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Shon (Mary) papers
3012
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Table of contents
Language of Material:
Korean
Contributing Institution:
USC Libraries East Asian Library
Title: Mary Shon papers
creator:
Shon, Mary, 1916-2010
Identifier/Call Number: 3012
Identifier/Call Number: 938
Physical Description:
1 Linear Feet
1 bankers box
Date (inclusive): 1924-1964
Abstract: Mary Shon was a Korean-American social worker, teacher, and USC alum. This small collection consists primarily of yearbooks
from Union Christian College and the Presbyterian Theological Seminary of Korea. The collection also contains a photo album,
a photo book on Syngman Rhee and two publications relating to Korean life.
Language of Material: Collection is predominantly in Korean.
Materials are arranged chronologically.
The Mary Shon papers, 1924-1964, consist of three folders and fifteen loose items, relating largely to religious education,
school administration, and Korean life. The collection comprises primarily yearbooks, the majority from Union Christian College
and Presbyterian Theological Seminary of Korea. Although the covers of the bound Union Christian College yearbooks indicate
the years as 1958 to 1964, it is possible these dates are when these yearbooks were assembled, seeing as the college itself
closed in 1938. The connection between the yearbooks and Shon or her family remains unclear, as they had already been in the
United States since the early 1900s. It is possible these items were in Shon's possession due to her academic studies and
general interest in religious education.
The collection also contains a photo album featuring items relating to the school administration system in Seoul, again something
that was relevant to Shon's academic studies. There is also a book documenting the pictorial history of the first fifty years
of work of the Presbyterian Church in Korea and a published photo book on Korean President Syngman Rhee, who was also a friend
of Shon's father. The remainder of the collection includes "Korean Ways" a book on Korean life, particularly framed from a
Christian perspective, by Sin-young Choy and a Welcome to USA citizenship booklet from 1953, published by the United States
Department of Justice Immigration and Naturalization Service.
Mary Chun Lee Shon was a Korean American social worker and teacher born on February 21, 1916, in Woodland, California. She
is the daughter of Soonkee Rhee and Eunkee Chun, and older sister of Olympic gold medalist and USC alum Sammy Lee. In 1939,
Shon graduated from USC herself, earning B.A.s in Sociology, Religious Education, and Social Work. She was the first ever
Korean American to graduate from USC.
As a social worker she assisted Chinese, Korean, and Filipino women and children. In 1966, after the death of her husband
Herbert Pedro Shon, Mary returned to school, earning a Master's degree in School Administration from Pepperdine University.
Thereafter she became an adviser to the Los Angeles Unified School District's Asian Languages program and also taught at Eastman
Elementary School.
In 1999, Shon was awarded the USC Alumni Award. She passed away on July 10, 2010.
Advance notice required for access.
All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Curator of the Korean
Heritage Library. Permission for publication is given on behalf of the Korean Heritage Library as the owner of the physical
items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained.
[Box/Folder# or Item name], Mary Shon papers, Collection no. 3012, Korean Heritage Library, USC Libraries, University of Southern
California.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Gift of Mary Shon.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Korean American women -- California -- Los Angeles -- Archival resources
Presbyterian Church -- Korea -- Archival resources
Presbyterian theological seminaries -- Korea -- Archival resources
Religious education -- Study and teaching -- California -- Los Angeles -- Archival resources
Social workers -- California -- Los Angeles -- Archival resources
Sociology -- Study and teaching -- California -- Los Angeles -- Archival resources
Women social workers -- California -- Los Angeles -- Archival resources
Photograph albums
School yearbooks
Yearbooks
Shon, Mary, 1916-2010 -- Archives
Presbyterian Theological Seminary of Korea -- Archives
Rhee, Syngman, 1875-1965 -- Archives
Sungsil Haktang (Pʻyŏngyang, Korea) -- Archives