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Hyun (David) papers
3027
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Table of contents
Contributing Institution:
USC Libraries East Asian Library
Title: David Hyun papers
Creator:
Hyun, David, 1917-2012
Identifier/Call Number: 3027
Identifier/Call Number: /repositories/6/resources/1516
Physical Description:
28.375 Linear Feet
27 boxes, 1 map-case
Date (inclusive): 1774-2005
Date (bulk): 1919-2003
Abstract: David Hyun, son of Reverend Soon Hyun, was the first ever-Korean American architect and a self-described essayist. He is best
known for his 1978 design of the Japanese Village Plaza in downtown Los Angeles, as part of a revitalization of Little Tokyo,
and his dedication to documenting his father's work in the Korean Independence movement of 1919. His papers consist primarily
of writings (by both himself and others), photographs, and architectural drawings and renderings. They also contain subject
files, materials related to both Reverend Soon Hyun and the Korean American Museum, biographical materials and oral histories,
articles and clippings, and architectural portfolios.
Language of Material:
English.
David Hyun, born on January 3, 1917 in Korea, was the youngest son of Reverend Soon and Maria Lee Hyun. His father was a Methodist
minister and a key member in the Korean Independence movement of 1919. Soon Hyun's involvement in the movement caused his
family to flee from Korea to Shanghai, where Soon helped organize the Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea. After
five years in Shanghai the Hyun family settled in Kauai, Hawaii, where Soon was the Provisional Government's official representative
in America.
David Hyun lived in Hawaii until 1947, when he moved to Los Angeles with his wife Mary and their children and began studying
architecture at USC. David's activism as a union organizer, coupled with his criticism of American-backed dictator Syngman
Rhee, gained him the label of "dangerous alien" from the United States government. Multiple attempts were made to deport Hyun
and his family up through 1958, with organized resistance preventing the action each time.
During this struggle Hyun became the first Korean American architect, establishing his own firm (David Hyun Associates, Inc.)
in 1953. He is best known for his 1978 design of the Japanese Village Plaza and the Yagura Fire Tower, as part of the revitalization
of Little Tokyo in downtown Los Angeles.
In addition to his work as an architect, Hyun considered himself an essayist. He has written a voluminous amount of words
on his family (particularly his father), Korea, current events, and personal anecdotes in the form of short stories, diaries,
and autobiographies. Hyun took creative writing and fiction classes at UCLA in the 1970s, was a UCLA research Fellow, and
served on the Korean American Museum Board of Directors.
Hyun, along with his brother Peter, dedicated a large part of his life to documenting and sharing the history of his father
and family's involvement in the Korean Independence movement, which is readily apparent throughout this collection.
David Hyun died on May 2, 2012 at the age 95, preceded by his wife Mary in 2011. At the time of his death Hyun was survived
by his sister, Mary Hyun Lindauer, his two sons David and Than, and many grandchildren and great grandchildren.
The David Hyun papers, 1744-2005 (bulk 1919-2003), consist of writings, photographs, biographical materials, oral histories,
architectural portfolios and renderings, materials related to Reverend Soon Hyun, and articles and clippings created and collected
by David Hyun during his life and career as an architect, essayist and activist in both Hawaii and Los Angeles.The majority
of the material in this collection comprise writings (by himself and others), photographs, and architectural drawings and
renderings.
Hyun's own writings are largely biographical and anecdotal in nature, mainly focused on his family (in particular his father
Reverend Soon Hyun), ancestral heritage and upbringing as a Korean American, and personal matters such as his battles with
depression. Hyun's writings exist in the form of essays, short stories, poems, and diaries. There are many versions of the
same stories within the collection (as Hyun performed considerable rewrites of his works) and various formats displayed (i.e.
handwritten drafts, typescripts, spiral-bound manuscripts, published articles and clippings). In addition, there are also
some speeches and architectural writings. The remainder of the writings are largely by David's brother, Peter Hyun.
The photographs within the collection are representative of Hyun's familial history and life, as well as trips he took with
his wife, artistic shots of landscapes and flowers, and a trip to Korea for the reburial ceremony of his parents, and many
materials relating to Soon Hyun. These items are expressed in varying formats including print photos, slides, negatives, and
a few laminated and matted photographs. Additionally, there are paintings collected by David Hyun.
There are a large number of architectural drawings and renderings, particularly of the Japanese Village Plaza in downtown
Los Angeles, Hyun's most famous designed work. Additionally there are blueprints and floor plans from some of Hyun's other
projects, including the design of his family residence, as well architectural project portfolios.
The collection also features many materials relating to Reverend Soon Hyun. These include Soon's own autobiographies, historical
and legal documents, translations of works, and writings by both David and Peter Hyun. There is also a large number of subject
files within the collection, documenting Hyun's involvement with various organizations including the Korean American Coalition,
the Korean Methodist Church, the Korean Independence Historical Association, Inc. (KIHAI), and his close work with USC regarding
his father's papers. Subject files also include correspondence with family members, as well as many letters to and from Jean
Sadako Kim, Hawaii's first female and Asian American Lieutenant Governor. There is also a White House inauguration invitation
and letter to George W. Bush. Interestingly, there are also a few items relating to 18th century American History, including
a reprint of the Declaration of Independence and a poem reproduction on rag paper.
The remainder of the collection consists of oral family histories of David, Peter, and David's sister Mary, biographical materials
including awards, certificates, scrolls, and genealogical documents, and material relating to Hyun's Board of Directors involvement
with the Korean American Museum.
COLLECTION STORED OFF-SITE. Advance notice required for access.
All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Curator of the Korean
Heritage Library. Permission for publication is given on behalf of the Korean Heritage Library as the owner of the physical
items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained.
Rights Statement for Archival Description
Finding aid description and metadata are licensed under an Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) license.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Gift of the estate of David Hyun.
Related materials on both David and Reverend Soon Hyun can be found in USC's Korean American Digital Archive, within the following
collections: Soon Hyun collection, Private records, and Oral histories. http://libguides.usc.edu/KADA
[Box/Folder# or Item name]. David Hyun papers, Collection no. 3027, Korean Heritage Library, USC Libraries, University of
Southern California.
Materials were placed in boxes when picked up from Hyun's home, in no particular order. Like materials appear to have been
kept together by the creator. Subject files were found in alphabetical order and some of Hyun's writings were found in chronological
order, in binders. These two arrangements were kept intact, as was physical order for the most part. Writings were removed
from binders, but kept in their chronological grouping. Where needed folders of the same content were combined and duplicates
were discarded. The remainder of the series have had intellectual order imposed on them, and are organized chronologically.
In July 2022, Boxes 1-3 were replaced, which necessitated expanding the boxes as Box 1a (Folders 1-41), Box 1b (Folders 42-53),
Box 2a (Folders 1-48), Box 2b (Folders 49-53), Box 3a (Folders 1-26), Box 3b (Items 1-9).
The David Hyun papers have been organized into the following series: 1. Biographical materials and oral histories; 2. Subject
files; 3. Writings by David Hyun; 4. Writings by others; 5. Reverend Soon Hyun related materials; 6. Architectural project
portfolios and renderings; 7. Articles and clippings; 8. Korean American Museum; 9. Photographs and paintings.
Hyun's original order was only discernable within the subject files and writings portion of the collection, which were arranged
(for the most part) alphabetically and chronologically, respectively. These arrangements were kept intact; the remainder of
the series' have been organized chronologically.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Architects -- California -- Los Angeles -- Archival resources
Architecture -- California -- Los Angeles -- 20th century -- Archival resources
Asian American architects -- California -- Los Angeles -- Archival resources
Korean American families -- Hawaii -- Kauai County -- Archival resources
Korean American men -- California -- Los Angeles -- Archival resources
Korea -- History -- Independence movement, 1919 -- Archival resources
Clippings (information artifacts)
Essays
Manuscripts
Oral histories (document genres)
Photographs
Renderings (drawings)
Home movies
Hyun, David, 1917-2012 -- Archives
Hyun, Mary Ham, 1914-2011 -- Archives
Hyun, Peter, 1906- -- Archives
Hyun, Soon, 1878-1968 -- Archives
King, Jean Sadako, 1925-2013 -- Archives
Korean American Museum -- Archives