese as a youth, much of it self-taught, in order to conduct his future business dealings.

Obviously, 1941 was the epitome of fateful bad timing for dealing in foreign trade in Asia, so Billy began his career as a part-time bookkeeper in the produce industry. His career as an accountant would extend nearly sixty years. Because of his bilingual language skills and financial expertise, he became executive secretary of the Chinese Produce Merchants Association during World War II, guiding the members on price control regulations. His brief chance to be involved in foreign trade occurred after World War II. In 1946, he worked overseas as a Chinese-speaking auditor for an American contractor moving goods through Guam to the Nationalist government in China. Returning to the produce markets, he studied nights at UCLA to qualify for his certified public accountant certificate, which he received in 1958. Ever one to seek continual self improvement and never to stop learning, Billy returned to USC once more, and obtained his Master of Business Taxation degree in 1991 at the age of 78, long after he had established a reputation in the community as a top professional.

Billy believed in devoting time to community service, giving generously of his leadership, expertise, and time. This pattern was set by his earliest commitment when he was recruited by the Chinese American Citizens Alliance (C.A.C.A.) to help in voter education and registration in 1939, when he was still a student. This experience impressed upon him the lack of Chinese American empowerment, a quest he continued to support for the rest of his life. Accordingly, he joined the C.A.C.A. and was a member for a record setting 61 plus years. During most of that time, he was accountant or financial manager for its Los Angeles Lodge. He was president of Los Angeles Lodge in 1965-66 during the Watts riots. He recalls leading the Alliance when it had to help the Chinese grocers in Watts. He was also Secretary of the Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association in the late 1940's. He had been the only Vice President and Treasurer of the C.A.C.A. Scholarship Foundation in its 29-year existence and the only Treasurer of the Friends of Chinese American Museum in its 12-year tenure. He was a member of the Lions Club, the Lung Kong Tin Yee Association, California Society of CPAs, American Institute of CPAs, and USC Alumni Association. He was recognized often for his service. In 1986, the Chinese Historical Society of Southern California presented Billy Lew with a "Spirit of Old Chinatown" award as a pioneering achiever from this Chinese American community. Until a year ago, he maintained a CPA office, Lew & Ying, near downtown Los Angeles.

Billy had a few personal passions. He loved the Chinese arts, and but for fate, was bound to be an artist when he was young. He loved the game of investing and was very good at it. He loved travel and, in his later years, went to China six times. But his greatest passions of all were USC and USC football. To Billy, there were only two seasons: USC football season, followed by Tax Season.

Expressions of condolences can be made to the Billy Lew Fund (FCAM, 125 Paseo de la Plaza, Suite 400, Los Angeles, CA 90012) or to the C.A.C.A. Scholarship Foundation (C.AC.A, Los Angeles Lodge, 415 Bamboo Lane, Los Angeles, CA 90012).

By Munson Kwok ( )
Board Member
and
Elmo Gambarana
Secretary

Photo by John Gee

On January 26, 2001, over 200 guests gathered to celebrate the Year of the Serpent at CAM's Chinese New Year dinner. This year's banquet took place at the Gourmet Carousel Restaurant in Los Angeles Chinatown. The evening featured a nine-course Chinese banquet and entertainers that included acrobats, musicians, lion dancers, and folk dancers.

Guests attending the event in support of CAM included Assemblymember Carol Liu, field representative Michael Bai from the office of Assemblyman Herb Wesson (47th District), and field representative P.J. Gagajena from the office of Assemblyman George Nakano (53rd District). The Friends would also like to thank attending supporters from the following community groups: Chinese American Citizens Alliance, Chinese Club of San Marino, the Chinese Historical Society of Southern California, Families with Children from China, Hsi Lai Temple, San Fernando Cultural Association, and the original residents of Old Chinatown.

For all, the evening was a festive event of Chinese culture, entertainment, food, and good times. Join us next year, when the Museum will celebrate the Year of the Horse at the 2002 New Year's banquet. We look forward to seeing you at the other CAM events before then!

James Hong ( )
Former Museum Assistant

My mother died in 1924, at the age of thirty-three and when I was just two years old, leaving my Bah Bah with six children to raise by himself. (Courtesy of Bill and Jean Jong)
See Bigger Picture (84K JPG)

Until they are missing, no one can ever really appreciate the precious value of family records, documents, letters, or any scrap of paper connecting us with our past in a knowing way. These are the voices of our ancestors that connect us to our identity. Without them there is only silence. We can draw from what we do know, and only imagine the rest.

Unfortunately, my own family records do not go back any further than two generations. There is one piece of paper that shows my grandfather was born in China: Jeong Ming Yee, 1837-1924. Then there is a Certificate of Death for my grandmother, dated December 2, 1889, which indicates she was 42 on that date. Curiously, her name is not indicated-only that of her father, which is listed as Kwock Fook Sow, and her mother's family name as Fong Shee. We learned later from our father that both of our grandparents came from the village of Sun Wui, Canton Province.

I have a Certificate of Residence that was issued to my grandfather in 1894 showing that he qualified for residency in the United States under the provisions of the Act of Congress passed in 1892, allowing Chinese to stay in the U.S. if they were residents at the time the Act was passed. My grandfather qualified and received this valuable certificate when he was fifty-seven years old. At the time, he was living at 847 Washington Street, 2nd floor, in San Francisco's Chinatown.

It is doubtful any further information on my grandparents will ever be discovered at this late date. I will have to imagine what events may have occurred in their lives between those three scraps of paper.

The Jeong Ming Yee's produced a son in 1880, Jeong Kwong Yan, (my father). At the time, they were living in a Chinese settlement north of San Francisco known as China Camp (McNear Point).

I can't remember my father ever talking about his parents or siblings, although I do know he had at least one sister, who married into the Kwok family, and an older brother. Somehow we learned that one of my father's earliest jobs was scrubbing down locomotives in Barstow. This was the sort of work offered to Chinese in those days, and it's easy to understand why he left Barstow and moved to San Francisco. There he found a job in a wholesale produce markets, sorting potatoes, building vegetable crates, and unloading produce.

Another small piece of documentation seems to fit into our family history at about this time when my father would have been twenty-nine years old. An Immigration certificate shows that Lee Shee, my mother, arrived on the SS Manchuria in San Francisco on November 12, 1909. She was seventeen years of age and was admitted as wife of native #563.

There is no information on where my mother's village was, family background data, or the date when she and my father were married. They were alive, they could work, little else mattered back then.

Their marriage of approximately twelve years produced seven children, two girls, and five boys. Their first-born son, Cheung Kam Man, died in 1912 when he was just 2 years old. Unfortunately for all of us, my mother died in 1924, at the age of 33 when I was just 2 years old, leaving my Bah Bah with six children to raise by himself.

To read "Homage to Honorable Emigrees" in its entirety, please access "Voices: Chinese American Stories," CAM's new anthology of family histories, available at http://www.camla.org/ starting in Winter 2002.

Jean Jong
Writer

When Jean Jong isn't writing, she's thinking and reading about it in all its various forms, including poetry. Her working passion is combining historical research with the lives of individuals who define their particular time in history. She is currently researching material about unusual and lesser-known historical events in which a child, or children, played a major part. She has written articles for International Travel News and the L.A. Times submission section, and is a member of PEN and the Academy of American Poets.

Chun Fon was born in China in 1878. Although he was the youngest, he was strong- willed, assertive, enterprising, and destined to be the dominant member of his generation in his family. He provided strong leadership in all family matters and even disciplined his brother's sons when necessary. It was very difficult for Chinese to enter the United States at the time Chun Fon arrived. He came to the United States under a merchant status limited visa in 1895 at age 17. He became involved in the two family laundries in Los Angeles, one on Olive Street and the other on 9th Street, which was started by his brother Chun Fung.

Sing Kee Laundry, a wholesale laundry owned and operated by the Wong Family, was located on 9th and San Pedro ca. 1945. It employed 30 people and provided 2 meals a day to its staff. (Courtesy of the Wey Wong Family.)

The photograph records the employment of Latina and African-American women in Sing Kee Laundry ca. 1945. They were paid 2.5 cents for each shirt ironed. Most of the women could press 60 shirts an hour. (Courtesy of the Wey Wong Family.)

An example of both Chun Fon's self-confidence and a technique to circumvent shameful prejudices against the Chinese occurred after the 1906 San Francisco earthquake. When the catastrophe destroyed the City's registry including the records of birth, a golden opportunity was presented. Not being one to ignore such an opportunity, Chun Fon, along with other Chinese in California, went to the reestablished hall of records in San Francisco requesting a copy of their birth certificates that would guarantee citizenship. Of course, no such document ever existed, but since the records had all been destroyed, the authorities found themselves in a dilemma. It was decided that if any person requesting a birth certificate could present a credible witness, such as their mother, then a certificate of birth would be created containing the information provided by the applicant and their witness.

Although the female Chinese population was in short supply, they were very cooperative. A Chinese of foreign birth along with a Chinese lady of appropriate age would present themselves to the authorities as mother and child. They would select a convenient date of birth and give verbal evidence that the applicant was born on that day and year. When questioned where did the birth take place, the answer would be, "that little red house two blocks off Main Street in Chinatown."

The authorities became suspicious when the same woman appeared over and over again with a different applicant proclaiming, "this is my son." Since there was no way to disprove the statements, the documents were issued and many Chinese born became instant citizens by "birth" in the United States. Chun Fon was one of these individuals, and that made all of his children and grandchildren citizens as well.

At age 21, he returned to China and married Ng Shee who remained in China her entire life. She was born in 1878 and died in 1937, being buried on the same day that the Japanese bombed Shanghai. Chun Fon remained in China for a year fathering a son, Wing Wey, who was born in 1900. He then returned to the United States. He stayed in America for several years before again returning to China for a year and a half to manage and organize family affairs.

Chun Fon's only son Wing Wey, whose name meant "great power," first came to America in 1916. He traveled with his father to San Francisco. Chun Fon wanted his son to be educated in English and planned to place Wing Wey in the home of a clergyman to serve as a houseboy, study English, and the learn customs of America. Unfortunately, Chun Fon became ill and returned to China where he died in 1918 never able to accomplish his plan for his son.

After his father's death, the responsibility for his mother and sister fell to Wing Wey. He returned to China at the age of twenty and married Lee Toy Hen, whose name meant "whatever heaven will take care of" or "God's will." When he returned to the United States, he worked in the laundry owned by his uncle, Chun Fung. Shortly after, Wing Wey went into the produce business, and was the first family member to leave the laundry business. He built a delivery route that included the original McDonalds in Los Angeles. By 1938, he had two sons, Chuck Wong born in 1928 and Edward Wong born in 1930. Although he did not earn adequate funds to support a family in the United States, when the Japanese attacked China, Wing Wey pulled money together to bring his wife and children to the United States, and decided he would worry about housing once they arrived. In 1939, a third son, William was born. William was the first member of the family born in the United States. A fourth son, Jim, was born in 1941.

Young Jim Wong in a Red Cross cap with the laundry's truck. Jim is now a physician. (Courtesy of the Wey Wong Family.)

A laundry worker and young Jim Wong standing outside the family laundry. Jim and his brother, William, were the first family members to be born in the United States. Earlier family members gained citizenship through "birth" after the 1906 San Francisco earthquake. (Courtesy of the Wey Wong Family.)

Wing Wey returned to the laundry on 9th Street in Los Angeles in 1942 and remained there until it was sold in 1952. He then opened a small hand laundry on Western Avenue and 37th Street that he operated until 1964. At that time, he sold the laundry and moved to Woodland Hills where he helped his son William and operated a restaurant until his death in 1978.

Wing Wey's second eldest son, Edward Wong, completed his education in electronics and a course in television repair in the United States. While attending school, he worked in the family laundry and later opened a T.V. repair shop located in the 9th Street laundry building. In 1951, Edward joined the Navy where he was assigned duties of deckhand. After some time and much persistence, he was allowed to transfer to the electronics section where he worked until his discharge in 1955. He found employment at Hughes Aircraft where he worked until his retirement from the technical staff in the Engineering Department of the Radar Systems Group in El Segundo in 1989. He and his wife of 45 years, Sylvia, live in Los Angeles. Their daughter Rhonda and her husband Anthony Gee, have three children-Jayne, Terry, and Daniel.

Edward Wong has made a donation of objects and photographs from the family laundry and home to the Chinese American Museum in December 2000. In honor of his father and extended family, he asked the donation be named Gift of the Wey Wong Family.

By Burt Collette
Friend of the Wong Family
(Edited for the newsletter by Estella Chung)

Burt Collette, an engineer and a friend of Edward's, became fascinated with his family history and subsequently wrote "The Wong Story." Mr. Collette interviewed him during a single afternoon and turned their taped conversation into this article, which has allowed Edward Wong to share his family story with his grandchildren and other relatives. It has also allowed Mr. Wong to add his own story to the collective history of Chinese Americans.

El Pueblo Curator Suellen Cheng was a rider on the City of Los Angeles float in the 2001 Rose Bowl Parade.

Suellen Cheng, curator for El Pueblo and the Chinese American Museum, was assigned to be a rider on the City of Los Angeles float entry, "City of Champions." Specifically located on the right-front of the float, she was one of fourteen City employees of diverse occupations to be honored with the experience, representing "historians or archivists." Suellen wore a red sweatshirt with "El Pueblo" on the front and "Chinese American Museum" on the back. The float, a bed of fragrant roses, carried a 35- foot high replica in flowers and leaves of an old Tournament of Roses trophy from 1914, the last year that the City took the Sweepstakes.

The biggest plug and a real surprise for CAM came from Bob Eubanks on Channel 5, KTLA. While talking about the prize-winning float, China Airline's "Chinatowns USA," he talked about the history of the Chinese from Los Angeles and then announced to tens of millions around the world, the Chinese American Museum will open in 2002 at 423 Los Angeles Street.

Suellen thought the most enriching part of the day-long experience came near the end of the route, when the parade became more of a neighborhood scene, and watchers and participants had more opportunities for friendly exchanges and enthusiasm.

Munson Kwok ( )
Board Member

PATRONS
The California Council for the Humanities
City of Los Angeles Cultural Affairs Department
The John Randolph Haynes and Dora Haynes Foundation
Robert and Edith Jung
Henry Leong, Quon Yick Noodle Co.
Bing Liu, Evergreen Publishing and Stationery
Kenjohn & Sei Mei Wang

BENEFACTORS
Carol Baca
Boeckmann Charitable Foundation
Fung Chow Chan
Gareth & Nancy Chang
Ming Chen, Great China
Tei-Fu Chen, Sunrider International
Andrew & Peggy Cherng, Panda Management Company, Inc.
Geoffrey D. Chin, SSCLA
China Chef Wang Restaurant
Chinese Club of San Marino
George T.M. Ching
Judy, May, and Judson Chu
Vicky Chung, Golden Orchid LTD.
The Getty Grant Program
Golden Security Bank
Hing Associates
Nowland C. Hong
Roger S. Hong
Paul & Maxine In
International Buddhist Progress Society
Kong Chow Benevolent Association
Robert N. Kwan
Suellen Cheng & Munson A.Kwok
Billy W. and Anna Lew
Frank Lin, New Century BMW, Inc
Dan S. & Esther K. Louie
David Schindler, Latham & Watkins
Peter SooHoo, Jr.
Standard Savings
Streisand Foundation
Taipei Economic and Cultural Office
Wes Tanaka, Southern California Edison
Unocal
George Wang
Wong Family Benevolent Association
Grace C. & Stanton H. Wong
Hing C. Wong
Jeffrey K. Wong, The Churchill Group
Joseph and Betty Wong
Debra W. Yang

DONORS
Buddhist Tzu-chi Foundation, USA
Catellus Development Corp
Pedro Chan
James and Christiane Cook
Don G. Haidl
Daniel & Esther Johnson
Joseph H. & Julie K. Kwan
Alvin Y. Lee
Paul W. & Mary Y. Lee, Doodwin, Proctor & Hoar LLP
Hazel Y. Louie
Pacific Business Bank
Jean Bruce Poole
Don & Margaret Quon
Sakura Health Gym
Alfred Sheng, DCH (U.S.A.)
Julius & Eleanor Sue
Richard Sun
Doris Chin Tom
Stanley Toy
Washington Mutual Bank
Delbert E. & Dolores Wong
Ivana Wong
Charles Woo
Susan Woo
Noel Toy Young

SPONSORS
Grace Anderson
Arcadia Chinese Association
Asian Pacific American BAR Association
The Autry Museum of Western Heritage
Peter Bechtel
Joseph Biderman
Hans & Nancy Boksberger
William Bowers
Kenneth M. Chan
Shireen Chang
Vincent D. Chang
Nancy Chen
Stephen & Estella Cheng
William Chew
Chinese Club of San Marino
Yuet Koon Chiu (Zee)
Ming Chow
Nancy Choy
Simon Chu , Bike Zone USA Inc.
The David Chow Humanitarian Award Foundation
Steven Kowk Jing & Annie Kam-Woon Chung
Grayson D. Cook
William Delvac
Albert J. & May L. Der
Susan Dickson
Michael Eng, Eng & Nishimura
Roger S. Eng, Jr.
Daniel Floyd
Calvin Fong
Saykin Foo
Carol Fung, Vitachrome
Elmo Gambarana
Dolly M. Gee
Peyton Hall
John Henning
Barbara Higginson
The Historic Italian Hall Foundation
Mabel Wong Hogle
Bob Hong, West Covina office Building LLC
Joaquin Woo and Esther Woo Jan
Annie Jeng
Bill & Jean Jong
Cynthia B. Jopanda, Wong & Jopanda, AAC
George & Ikuko Kiriyama
Beulah and Edwin Kwoh
Kathryn Kwok
Marvin & Pamlea Lager
Him Mark and Laura J. Lai
Irvin R. Lai
Susan Hum & Collin L. Lai
Harold L. Lasman, Automotive Bearings Int'l Corp
Hing Lee
Hing Wa Lee, Hing Wa Lee, Inc.
Rebecca A. Lee
Warren A. and Holly Rose Lee
Dorothy Lew
Winifred L. Lew
John Liu
Tiffany Liu
Gloria Lothrop
Helen Louie, Hong Kong Noodle Co.
Charles Q. Lu
Franklin Mah
Eugene & Susan Moy
Mary Ann Murphy
Doreen & Benjamin Nakayama
Paul's Kitchen Enterprises, Inc.
Michael R. & Gina C.Plesset
Tracy Price
Marilynn Quon
Milton N. & Peggy Quon
Edward Ralbovsky
Glen A.Reed, GA Entertainment Corporation
Fong See, F. See On Company, Oriental Arts
Lisa See
Tim K. & Annie Chin Siu
Alfred Soo Hoo
Bonnie C. Soo Hoo
Mona C. Soo Hoo
Tim Sottile, Sottile & Taketa
South Pasadena Chinese American Club
Lawrence Tan, Wah King Noodle Co., Inc
Irene Tran
Pinfun Tsai
Kay Tseng
John Y. Gee
Alice Wang, Fortune Dynamic, Inc.
Betty & Eddie Wang
James Wang, CH Auto
Kang-Lung & Shen Wei Wang
Tony & Vivian Wang
Alice Wong, Fortune Dynamic, Inc.
Cy Wong
Dore Wong
Norman Wong
Victor Wong
Winston K. Wu
Johnny Yee
Johnson Yee
Sally Yeh, Bijan Fragrances, Inc.
Alice & Allen Yen
Betty K. Yeow
Cheng Yue
Bibiana Yung

FRIENDS

Sylvia Abad Beverly & Sid Adair Sidney A. Adair Airlink Communication Erna P. Anderberg David Atkinson Hanna G. Barbour Bellany Joan Beaumont Jose Bello Louise Bhang Grace Birnbaum Gary W. Booher Jerry Cash Alfred H. & Louise Chan Kang Chan Peter Chan Theodore & Mary Chan Albert Chang Mary Y. Chang Wellington & Priscilla Chang Jim Chao Lorrin & May Sue Chee Anthony Chen Christina Chen Frank W. Chen, SCCLA Jason Chen Shuan-Hwa Chen Henry R. & Jean C. Chew Betty Chim Carol Chin Clara Chin Ming W. & Carol J. Chin Clifford & Akimi Ching Pete Chinn Ko Lan Chou Linda Chow Stanley S. and Lorraine L.Chow George Chu Luci-Ellen Chun Estella Chung Oliver Chung William and Marjorie Chun-Hoon Constance I. Ciranna Beatrice L. Cordero Coral Chew Crandall Edward H. and Evelyn Cucchiarella Alexander M. & Lisa Dai Bailey & Evelyn Daugherty R. Justin & Mary L. Dedeaux Steven L. & Marian A. Dodge Robert E. Doherty Robert & Janet Eng Luz L. Espina Familes With Children From China Fiana Fan Mark A. & Sandra E. Flagel Jerri Floyd Cindy Fong Jim Fong Keith H. & May K. Fong Mike Fong Tom Fong Jim Gee John Gee Gee Poy Kuo Association of Los Angeles Ernest & Judith Getto Fred Gong, Jr. Hugh Gottfried Wellington & Lenora Hall Hartman & Associates Inc. Walter E. Haskell Daniel H. & Gwen K. Hew Richard A. Hing Kenneth C. & Victoria J. Ho Hong Ho Benjamin and Sharon Hoy Kevin Huang Yu Hsuang Huang Thomas M. Jimbo Sam & Alice Joe John Marshall High School Student Body Margaret J. Jose Edward & Beatrice Jue Roger & Helen Kaneko Patricia Kao Mary L. Karpinski Julia Keh Robert & Evelyn Kellogg Beverly J. Kramer Merry L. Kropff Philip H. Lam George & Mary Lau Westley & Mokin Lau Wing Fong Lau Ada Lee Allen Lee David V. Lee Fred & Margaret Lee Marjorie Lee Norma June Lee Richard Lee Warren & Donna Lee Richard and Patricia Lem Margaret Leong Matthew Leong Stefanie Leong Peter Leung Chong & Isobel Lew Clinton & Hawn Lew Mamie Lew Wei Li Zhang Ru Liang Chin ShunTsai Liao Matt K. & Helen H. Liao Ted W. Lieu Patrick Lim Jan Lin Jimmy K. Lin

Sam & Judy Chu Lin Ying-Che Lin Jing-Chiou Liou Calvin F. Long Nancy Long Donald Loo George & Florence Loo Gee & Donald Louie Marie L. Louie James & Mabel Low Gladys Lowe David R. & Bertha Q. Lowrey Wesley Luk, Ocelot Internet Michael S. Lurey Kuo Tsen Mai Don Dacumos Earnest Y. and Marie M. Masumoto Thomas A. & Elizabeth Ewald McDannold Almeda O. Mckee Beverly E. McLaughlin Isa-Kae Meskin Jeanette Quon & Todd A. Miller Min Maw International, Inc. Stanley and Mary Y. Mu Kay and Miyoko Nakagiri Albert & Lorna Nozaki June Jue Ohara Jimmie Ong Henry & Alice Ouock Carmel Padgett William Byrne Paullin Jaime Peng Diana Poon Ella Quan Marilynn Quon Richard & May Quan Jimmie Quon Michelle Reece Adam C. Ritter Mike Roos, Mike Roos & Company Diana Tang Bo-Gay Tong Salvador Julie Sandoval Irene Schoon Robert & Dorothy Schoon Colleen Y. Seto Rina Rae Sherman David Shi Alfred Soo Hoo Howard & Marie Soo Hoo Jerry Sung Sunland's Woman's Club Wendy Takahashi Karon K.Tanabe Diana Tang Melanie Tellers Temple City Chinese American Association Pat Bowers Thomas Edith W. Tom Herb Tom Lanora Tom Suzette & Kathryn Trigger Dowling Tsai Mun Si Tse Dennis Wang & Charlotte Tsou Rosa Tzeng UCLA Asian American Studies Center Jacqueline Ung Verdugo Metropolitan District GFWC Juniors Fay Wang Ping-shi Wei Robert & Marion Wilson Fred and Camille C. Wing Women's Club of South Pasadena Al Wong, Hummingbird Software Charles W. Wong, Charles Wong & Associates Cynthia H. Wong David H. & Gloria Wong David K. Wong Dorothy Wong George and Alice Wong Harry & Frances Wong Helen S. Wong Henry & Kathleen Wong Janis & Victor Wong Jean & Elaine Wong Jeni Lee Wong Judy Wong Kam L. and Beatrice Wong Laura Wong Richard & Hazel Wong Robert & May Wong Ronald A. & Lousie Wong Thomas & Heidi Wong Elaine Mae Woo Mildred Ellen Quan Woo Robert & Betty Mae Woo Fonda Wu Edward & Keyo Yamaguchi Liang Yang Roberta M. Yang and Jeffrey Chop Edward & Patricia Yaplee Hannah Yco Bing Get Yee Martha Yee Stephen & Lita Yee Yeu-Wei Yee Andy Yen Stanley and Lillian Yep Clifford & Dorothy Yip James S. Yip Esther Yong Arthur & Peggy Young Donna Young Paul & Eugene Wong Young Philip D. Young Mik Yuan Stephanie Fu Zhong Changhong Zhu

If your name or company name is misspelled on this list, please inform us at CAMnewsletters@yahoo.com or 213-626-5240, and we will update our database to include your correct name.

El Pueblo invites you to a new exhibit, PIO DE JESUS PICO, 1801-1894, HIS LIFE AND TIMES, open May 5 through July 31, 11am to 3pm, at the historic Pico House, 424 North Main Street, Los Angeles, California. For information, call 213-680-2525.

Would you like to participate in fun summer workshops to learn LION DANCE, CHINESE FOLK DANCE, MARTIAL ARTS, CHINESE MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS, ACROBATICS, OR MAGIC TRICKS? Classes for adults and children are available during Saturdays starting July 14. The fee for each workshop is $56. Additional expenses may be required for equipment, costumes, or instruments. These workshops are sponsored by the Chinese American Citizens Alliance in cooperation with FCAM, East Los Angeles College, and the City of Monterey Park. For workshop information, call East Los Angeles College at 323-265-8793.

Students from these summer workshops will participate in an ACROBATIC AND TALENT SHOW on Sunday, September 16, at 2:30pm. Tickets will be available for $35, $50, or $100 (VIP). For tickets, call 323-721-0774 or 213-626-5240.

FCAM INVITES ALL PAST AND PRESENT VOLUNTEERS TO A "THANK YOU" PARTY on Saturday, July 28. The party will include sports games, a recipe contest, and lots of great food. Please e-mail CAMvolunteers@yahoo.com or call 818-569--7923 to give us your current address, number, and e-mail, so that we update our database and sent you a formal invitation.

The CALIFORNIA COUNCIL FOR THE HUMANITIES AWARDED $10,000 TO CAM to support an exhibit entitled "Family and Community: The Role of Family, Civic, and Spiritual Support Networks in Building the Chinese American Community in Southern California." It will be one of six inaugural exhibits to be housed in the new Museum.

In January 2001, El Pueblo Historic Monument Authority Commission awarded a Certificate of Appreciation to CURATOR SUELLEN CHENG for her outstanding work ethic and dedication to the Monument.

The Museum will hire two college students for the GETTY MULTICULTURAL SUMMER INTERNSHIP PROGRAM at CAM, made possible for the ninth consecutive year by the Getty Grant Program.

HISTORYMAKER HONOREE (1997) CHARLES WOO, C.E.O. and co-owner of Megatoys, was installed as president of the Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce on January 26, 2001. Mr. Woo is the first Chinese American to be named to this post.

FCAM wishes to thank DRS. HENRY AND LOIS CHI, founders of the Chinese Engineers and Scientists Association of Southern California (CESASC), who donated to CAM a complete set of the organization's convention journals documenting its achievement award winners of the last 39 years. Their additional contribution of $1,000 will be used to purchase conservation materials for preserving these valuable historic documents.

Under the chief curator, the assistant executes exhibit development support duties such as researching; preparing acquisition and accession paperwork; coordinating meetings; replying to research requests; authoring newsletter and website content; supervising interns and volunteers; obtaining permissions; coordinating collaborative arts projects; and assisting with special events and general administration. The position is for self-starters with excellent time management/organizational skills and the ability to work both independently and as a team member.

Minimum requirements: A bachelor's degree in history, American studies/cultural history, ethnic studies, museum studies + two years of full-time work experience. OR a master's degree/MLS/ABD/PhD in the above fields with experience/demonstrated interest in public history/museum work. Anticipated salary $31,000 yr + benefits. More experienced candidates should state salary requirements in application.

Please include not-for-profit, volunteer, community service, small business, and/or teamwork experiences in application. Applicants must have effective oral and written communication skills in English and be computer literate. Written and oral skills in Chinese are desirable, but not required. Specific questions can be directed to camjobs@hotmail.com.

To Apply: If you are selected for an interview, you will be contacted within 40 days of receipt of your application. send a cover letter, resume, availability, and salary history to:

Personnel Committee
Chinese American Museum
125 Paseo de la Plaza, Ste. 400
Los Angeles, CA 90012

Special Thanks
Danny Boey,
www.Chineseroots.com

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