Roger S. Hong Collection archHong
Finding aid prepared by Suzanne Oatey.
The Huntington Library
© 2011
1151 Oxford Road
San Marino, California 91108
Business Number: (626) 405-2191
reference@huntington.org
Contributing Institution:
The Huntington Library
Title: Roger S. Hong Collection
Identifier/Call Number: archHong
Physical Description:
77 Linear Feet
(10 flat boxes, 8 rolled-tube boxes, and 16 oversize
folders)
Date (inclusive): 1936-2001
Date (bulk): 1960-1995
Abstract: Roger S. Hong was an architect who
worked primarily on commercial projects in California from the 1960s-2001. Hong was actively
involved in efforts to revitalize Chinatown in Los Angeles, and the collection features
early drawings of the building of "New Chinatown" in the late 1930s, and proposals by Hong
for renovations and improvements in the 1980s-2000s. The collection also includes samples of
Hong's other professional projects, as well as his childhood artwork, student work, and Tau
Epsilon Phi fraternity scrapbooks (1960-1962) from the University of Southern
California.
Language of Material: The records are in
English.
General
Finding aid last updated on August
29, 2022.
Conditions Governing Access
Open to qualified researchers by prior application through the Reader Services Department.
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Publication Rights
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
permission rests with the researcher.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], Roger S. Hong Collection, The Huntington Library, San Marino,
California.
Acquisition Information
Gift of Roger S. Hong, June 2006.
Biographical Note
Roger S. Hong (September 23, 1941 - October 27, 2006) was born in Los Angeles, California,
the youngest son of You Chung Hong (Y. C. Hong) and Mabel Hong. He earned his Bachelor of
Architecture degree from the University of Southern California in 1965, followed by a Master
of Science degree in City and Regional Planning in 1968. He was certified in many states,
including California, to practice as a licensed architect. Some of his notable architectural
projects include: the Thomas & Mack Center arena at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas;
the United Bank headquarters (Los Angeles, CA); Kun Lun Hotel (Beijing, China); Hotel Nikko
(Beverly Hills, CA); the Y. C. Hong residence (Los Angeles, CA); Chieh Shou Sports Park
(Taipei, Taiwan); Kaiser Richmond Medical Center (Richmond, CA); Froedtert Memorial Hospital
(University of Milwaukee, WI); KCET Public Television headquarters (Los Angeles, CA); and
various buildings and facilities in and around the Los Angeles Chinatown area. After working
at several firms, he co-founded the architectural firm Arechaederra/Hong/Treiman Architects
in 1981. Hong retired from his firm in 1993 and devoted himself to preserving the Hong
family history, the restoration and preservation of Los Angeles' Chinatown, and various
charitable and community causes.
Hong's father, You Chung Hong (May 4, 1898 - November 8, 1977), was a prominent Chinese
American immigration lawyer based in Los Angeles, California. He is reputed to be the first
Chinese American to pass, in 1923, the California State Bar exam. Y. C. Hong was also one of
the founders of Los Angeles' New Chinatown (1938).
Scope and Content
The Roger S. Hong Collection spans the years 1936-2001 and consists primarily of
architectural drawings by Los Angeles architect Roger Hong dating from the 1960s to 2001, as
well as earlier drawings of Los Angeles' New Chinatown (1936-40s) by architects Erle Webster
and Adrian Wilson. In the mid-1930s, all of Old Chinatown was demolished to make way for
Union Station. Many of the displaced families and businesses went to the nearby 900 block of
North Broadway and developed New Chinatown. The drawings by Webster & Wilson show the
development of this historic area of Los Angeles through survey records, street plans and
drawings for buildings for You Chung Hong.
The collection also includes Roger Hong's proposed revitalization plans for Chinatown,
1979-2001. These drawings and Hong's other professional work in this collection are
primarily for commercial projects. One exception is the Y. C. Hong residence, a modern home
designed while Hong was starting his professional career at Buff & Hensman and
Associates, and constructed in 1969. The collection also includes samplings of Hong's
professional work done while at various firms and in his capacity as private architectural
consultant in the 1990s.
Hong's childhood artwork and work done while he was a student at the University of
Southern California are also part of the collection, including his Tau Epsilon Phi
fraternity scrapbooks, 1960-1962.
Existence and Location of Copies
Arrangement
The collection is arranged in the following two series:
- I. Personal papers, approximately 1950-2001
- II. Project plans and drawings, 1936-2001
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Architects – California
Architecture -- California -- Los Angeles
Architecture -- Designs and plans.
Chinese Americans -- California -- Los Angeles -- History
Chinese Americans -- Societies, etc.
Chinatown (Los Angeles, Calif.)
Architectural drawings
Color transparencies
Color photographs
Ephemera
I. Personal Papers
approximately 1950-2001
Arrangement
This series is arranged in four subseries:
- A. Biographical information, 1969, 2001
- B. Childhood artwork
- C. Student work, approximately 1960-1968
- D. Family papers, 1977, 2000
A. Biographical information
1969, 2001
Box 3
Resumes and portfolios,
1969, 2001
Folder Oversize 11A
Photomontage of Roger Hong with friends and
family
undated
Box 8
Paintings and drawings
Scope and Contents
Items include a birds-eye-view painting of Disneyland, signed "Roger Hong, Summer
'55"
C. Student work
approximately 1960-1968
Box 7
Fraternity scrapbooks, Tau Epsilon Phi
fraternity, Tau Gamma chapter, University of Southern California,
1960-1962
Scope and Contents
3 oversize scrapbooks (1960, 1961, 1962), of photos, clippings and portrait
drawings by R. Hong.
Folder Oversize 15
Conceptual drawings of the Tau Epsilon Phi
fraternity house,
1960-1962
Box 2, Box 4, Box 5
Miscellaneous drawings, artwork, and
assignments
D. Family papers
1977, 2000
Box 15
Floor plans and elevations for the "On Gold
Mountain" exhibit at the Autry Museum featuring the Hong Family archives,
2000
Scope and Contents
Number of items: 2 sheets
Box 15
Headstone design by R. Hong for his father, Y. C.
Hong,
1977
Scope and Contents
Number of items: 5 sheets
II. Project Plans and Drawings
1936-2001
Scope and Contents
This series contains architectural drawings by Roger S. Hong, from the start of his
professional career in 1968, through his consulting years in the late 1990s-2001. Hong
worked at several firms: Buff & Hensman; Bodrell Joer'dan Smith; Skidmore, Owings
& Merrill; Stone, Marracini & Patterson; John Carl Warnecke & Associates;
and was a co-founder of the firm Arechaederra, Hong, Treiman in 1981. Hong also did work
under his own name, and as a consultant to other firms.
In addition to Hong's work, there are drawings by architects Erle Webster and Adrian
Wilson from the 1930s and 1940s.
Arrangement
Projects are arranged alphabetically within three subseries:
- A. Los Angeles (Chinatown), 1930s-1940s
- B. Los Angeles (Chinatown), renovations, 1979-2001
- C. Other work (sampling of Hong's professional work), 1948-1991
A. Los Angeles (Chinatown)
1930s-1940s
Box 9
Boy Scouts of America, scout cabin
approximately 1940
Scope and Contents
Number of items: 3 sheets
Location: Chinatown (Los Angeles, Calif.)
Collaborator(s): Webster, E. & Wilson, A.,
(architects)
Box 9, Folder 1-5
Buildings for You Chung Hong: 405, 407, 409
Ginling Way and 951-955 N. Broadway
1939-41
Scope and
Contents
Number of items: 38 sheets.
Location: Chinatown (Los Angeles, Calif.).
Collaborator(s): Webster, E. & Wilson, A.,
(architects)
East Elevation facing Broadway, Buildings for Mr. You Chung Hong, Los Angeles Chinatown [archHong, Folder 1 (1)]
South Elevation facing Ginling Way, Buildings for Mr. You Chung Hong, Los
Angeles Chinatown [archHong, Folder 1 (2)]
Front on Ginling Way (South Elevation), Buildings for Mr. You Chung Hong,
Los Angeles Chinatown [archHong, Folder 2]
Buildings for Mr. You Chung Hong [archHong, Folder 3]
Buildings for Mr. You Chung Hong [archHong, Folder 4]
Buildings for Mr. You Chung Hong [archHong, Folder 5]
Box 9, Folder 6, Folder 7
Buildings for You Chung Hong: neon lighting
studies
approximately 1937
Scope and
Contents
Number of items: 3 sheets
Location: Chinatown (Los Angeles, Calif.)
Collaborator(s): Electrical Products Corp.; Zeon
Electrical Products; 20th Century Lites, Inc. (lighting)
Neon study for You Chung Hong buildings, Chinatown, Los Angeles.
[archHong, Folder 6]
Electrical Products, Design no. 755-B [archHong, Folder 7 (1)]
Electrical Products, Design no. 755-B [archHong, Folder 7 (2)]
Electrical Products Corp., Design no. 755-A [archHong, Folder 7 (3)]
Box 9
Buildings for You Chung Hong: Peter Soo Hoo store
#3, 421 Ginling Way
approximately 1930s
Scope and Contents
Number of items: 1 sheet
Location: Chinatown (Los Angeles, Calif.)
Collaborator(s): Webster, E. & Wilson, A.,
(architects)
Box 9
Buildings for You Chung Hong: Restaurant stores 1
and 2
1938
Scope and Contents
Number of items: 4 sheets
Location: Chinatown (Los Angeles, Calif.)
Collaborator(s): Webster, E. & Wilson, A.,
(architects)
Box 9
Buildings for You Chung Hong: Store and office
building, Ginling Way
1938-40
Scope and Contents
Number of items: 18 sheets
Location: Chinatown (Los Angeles, Calif.)
Collaborator(s): Webster, E. & Wilson, A.,
(architects)
Box 10
Daniel Hall Building
1939
Scope and Contents
Number of items: 2 sheets
Location: Chinatown (Los Angeles, Calif.)
Collaborator(s): Webster, E. & Wilson, A.,
(architects)
Box 10
Gate (Pailou), North Broadway
approximately 1930s
Scope and Contents
Number of items: 3 sheets
Location: Chinatown (Los Angeles, Calif.)
Collaborator(s): Webster, E. & Wilson, A.,
(architects)
Box 10
Lung-Kong Tin Yee, Club entrance design
approximately 1930s
Scope and Contents
Number of items: 1 sheet
Location: Chinatown (Los Angeles, Calif.)
Collaborator(s): Bailey, A. Godfrey
(architect)
Box 10
Proposed additions to Chinatown (property map);
House numbers for New Chinatown, 900 block N. Broadway
1939
Scope and
Contents
Number of items: 3 sheets
Location: Chinatown (Los Angeles, Calif.)
Collaborator(s): Webster, E. & Wilson, A.,
(architects)
House Numbers for New Chinatown, 900 block N. Broadway [archHong Box 10]
Box 10
Restaurant and cocktail room for Howard Tom and
Jew Loy-Shue, 425-427 Ginling Way
1938
Scope and Contents
Number of items: 2 sheets
Location: Chinatown (Los Angeles, Calif.)
Collaborator(s): Webster, E. & Wilson, A.,
(architects)
Box 10
Restaurant and store building for Au Chun Hall
1939
Scope and Contents
Number of items: 2 sheets
Location: Chinatown (Los Angeles, Calif.)
Collaborator(s): Webster, E. & Wilson, A.,
(architects)
Box 10
Restaurant for You Chung Hong, 415 and 425
Ginling Way
1939-40, 1945
Scope and Contents
Number of items: 17 sheets
Location: Chinatown (Los Angeles, Calif.)
Collaborator(s): Webster, E. & Wilson, A.,
(architects)
Box 10
Survey maps
1938-39, 1941
Scope and Contents
Number of items: 4 sheets
Location: Chinatown (Los Angeles, Calif.)
Box 10
Utility, grading and plot plans; street layout
1938, 1940
Scope and Contents
Number of items: 6 sheets
Location: Chinatown (Los Angeles, Calif.)
B. Los Angeles (Chinatown), renovations
1979-2001
Box 11
Blossom Garden Hotel and mixed-use project, 900
N. Broadway. (Includes rough concept sketches.)
2000
Scope and Contents
Number of items: 44 sheets
Location: Chinatown (Los Angeles, Calif.)
Collaborator(s): Laeroc Partners,
Inc.(architects), Hong, Roger (architect), Urban Concepts (architects)
Box 1, Folder 12
Cathay Bank
undated
Scope and Contents
Number of items: 2 photos only
Location: Chinatown (Los Angeles, Calif.)
Collaborator(s): Choy, E. & Choy, B.,
(architects), Shulman, J. (photographer)
Box 11
Chinatown Historic Core Vision Plan, L.A.
Chinatown Business Council: Master program for revitalization and development
2001
Scope and Contents
Number of items: 1 sheet
Location: Chinatown (Los Angeles, Calif.)
Collaborator(s): Hong, Roger (architect)
Box 1
Chinatown Passage (shops, restaurants, terraces,
parking, connections to Blue Line, Metrobus, DASH, bikeway), proposal plan
2001
Scope and Contents
Number of items: 3 sheets
Location: Chinatown (Los Angeles, Calif.)
Collaborator(s): Hong, Roger (architect), Suisman
Urban Design (architects), Laeroc Partners Inc. (architects)
Box 11
Chinese Cultural and Community Center of Greater
Los Angeles, proposal plan
undated
Scope and Contents
Number of items: 3 sheets
Location: Chinatown (Los Angeles, Calif.)
Collaborator(s): Hong, Roger (architect)
Box 11
City North Destination Entertainment Complex and
MTA Station, project proposal
1998-2001
Scope and Contents
Number of items: 4 sheets
Location: Chinatown (Los Angeles, Calif.)
Collaborator(s): Hong, Roger (architect), Urban
Concepts (architect)
Box 11, Folder 9
Gateway Tower, sponsored by the Chinese Committee
on Aging
undated
Scope and Contents
Number of items: 7 sheets
Location: Chinatown (Los Angeles, Calif.)
Collaborator(s): Hong, Roger (architect)
Box 11
Hong Building, 425 Ginling Way, 1997 renovation
plans
1997
Scope and Contents
Number of items: 7 sheets
Location: Chinatown (Los Angeles, Calif.)
Collaborator(s): Hong, Roger (architect)
Box 11
Hong Building, 425 Ginling Way, 1999 renovation,
demolition and construction plans
1999
Scope and Contents
Number of items: 14 sheets
Location: Chinatown (Los Angeles, Calif.)
Collaborator(s): McDonough & Associates
(architects), Perlof, S. (engineer)
Box 11
Hong Building, 451A and 451B Ginling Way,
alterations
2002
Scope and Contents
Number of items: 3 sheets
Location: Chinatown (Los Angeles, Calif.)
Collaborator(s): Hong, Roger (architect)
Box 1
Hong Building: Bar and Bistro at Central Plaza,
951 N. Broadway, 425 Ginling Way, proposal plan
2000
Scope and Contents
Number of items: 2 sheets
Location: Chinatown (Los Angeles, Calif.)
Collaborator(s): Hong, Roger (architect)
Box 11
Imperial Dragon Gift Shop, 451 Ginling Way,
remodel
1979-80
Scope and Contents
Number of items: 15 sheets
Location: Chinatown (Los Angeles, Calif.)
Collaborator(s): Hong, Roger (architect), S.
Perlof (engineer)
Box 11, Folder 8, Folder 10
Ling Tower: Senior Citizen Residence and
Community Commercial Plaza
1978
Scope and Contents
Number of items: 7 sheets
Location: Chinatown (Los Angeles, Calif.)
Collaborator(s): Hong, Roger (architect)
Box 11
Pergola and stage, design plans
undated
Scope and Contents
Number of items: 1 sheet
Location: Chinatown (Los Angeles, Calif.)
Box 11
Residential renovation of 445 Ginling Way for
Roger S. Hong
undated
Scope and Contents
Number of items: 2 sheets
Location: Chinatown (Los Angeles, Calif.)
Collaborator(s): Hong, Roger (architect)
Box 12
Survey maps
1990
Scope and Contents
Number of items: 4 sheets
Location: Chinatown (Los Angeles, Calif.) ;
Elysian Park (Los Angeles, Calif.)
Collaborator(s): City of Los Angeles
Box 12
United Bank building, 951 N. Broadway (formerly
405, 407, 409 Ginling Way), renovation plans
1984
Scope and Contents
Number of items: 26 sheets
Location: Chinatown (Los Angeles, Calif.)
Collaborator(s): Arechaederra, Hong, Treiman
(architects), Hong, Roger (architect)
Box 12
United Bank building, 951 N. Broadway, fence
design and landscape plan
1996
Scope and Contents
Number of items: 2 sheets
Location: Chinatown (Los Angeles, Calif.)
Collaborator(s): Hong, Roger (architect,
landscape architect)
C. Other work (sampling of Hong's professional work)
1948-1991
Box 12
Chinese Times, The: 686 Sacramento St., remodel.
(Includes many rough sketches.)
1976-77
Scope and Contents
Number of items: 30 sheets
Location: San Francisco (Calif.)
Collaborator(s): Hong, Roger (architect)
Box 12
Encinitas Hotel
1989
Scope and Contents
Number of items: 1 sheet
Location: Encinitas (Calif.)
Collaborator(s): Arechaederra, Hong, Treiman
(architects)
Box 12
Fitzgerald, Dan and June, residence, 10118
Empyrean Way #102, interior design
1991
Scope and Contents
Number of items: 6 sheets
Location: Los Angeles (Calif.)
Collaborator(s): Hong, Roger (interior
design)
Box 12
Froedtert Memorial Lutheran Hospital
1977
Scope and Contents
Number of items: 11 sheets
Location: Wauwatosa (Wis.)
Collaborator(s): Stone, Marracini & Patterson
(architects), Brust-Zimmerman (architects)
Box 1
Hong, Mr. and Mrs. Y. C., residence, 5146 Los
Franciscos Way, proposed recreation unit
approximately 1970s
Scope and Contents
Number of items: 3 sheets
Location: Los Angeles (Calif.)
Collaborator(s): Hong, Roger (architect)
Box 13, Box 1
Hong, Mr. and Mrs. Y. C., residence, 5146 Los
Franciscos Way. (Includes many rough sketches.)
1967-69
Scope and Contents
Number of items: 70 sheets; 35 photos
Location: Los Angeles (Calif.)
Collaborator(s): Buff & Hensman (architect),
Hong, Roger (architect), Shulman, J. (photographer)
Box 13
Hong, Roger S., residence, 10551 Wilshire Blvd.
#1703, interior design. (Includes many rough sketches.)
1986-87
Scope and Contents
Number of items: 29 sheets
Location: Los Angeles (Calif.)
Collaborator(s): Hong, Roger (interior
design)
Folder 13
Hotel at the L.A. Zoo
1981
Scope and Contents
Number of items: 3 sheets
Location: Los Angeles (Calif.)
Collaborator(s): Arechaederra, Hong, Treiman
(architects), Stolte, Inc. (developers)
Box 13, Folder 11
Hotel Nikko, 477 S. La Cienega Blvd.
1989-91
Scope and Contents
Number of items: 86 sheets, 5 photos
Location: Beverly Hills (Calif.)
Collaborator(s): Arechaederra, Hong, Treiman
(architects), Fong & Associates (landscape architects), Mingis Design (interior
design)
Box 17
Hotel Nikko brochure and award
submission
1991-1997
Box 18
Hotel Nikko photographs
1992, 1997
Scope and Contents
Color photographic prints and color transparencies (slides).
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements
Housed in cold storage for preservation purposes; extended retrieval and delivery
time required.
Box 1
KCET building
approximately 1980
Scope and Contents
Number of items: 7 sheets
Location: Los Angeles (Calif.)
Collaborator(s): Arechaederra, Hong, Treiman
(architects)
Box 14
Kun Lun Hotel, early concepts
1980
Scope and Contents
Number of items: 15 sheets
Location: Beijing (China)
Collaborator(s): John Carl Warnecke and
Associates (architects)
Box 14
Neiman-Marcus
1988
Scope and Contents
Number of items: 20 sheets
Location: Honolulu (Hawaii)
Collaborator(s): Arechaederra, Hong, Treiman
(architect), The Darrall Partnership (interior design)
Box 14
Neiman-Marcus
1979
Scope and Contents
Number of items: 1 sheet
Location: unknown
Box 14
Office building, Ohio Ave. and Sepulveda Blvd.
[now Fox Building, 1441 S. Sepulveda Blvd.]
1983
Scope and Contents
Number of items: 6 sheets
Location: Westwood (Los Angeles, Calif.)
Collaborator(s): Arechaederra, Hong, Treiman
(architects)
Box 14
Pan Pacific Center [adaptive re-use of Pan
Pacific building]
1981-82
Scope and Contents
Number of items: 21 sheets
Location: Los Angeles (Calif.)
Collaborator(s): Arechaederra, Hong, Treiman
(architect), CCM Financial (developers)
Box 14
Park Place master plan (Fluor Properties
conversion)
1985-88
Scope and Contents
Number of items: 26 sheets
Location: Irvine (Calif.)
Collaborator(s): Arechaederra, Hong, Treiman
(architects), Trammell Crow Co. (developers)
Box 15
Paseo de los Rosas complex
approximately 1980s
Scope and Contents
Number of items: 17 sheets
Location: Pasadena (Calif.)
Collaborator(s): Arechaederra, Hong, Treiman
(architects), Trammell Crow Co. (developers), Ahmanson Commercial Development Co.
(developers)
Box 15
Quong, Chin H. and Mabel C. Hong, Four-unit
apartment building
1948-49
Scope and Contents
Number of items: 3 sheets
Location: Alhambra (Calif.)
Collaborator(s): Joseph, B. G. (contractor)
Box 15
Ralph's grocery stores
approximately 1973
Scope and Contents
Number of items: 3 sheets
Location: Fullerton (Calif.) and unknown
Collaborator(s): Maxwell Starkman &
Associates (architects)
Box 15
Rossmoor Towers and Life Care Center, Rossmoor
Leisure World
1969-70
Scope and Contents
Number of items: 28 sheets
Location: Laguna Hills (Calif.)
Collaborator(s): Bodrell Joer'dan Smith and
Associates, Inc. (architects), Lent-Forsum Associates (landscape architects)
Box 15
Unidentified campus site plan
approximately 1970s
Scope and Contents
Number of items: 1 sheet
Location: unknown
Collaborator(s): Hong, Roger (architect)
Box 15
Unidentified residences and commercial buildings
1970-72
Scope and Contents
Number of items: 9 sheets
Location: unknown
Collaborator(s): Hong, Roger (architect)
Box 15
UNLV Sports Arena (Thomas & Mack Center),
University of Nevada, Las Vegas
approximately 1984
Scope and Contents
Number of items: 3 sheets
Location: Las Vegas (Nev.)
Collaborator(s): John Carl Warnecke and
Associates (architects), W2C (architects)
Box 18
UNLV Sports Arena (Thomas & Mack
Center)
photographs
1997
Scope and Contents
Color photographic prints and color transparencies (slides).
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements
Housed in cold storage for preservation purposes; extended retrieval and delivery
time required.
Box 17
Miscellaneous architectural project notes and brochures
approximately 1980s-1990s
D. Resource Materials (textile sample)
1972
Box 16
Roads [textile sample; designed by Gretl
and Leo Wollner for Knoll International.
1972
Physical Description: 49 x 138
in
Scope and Contents
Number of items: 1 textile
