A collection of photographs primarily of Los Angeles' Old Chinatown and portraits of its Chinese residents, dating from approximately 1881 to 1910.

Old Chinatown refers to the original Chinatown of Los Angeles, which thrived mainly from 1890 to 1910, before it was largely cleared in the 1930s for the building of Union Station and other civic development. In 1938, New Chinatown opened several blocks away in downtown Los Angeles.American author Lisa See was born in Paris in 1955 but grew up in Los Angeles. She lived with her mother, author Carolyn See, but spent much of her time with her father's family in Chinatown. Her first book, "On Gold Mountain: The One-Hundred-Year Odyssey of a Chinese-American Family" (1995) tells the story of her great-grandfather, Fong See, who eventually became the godfather of Los Angeles' Chinatown.

4.97 Linear Feet (9 boxes)

The Huntington Library does not require that researchers request permission to quote from or publish images of this material, nor does it charge fees for such activities. The responsibility for identifying the copyright holder, if there is one, and obtaining necessary permissions rests with the researcher.

Open for use by qualified researchers and by appointment. Please contact Reader Services at the Huntington Library for more information. RESTRICTED: Photograph album (Box 9): Fragile; available with curatorial approval.