The collection contains the original pen and ink illustrations by Manning de Villeneuve Lee for a children's book published in 1955 about a Chinese immigrant family in San Francisco in the 1950s.

Manning de Villeneuve Lee was born in Summerville, South Carolina, on March 15, 1894. He grew up along the South Carolina coast and attended both public and military schools. Lee attended the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts from 1914 to 1915, was called away for military service in Mexico and Europe between 1916 and 1919, and returned for three more years of study. He traveled through Europe studying art on an academy scholarship in 1921. He married Eunice Celeste Sandoval, who would write children's books under the name Tina Lee, in 1922. While at art school Lee took an interest in illustration and began his career drawing for periodicals. He later illustrated over 200 children's books on adventurous and historical themes. He died at his home in Chestnut Hill, Pennsylvania, on March 31, 1980.

1 folder (7 leaves)

Copyright has not been assigned to the San Francisco Public Library. All requests for permission to publish or quote from materials must be submitted in writing to Book Arts & Special Collections. Permission for publication is given on behalf of the San Francisco Public Library as the owner of the physical items.

Collection is open for research and is available for use during Book Arts & Special Collections hours.