Gwen Singh papers
Finding aid prepared by Sarah Pham with assistance from Julie Graham, May 2015; machine-readable finding aid created by Caroline
Cubé.
UCLA Library Special Collections
Finding aid last modified on 8 March 2016.
Room A1713, Charles E. Young Research Library
Box 951575
Los Angeles, CA, 90095-1575
(310) 825-4988
spec-coll@library.ucla.edu
Title: Gwen Singh photograph albums and writings
Collection number: 1814
Contributing Institution:
UCLA Library Special Collections
Language of Material:
English
Physical Description:
1.8 linear ft.
(2 boxes and 3 flat boxes)
Date: 1947-1948 and 1963-1966
Abstract: Gwen Singh was an American teacher who taught children of American service men during the post-World War II Occupation of
Japan in Nagoya. She was married to Reginald Lah Singh. The collection consists of Singh’s biographical novel about her husband
Lal Singh and three photograph albums documenting her time as a teacher in Occupied Japan (1947-1948); the Singh’s honeymoon
trip around the world (1962-1963); and the Singh’s life together in Los Angeles (1963-1966).
Physical Location: Stored off-site at SRLF. Advance notice is required for access to the collection. Please contact the UCLA Library Special
Collections Reference Desk for paging information.
COLLECTION STORED OFF-SITE AT SRLF: Open for research. Advance notice required for access. Contact the UCLA Library Special
Collections Reference Desk for paging information.
Restrictions on Use and Reproduction
Property rights to the physical object belong to the UCLA Library Special Collections. Literary rights, including copyright,
are retained by the creators and their heirs. It is the responsibility of the researcher to determine who holds the copyright
and pursue the copyright owner or his or her heir for permission to publish where The UC Regents do not hold the copyright.
[Identification of item], Gwen Singh Photograph Albums and Writings (Collection 1814). UCLA Library Special Collections, Charles
E. Young Research Library, University of California, Los Angeles.
Provenance/Source of Acquisition
Gift of Mary Cavena, 2008.
There is very little information available about American teacher Gwen Singh. Gwen Hobson, later changed to Gwen Singh, was
born on August 15, 1913 in Rialto, California. She, graduated from UCLA in 1941 and was a Fullbright student. She taught children
of American service men during the post-World War II Occupation of Japan in Nagoya. She was married to Reginald Lal Singh.
She taught for the Los Angeles school district and was the principal of Sheridan Elementary School in East Los Angeles.
Reginald Lal Singh was an East Indian originally from Pakistan, whose family fled to India for political refuge. He was active
in the Indian Independence movement. He married Gwen Singh. It appears that he eventually worked in Hollywood as an actor
and technical advisor.
The collection consists of materials related to American teacher Gwen Singh and her husband Reginald Lal Singh. Included are
what appears to be the original draft work and copy of Singh’s biographical novel about her husband Reginald Lal Singh and
three photograph albums. The photograph albums document Gwen Singh’s time as a teacher in Occupied Japan (1947-1948), her
and Lal Singh’s honeymoon trip around the world (1962-1963), and their life together in Los Angeles (1963-1966).
Arranged in the following series:
- Series 1. Photograph Albums
- Series 2. Writings.
UCLA Catalog Record ID:
7687025
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Singh, Gwen--Archives.
Singh, Gwen--Photographs.
Photograph Albums. 1947-1948 and 1962-1966.
The series consists of three photograph albums. One photograph album represents Gwen Singh's time spent as an American teacher
during post World War II US Occupation of Japan in Nagoya (1947-1948). The second album documents Gwen and Lal Singh’s honeymoon
traveling around the world to places such as San Francisco, Japan, Hong Kong, South East Asia, and Europe (1962-1963). The
third photograph album represents Gwen and Lal Singh’s life living in Los Angeles California in the mid-1960s and includes
images of the couple as well as family and friends.
Box 1
Box 2
Box 3
Box 4, Folder 3, Box 4, Folder 2, Box 4, Folders 1-3
Lalji: An Extraordinary Man: A Novel Based on the True Life Story of R Lal Singh by Gwen Hobson Singh (3 folders)
Box 5, Folder 1, Box 4, Folders 4-5
From Savage Man: A Saga Based on the True Life Story of R. Lal Singh Adventurer and Writer by Gwen Singh (3 folders)