box 1, carton 1-6, folder 1, box 2, folder 1
SERIES I: Yee Clan materials
1903-1966
Physical Description: 1.45 Linear Feet1 Banker's box and 1 document box
Scope and Contents
This series is comprised of Yee Wah Yee's documents, artifacts and realia, as well as immigration records pertaining to Yee
Gip Wah, Yee Kan Yak, and Yee Wing Yut.
box 1, carton 1-6, folder 1
SUBSERIES 1A: Yee Wah Yee materials
1910-1929
Physical Description: 1.04 Linear Feet1 Banker's box
Scope and Contents
This subseries contains the documents, medicinal artifacts, and realia belonging to Yee Wah Yee, Ella Yee Quan's paternal
grandfather. Several of these objects have been identified as medicines and ingredients likely pertaining to Yee's work as
an herbalist. Also part of this subseries is a partially-translated poem written in traditional Chinese.
Biographical / Historical
Yee Wah Yee emigrated from China to the United States in 1893 and settled in Virginia City, Nevada, where he owned a Chinese
laundry. Around 1910, Yee moved to Santa Barbara and worked as an herbalist. Yee's wife, Chin See would arrive from China
in 1916 with their son Yee Wing Yee, Ella Yee Quan's father. In 1927, he opened a restaurant at 829 Santa Barbara St. which
he would later sell in 1942. Yee passed away in Santa Barbara in 1945.
FILE 2: Medicinal Artifacts
1910-1929
box 2, folder 1
SUBSERIES 1B: Immigration documents
1903-1966
1903-1930
Physical Description: 0.41 Linear Feet
Scope and Contents
This subseries consists of documents involving the immigration process of Yee Gip Wah and his two sons, Yee Wing Yut and Yee
Kan Yak. These records include interviews at Angel Island, Certificates of Identity, and affidavits confirming temporary visits
to China.
Biographical / Historical
Yee Gip Wah emigrated from China to the United States sometime in the late 19th century or the early 1900s, with the earliest
record in this subseries describing a 1903 affidavit confirming Wah's temporary visit to China and subsequent return to San
Francisco. Wah and Wong Shee (also known as J.Y. Chung) had a son named Yee Kan Yak, whose interviews and application documents
in 1928 are also a part of this subseries. These documents also include applications for Wah's second son (listed as Yee Kan
Yak's half brother) Yee Wing Yut, also known as Chester Yee, who was born in the United States in 1922.
box 2, folder 1
SERIES II: Santa Barbara Chinatown documents
1950-1998
Physical Description: 0.41 Linear Feet1 document box
Scope and Contents
This series contains newspaper articles, brochures, maps, journals, books, magazines, correspondence, and notes compiled or
written by Ella Yee Quan pertaining to Santa Barbara local history, Santa Barbara Chinatown, and the Chinese American community
in Santa Barbara.
box 2, folder 1
SUBSERIES 2A: Newspaper Articles
1950-1982
Scope and Contents
Contains newspaper articles about Santa Barbara Chinatown and Chinese American community members.
box 2, folder 1
SUBSERIES 2B: Brochures and Maps
Scope and Contents
Contains brochures of events and historical sites in Santa Barbara, as well as maps of downtown Santa Barbara and the Presidio
of Santa Barbara excavation site.
box 2, folder 1
SUBSERIES 2C: Publications
1962-1998
Scope and Contents
Contains issues of historical journals such as Noticias and Chinese Historical Society of America Bulletin, books and chapters
of books related to Santa Barbara history, and other published articles about Chinatown and Chinese fishing in California.
box 2, folder 1
SUBSERIES 2D: Notes and Correspondence
Scope and Contents
Contains a letter written by Quan mapping out Santa Barbara St. and Canon Perdido St. as well as miscellaneous notes about
her research on the Chinese American community in Santa Barbara
box 3, carton 1-2, box 4
SERIES III: Personal materials
1976-2014
Physical Description: 2.08 Linear Feet2 Banker's boxes
Scope and Contents
This series consists of Ella Yee Quan's personal photographs and other artifacts, including community awards, Castelar Elementary
School photographs, miscellaneous photographs of Quan, and her Celebration of Life after her passing in 2014.
box 4
SUBSERIES 3A: Awards and Honors
1976-1994
Physical Description: 1.08 Linear Feet1 Banker's box
Scope and Contents
Contains a 1976 Billee Award for Quan's devotion to the Chinese Drum and Bugle Corps and scans of a 1994 mural by Carol Nye
highlighting Quan's achievements in education and community service.
box 3, carton 1-2, box 4
SUBSERIES 3B: Photographs
1977-1991
Physical Description: 2.08 Linear Feet2 Banker's boxes
Scope and Contents
Contains photographs of Quan and her family, class photographs from her time teaching at Castelar Elementary School, and various
community events.
FILE 1: Family Photographs
FILE 2: Castelar Elementary School Photographs
1977-1981
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