Guide to the Duty and Honor Collection, Chinese American veterans in World War II FN001-FN004
Albert A. Lowe
Chinese Historical Society - Southern California
2019 October 31
415 Bernard Street
Los Angeles, California 90012
Contributing Institution:
Chinese Historical Society - Southern California
Title: Duty and Honor Collection
Identifier/Call Number: FN001-FN004
Physical Description:
4 Linear Feet
Four boxes and an irregular large size sleeve for a book cover.
Date (bulk): 1942-1946, 1994-2000, 2003, bulk 1995-1998
Abstract: This collection contains research material that principle editor, Marjorie Lee, used to write Duty and Honor: A Tribute to
Chinese American World War II Veterans of Southern California. Materials include photocopies of records on Chinese American
World War II veterans, audio recorded interviews with Chinese American veterans, interview transcriptions, interview notes
with Chinese American veterans, photo slides of personal photographs owned by Chinese American veterans, Polaroid photographs
of Chinese American veterans, updates, correspondence and ephemera related to the production of the text, and, lists and associated
materials compiled from the principle editor.
Physical Location: Chinese Historical Society of Southern California, Los Angeles, California 90012
Language of Material:
English
, Chinese
.
Scope and Contents
The Duty and Honor Collection, compiled by Marjorie Lee, contains records of four hundred sixteen World War II Chinese American
veterans with a background from Southern California. The collection includes interviews of forty-four veterans, interview
notes, correspondence between veterans or veteran families with the Chinese Historical Society of Southern California, monthly
updates to constituents, and germane materials from veterans such as separation papers.
This is an inactive record series; no new records are expected to be added.
The collection is organized into the following series:
Series 1. Veteran Files, 1994-1999.
Series 2. Subject Files, 1994-2000.
Series 3. Photographs and Mixed Media, 1940-1945, 1994-2000.
Biographical / Historical
At their annual dinner in 1994, the Chinese Historical Society of Southern California honored Chinese American veterans from
World War II. Subsequently, veterans approached Chinese Historical Society of Southern California member, Marjorie Lee, to
lead a project to commemorate World War II Chinese American veterans. Lee organized weekly events to locate Chinese American
veterans of World War II and collect associated materials shortly after the 1994 dinner. Lee and other members of the research
team interviewed forty-four veterans and found or collected records for seven hundred fifty-five United States veterans.
In order for the veteran to be featured in the final text, that veteran must have been in the armed forces for the United
States during World War II, be Chinese American, have documented proof of enlistment, have a relationship to Southern California,
and have approval by the veteran or the veteran's family if the veteran passed away.
Lee and her team agreed to a threshold of around two hundred in order to produce a book. The final text contains mini-biographies
on four hundred sixteen veterans, and chapters related to Chinese Americans in World War II written by relative experts.
Among the records created in the collection are interview transcriptions, original verification documentation of veterans'
documents, reference sheets on which other veterans they may know, and lists of common veteran affiliations.
A list of veteran names is included within this finding aid as an addendum. The birthplace in both the historical reproductions
and self completed surveys often state that the veteran was born in Guangzhou (Canton), China, but that is a misnomer of substituting
Guangzhou City with Guangdong Province. Over 95% of Chinese immigrants to the United States before 1940 arrived from eight
districts within Guangdong Province, and Guangzhou City is not one of those districts.
World War II Chinese American Veterans Collection was a working name of this collection prior to being named Duty and Honor.
The name of the book, Duty and Honor, was not determined until late 1997. The book was published in 1998.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Principle editor, Marjorie Lee, compiled the collection. Franklin Mah shot photographic reproductions and photo slides.
Lee compiled reproductions of military records such as separation papers from veterans or veterans' families. Mah shot slide
photos of veteran's photography collection. Additional reproductions of military records were collected from the Los Angeles
County Recorder Office. Lee created monthly newsletter updates and organizing lists. Lee and the research team recorded
the audio interviews.
Processing Information
Processed by Albert A. Lowe, David Castro, and Kaz Rowe, 2019 October 31.
The collection was compiled from Duty and Honor principle editor, Marjorie Lee. Duplications of World War II documents, chapter
drafts with only copy edits, and World War II materials unrelated to Chinese Americans were discarded. Original order organized
by type of document was rearranged to individual veterans in alphabetical order by the archival processer. Other publications
from major houses, such as easily found newspaper articles, and other materials not generated materials by The Chinese Historical
Society of Southern California were also removed. The archival organization of this Record Series was determined after review
by archival processer, Albert A. Lowe, in 2018.
Marjorie Lee also used recycled paper printing correspondence from email and printing lists. Users should be aware that the
content on the back of reproductions often have no relationship to the collection.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of Item], Duty and Honor collection. Chinese Historical Society of Southern California, Series [FN]. Chinese
Historical Society of Southern California.
Conditions Governing Use
Copyright of portions of this collection is held by The Chinese Historical Society of Southern California. The Chinese Historical
Society of Southern California can grant permission to publish for materials to which it holds the copyright. All requests
for permission to publish or quote must be submitted in writing to the Chinese Historical Society of Southern California.
Conditions Governing Access
The collection is open to the public by appointment. Public can access audio tapes through digital reproductions available
to access at the repository.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
United States--Armed Forces--Chinese Americans
United States--Armed Forces--Women
California, Southern
Series 1: Veteran Files
1994-1999
box FN 001, folder 2
Veterans - Last Name Amer to Bow
1996-1997
box FN 001, folder 3
Veterans - Last Name Chan
1995-1997
box FN 001, folder 4
Veterans - Last Name Chang to Chew
1995-1997
box FN 001, folder 5
Veterans - Last Name Chin to Chinn
1995-1997
box FN 001, folder 6
Veterans - Last Name Cho to Chung
1995-1997
box FN 001, folder 7
Veterans - Last Name Dea to Dong
1995-1997
box FN 001, folder 8
Veterans - Last Name Eng
1997
box FN 001, folder 9
Veterans - Last Name Fong to Foon
1995-1998
1943
box FN 001, folder 10
Veterans - Last Name Gee to Gow
1995-1997
box FN 001, folder 11
Veterans - Last Name Hall to Hum
1995-1997
box FN 001, folder 12
Veterans - Last Name Jann to Jong
1995-1997
box FN 001, folder 13
Veterans - Last Name Jue to Jung
1995-1997
box FN 001, folder 14
Veterans - Last Name Kwan to Kwong
1995-1997
box FN 001, folder 15
Veterans - Last Name Lai to Lee, Henry
1995-1998
box FN 001, folder 16
Veterans - Last Name Lee, Jimmie to Lee, Winifred
1995-1997
box FN 001, folder 17
Veterans - Last Name Lem to Leung
1995-1997
box FN 001, folder 18
Veterans - Leung, Monroe
1995-1997
box FN 001, folder 19
Veterans - Lew, Albert
1995-1996
box FN 001, folder 20
Veterans - Last Name Lew
1995-1997
box FN 001, folder 21
Veterans - Last Name Lieu to Lum
1995-1997
box FN 001, folder 22
Veterans - Last Name Mar to Mun
1995-1997
box FN 001, folder 23
Veterans - Last Name Ng to Nin
1997
box FN 001, folder 24
Veterans - Last Name Ong
1995-1997
box FN 001, folder 25
Veterans - Last Name Pon
1997
box FN 001, folder 26
Veterans - Last Name Quan to Quon
1995-1997
box FN 004, folder 27
Veterans - Last Name Sam to Sue
1995-1997
box FN 001, folder 28
Veterans - Last Name Tang to Tuey
1995-1997
box FN 001, folder 29
Veterans - Last Name Ung
1995-1997
box FN 001, folder 30
Veterans - Wong, Sam Quong
1995-1997
box FN 001, folder 31
Veterans - Last Name Wong, Bill to Wong, Morton
1995-1997
box FN 001, folder 32
Veterans - Last Name Wong, Nelson to Wong, Yuey
1943
1995-1997
box FN 001, folder 33
Veterans - Last Name Woo
1942
1995-1997
box FN 001, folder 34
Veterans - Last Name Yee
1944
1995-1997
box Box FN 002, folder 1
Veterans - Last Name Yep to Yup
1995-1997
box Box FN 002, folder 2
Veterans - San Diego Veterans
1995-1997
box Box FN 002, folder 3
Veterans - Honor Roll
1944-1945
1997
box Box FN 002, folder 4
Veterans - Found in Los Angeles County Recorder's Office
1996-1997
box Box FN 002, folder 5
Veterans - Honorable Mention
1995-1998
box Box FN 002, folder 6
Veterans - Not in book
1995-1997
Series 2: Subject Files
1994-2000
box Box FN 002, folder 8
Lists generated from veteran files
1997
box Box FN 002, folder 9
List of names from Los Angeles County Recorder's Office
1996-1997
box Box FN 002, folder 10
Photo and scanning registries
1994-1997
box Box FN 002, folder 11
Veteran rosters
1996-1997
box Box FN 002, folder 12
Book mock-up and alternative covers
1997
box Box FN 002, folder 13
Outlines, updates and interviewer forms
1995-1997
2000
box Box FN 002, folder 15
Progress reports
1994-1997
box Box FN 002, folder 15
Monthly updates
1996-1997
General
Based on the monthly report, there should be twelve but there are only eleven in this collection. The twelfth report is either
missing or was never created.
box Box FN 002, folder 16
box Box FN 002, folder 17
box Box FN 002, folder 18
Correspondence
1997-01-1997-06
box Box FN 002, folder 19
Correspondence
1997-07-1997-12
box Box FN 002, folder 20
box Box FN 002, folder 21
box Box FN 002, folder 22
box Box FN 002, folder 23
box Box FN 002, folder 24
box Box FN 002, folder 25
box Box FN 002, folder 26
Women in military
1997
Subjects and Indexing Terms
United States--Armed Forces--Women
box Box FN 002, folder 27
box Box FN 002, folder 28
Associated documents
1947
Letter from Japanese American Citizens League
1947
box Box FN 002, folder 29
Associated publications
1996
box Box FN 002, folder 30
Lists of possible Chinese American veterans
1994-1997
box Box FN 002, folder 31
World War II honor list of dead and missing
1946
box Box FN 002, folder 32
Fort Snelling Mandarin Class List
1994
box Box FN 002, folder 33
Associated publications
1947
The Memoir, published by Chick Char Club
1947
box Box FN 002, folder 34
Associated publications
1998
Report on Asian Pacific Islander Veterans
1998
box Box FN 002, folder 35
box Box FN 002, folder 36
Follow-up submissions
2000
Series 3: Photographs and Mixed Media
1940-1945
1994-2000
box FN 003, box 1
Polaroid Head Shots
1995-1997
box FN 003, box 2
Slides, headshots to photo registry 12
1995-1997
box FN 003, box 3
Slides, photo registry 13-34
1995-1997
box FN 003, folder 1
Photo registries
1995-1997
Slide photo registry
General
Contains photo registry and breif description of the collection slides in FN 003 Box 2 and Box 3.
box Box FN 002, folder 37
Photographs from Barnet, K.D.
1940
box Box FN 002, folder 38
Photographs from Yeu, Clarence
1940
box Box FN 002, folder 39
Photographs from SooHoo, Peter
1943
box Box FN 002, folder 40
Photographs from Chinatown State Militia Group
1942
1944
box Box FN 002, folder 41
Certificate of Appreciation
1945-09-09
Lung Kang Family Association of Los Angeles
1945-09-09
box Box FN 002, folder 42
Photographs from Wong, James
1942
box Box FN 002, folder 43
Photographs from San Diego Chinese Historical Society
1997
box Box FN 002, folder 44
Photographs from Winds of Change Exhibit
1995
box Box FN 002, folder 45
Photographs from Lee, Gow
1943
box Box FN 002, folder 46
Photographs of props
1997
box Box FN 002, folder 47
Photographs of book release party
1998
box Box FN 002, folder 48
Photographs of veteran sign-ups
1995
box Box FN 002, folder 49
Photographs of production
1997
box Box FN 002, folder 50
Photographs of unknown photographs and reproductions
1995-1997
box Box FN 002, folder 51
Photographs of unknown photographs and reproductions
1996-1997
box FN 004, folder 1
Transcript of Amer, Tom
Interview conducted by Marjorie Lee, 1997.
box FN 004, folder 2
Transcript of Ang, Daniel
Interview conducted by Jim Fong and Gilbert Hom, 1997.
box FN 004, folder 3
Transcript of Chang, Gary and Dorothy
Interview conducted by Marjorie Lee, 1997.
box FN 004, folder 4
Transcript of Chin, Abraham
Interview conducted by Gilbert Hom, 1997.
box FN 004, folder 5
Transcript of Chin, Howard
Interview conducted by Marjorie Lee, 1997.
box FN 004, folder 6
Transcript of Chong, Albert
Interview conducted by Gilbert Hom, 1997.
box FN 004, folder 7
Transcript of Chow, Robert
Interview conducted by Marjorie Lee, 1997.
box FN 004, folder 8
Transcript of Chu, Judson
Interview conducted by Marjorie Lee and Gilbert Hom, 1997.
Biographical / Historical
Judson Chu is the father of Congresswoman, Judy Chu.
box FN 004, folder 9
Transcript of Der, Albert
Interview conducted by Marjorie Lee, 1996.
box FN 004, folder 10
Transcript of Fong, Jim
Interview conducted by Marjorie Lee, 1997.
Existence and Location of Copies
This transcript is missing.
box FN 004, folder 11
Transcript of Gee, Harry
Interview conducted by Gilbert Hom, 1997.
box FN 004, folder 12
Transcript of Gee, Jim Wah
Interview conducted by Marjorie Lee, 1997.
box FN 004, folder 13
Transcript of Gong, Fred
Interview conducted by Marjorie Lee, 1997.
box FN 004, folder 14
Transcript of Jew, Bennie
Interview conducted by Marjorie Lee, 1995.
box FN 004, folder 15
Transcript of Jung, Robert
Interview conducted by Gee Kerng Lim, 1995.
box FN 004, folder 16
Transcript of Lem, Abel
Interview conducted by Marjorie Lee, 1997.
box FN 004, folder 17
Transcript of Leong, Herbert
Interview conducted by Gilbert Hom, 1996.
box FN 004, folder 18
Transcript of Leong, Monroe
Interview conducted by Marjorie Lee, 1997.
box FN 004, folder 19
Transcript of Lew, Albert
1996-10-26
box FN 004, folder 20
Transcript of Lew, Jem
1995-10-28
box FN 004, folder 21
Transcript of Lew, Yolk
Interview conducted by Gilbert Hom, 1997.
Existence and Location of Copies
Transcript is missing.
box FN 004, folder 22
Transcript of Lew, Frank
Interview conducted by Gilbert Hom, 1997.
box FN 004, folder 23
Transcript of Low, Ngoon
Interview conducted by Gilbert Hom, 1997.
box FN 004, folder 24
Transcript of Lowe, Albert
Interview conducted by Gilbert Hom, 1996.
Existence and Location of Copies
Transcript is missing.
Biographical / Historical
Albert Lowe is a former Pasadena City School Board Member.
box FN 004, folder 25
Transcript of Nin, Jay
Interview conducted by Marjorie Lee, 1997.
box FN 004, folder 26
Transcript of Schoon, Richard
Interview conducted by Marjorie Lee and Jim Fong, 1997.
box FN 004, folder 27
Transcript of Schoon, Victor
Interview conducted by Marjorie Lee, 1997.
box FN 004, folder 28
Transcript of SooHoo, Peter
Interview conducted by Marjorie Lee, 1997.
Existence and Location of Copies
Transcript is missing.
box FN 004, folder 29
Transcript of Tang, Kenneth
1997-04-21
box FN 004, folder 30
Transcript of Tong, Kay
Interview conducted by Marjorie Lee and Jim Fong, 1997.
box FN 004, folder 31
Transcript of Ung, Siui
Interview conducted by Gilbert Hom, 1997.
box FN 004, folder 32
Transcript of Wong, Frank
1995-12-12
box FN 004, folder 33
Transcript of Wong, Gage
Interview conducted by Marjorie Lee, 1996.
box FN 004, folder 34
Transcript of Wong, Gin
Interview conducted by Marjorie Lee, 1996.
box FN 004, folder 35
Transcript of Wong, Hong
Interview conducted by Jim Fong, 1997.
box FN 004, folder 36
Transcript of Wong, Paul
Interview conducted by Marjorie Lee and Gilbert Hom, 1997.
box FN 004, folder 37
Transcript of Wong, Willis
1995-11-10
box FN 004, folder 38
Transcript of Woo, Ng
Interview conducted by Marjorie Lee, 1997.
box FN 004, folder 39
Transcript of Woo, James
Interview conducted by Gilbert Hom, 1997.
1997-08-06
box FN 004, folder 40
Transcript of Woo, Sam
1997-01-18
box FN 004, folder 41
Transcript of Woo, Tom
1997
box FN 004, folder 42
Transcript of Woo, Young
Interview conducted by Marjorie Lee, 1997.
box FN 004, folder 43
Transcript of Yee, Ernest
Interview conducted by Marjorie Lee, 1997.
Interview conducted by Jim Fong, 1997.
box FN 004, folder 44
Transcript of Yip, James
Interview conducted by Marjorie Lee, 1997.
