Leung (Monroe Tom) Papers, 1945-2021

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Summary

Title:
Monroe Tom Leung papers
Dates:
1945-2021
Creators:
Leung, Monroe Tom
Abstract:
Correspondence, cartoon clippings, sketches, and photographs related to the personal and professional life of Chinese American visual artist Monroe Tom Leung.
Extent:
5.26 Linear Feet (5 boxes)
Language:
Materials are in English.
Preferred citation:

[Identification of item]. Monroe Tom Leung papers, The Huntington Library, San Marino, California.

Background

Scope and content:

This collection contains the professional and personal papers of Chinese American cartoonist Monroe Tom Leung. The biographical materials include personal and professional correspondence, including a letter from Connie Chung, letters to the editor written by Leung, and documents related to Leung's military service in World War II. There are photographs depicting Leung, buildings, Leung's artwork and architectural renderings as well as negatives and slides. There are also two books: NESA Sign Designs, located in box 4, and Painting Light & Shadow (Best of Watercolor series), located in box 1, that contain images of Leung's work.

Clippings, drawings, and sketches of cartoons drawn by Leung between the 1940s and 2000s comprise the majority of this collection. The cartoons cover topics such as art, parenting, history, everyday life, childhood, employment, medicine, marriage, and holidays. Some of the folders with cartoons also include correspondence with publishers and editors discussing purchasing the cartoons and if there are any edits to make prior to publication. The cartoons are numbered on the back in pencil and most of the folders contain an inventory list with the identification numbers, cartoon title or description, date if known, and publication information. Please note that some of the cartoons feature depictions of Indigenous populations that library users may find harmful, offensive, or inappropriate.

Biographical / historical:

Monroe Tom Leung was a visual artist whose career spanned cartoons, watercolor paintings, architectural renderings, drafting and sign illustrations. He was born in 1915 to Tom Leung and Wong Bing Woo, who both immigrated from Guangdong, China. Tom Leung arrived in the United States in 1899 and Wong Bing Woo in 1902. Tom Leung owned a Chinese herb business in Los Angeles, and later encouraged Monroe Tom Leung's interest in art. He obtained an art education through classes at the Chouinard Art Institute and the Art Center School, now known as the Art Center College of Design. During World War II, Leung served as a Second Lieutenant in the First Motion Picture Unit, Army Air Force.

As one of the first profesional Chinese American cartoonists, Leung created over 1,500 cartoons over more than 60 years. Many of his cartoons were published in The New Yorker, Woman's World, Rothco Cartoons, Good Housekeeping, Saturday Evening Post, National Enquirer, Denver Post, Parade Magazine's "Laughing Through History", and others. A selection of his cartoons was displayed at an exhibition entitled Asian Babies: Works from Asian New Yorker Cartoonists in New York City in 2019.

In 1946, Monroe married Rosie Wong and they had four children. Monroe Tom Leung died in 2004.

Acquisition information:
Gift of Kirby Tom Leung, Linda Leung Kam, Timothy Tom Leung, and Corinne Leung Katow, September 2025.
Processing information:

Processed at the time of accessioning by Kahlee Leingang in February 2026.

Arrangement:

Arranged by format and size.

Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

About this collection guide

Collection Guide Author:
Kahlee Leingang
Date Encoded:
This finding aid was produced using ArchivesSpace on 2026-03-02 13:23:19 -0800 .

Access and use

Restrictions:

Open for use by qualified researchers and by appointment. Please contact Reader Services at the Huntington Library for more information.

Terms of access:

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 necessary permissions rests with the researcher.

Preferred citation:

[Identification of item]. Monroe Tom Leung papers, The Huntington Library, San Marino, California.

Location of this collection:
1151 Oxford Road
San Marino, CA 91108, US
Contact:
(626) 405-2191
reference@huntington.org
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