Conditions Governing Access
Conditions Governing Use
Preferred Citation
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Biographical / Historical
Existence and Location of Copies
Related Materials in the Huntington Library
Scope and Contents
Arrangement
Additional Creators and Subjects
Contributing Institution:
The Huntington Library
Title: Hong Family papers
Creator:
Hong (Family)
Identifier/Call Number: mssHong Family papers
Physical Description:
150 Linear Feet
(336 boxes, 14 oversize boxes)
Date (inclusive): 1764-2006
Date (bulk): 1906-2006
Abstract: This collection contains the papers and
photographs of the Hong family, a family of prominent Chinese-American community leaders in
Los Angeles, California, specifically focused on the papers and photographs of immigration
lawyer You Chung Hong (1898-1977), his wife, Mabel Hong (1907-1998) and their two sons,
lawyer Nowland C. Hong (born 1934) and architect Roger S. Hong (1941-2006).
Language of Material: Materials are in
English.
Conditions Governing Access
Open for use by qualified researchers and by appointment. Please contact Reader Services at
the Huntington Library for more information.
Conditions Governing Use
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]. Hong Family papers, The Huntington Library, San Marino,
California.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Gift of Roger S. Hong on June 26, 2006.
Biographical / Historical
You Chung Hong (May 4, 1898 - November 8, 1977) was a prominent Chinese American
immigration lawyer based in Los Angeles, California. He was one of the first Chinese
Americans to pass, in 1923, the California State Bar exam. Born in San Francisco,
California, in 1898, Y. C. was the son of a restaurant owner based in Daggett, California.
He was raised in San Francisco by his mother after his father passed away when Y. C. was
five years old. After graduating from high school, Y. C. settled briefly in Boston,
Massachusetts, before returning to Los Angeles to work for the U.S. Immigration Service as
an interpreter from 1918 to 1927 for court cases involving Chinese applicants for admission
into the U.S. During the early 1920s, while working full-time for the U.S. Immigration
Bureau, Y. C. enrolled in night classes at the University of Southern California School of
Law. He earned his LL.B. in 1924 and LL.M. in 1925. From that point on, Y. C. became an
active and successful immigration attorney by advocating for the right of Chinese Americans
to bring their Chinese wives to the U.S. and pushing for the repeal of the Chinese Exclusion
Acts. He was one of the key members testifying on behalf of the Chinese American Citizens
Alliance before the Senate and House Immigration Committees in 1928 in Washington D.C. He
testified in 1952 before a hearing of President Truman's Commission on Immigration and
Naturalization. He served two terms as Grand President of the Chinese American Citizens
Alliance (1949-1953), 14 terms as President of CACA's Los Angeles Lodge (1926-1949), and
Chairman of the Chinese Times Publishing Company. In addition to his accomplishments in the
legal field, Y. C. was also one of the founding members of Los Angeles New Chinatown (1938).
He was married to Mabel Hong, and together they had two sons, Nowland and Roger.
Mabel Hong (May 31, 1907 - April 30, 1998) was also an active community leader in the Los
Angeles area. Born May 31, 1907, in Portland, Oregon, Mabel was one of the earliest Chinese
American women to receive a college education in the state of Oregon. She married You Chung
Hong in 1931. In addition to her duties as a homemaker of a large extended family, Mabel
served in leadership roles in the Chinatown chapter of the American Women's Volunteer
Services during World War II, the Chinese Women's Club of Los Angeles, and the Kuun Ying
Club. She was a major influence in the design of the three New Chinatown buildings that were
commissioned by You Chung Hong.
Nowland C. Hong (born December 7, 1934) was the first of two sons of Y. C. and Mabel. He
graduated from Pomona College in 1956 with a Bachelor of Arts degree. He then went on to
study law at the University of Southern California School of Law, earning his Juris Doctor
degree in 1960 and passed the California State Bar exam in 1961. In the same year he was
appointed Deputy City Attorney of Los Angeles by then City Attorney Roger Arnebergh. Nowland
also served as the Chief General Counsel for the Board of Harbor Commissioners of the city
of Los Angeles. Nowland is currently (2010) a senior partner for a private law firm. In
addition to professional duties as a lawyer, Nowland was one of the founding members and
president for two terms of the Southern California Chinese Lawyers Association and Grand
President of the Chinese American Citizens Alliance.
Roger S. Hong (September 23, 1941 - October 27, 2006) was the youngest son of Y. C. and
Mabel. He earned his Bachelor of Architecture degree from the University of Southern
California in 1965, followed by a Master of Science degree in City and Regional Planning in
1968. He was certified in many states, including California, to practice as a licensed
architect. Some of his notable architectural projects include the expansion of the
California Exposition and State Fair (Sacramento, CA), Thomas and Mack Center (Las Vegas,
NV), the United Bank headquarter (Los Angeles, CA), Kunlun Hotel (Beijing, China), Hotel
Nikko (Beverly Hills, CA), the Hong Residence (Los Angeles, CA), Chieh Shou Sports Park
(Taipei, Taiwan), Kaiser Richmond Medical Center (Richmond, CA), and various buildings and
facilities in and around the Los Angeles Chinatown area. After he co-founded the
architectural firm Arechaederra Hong Treiman Architects in the late 1970s, Roger retired
from architecture in early 1990s and devoted himself to preserving the Hong family history,
the restoration and preservation of Los Angeles Chinatown, and various charitable
causes.
Existence and Location of Copies
Related Materials in the Huntington Library
- Hong legal papers
-
Hong family papers addenda
(Call number: mssHong
family papers addenda (1))
-
Roger S. Hong Collection
(Call number:
archHong)
- Law-related books of Y.C. Hong
Scope and Contents
This collection contains the papers and photographs of the Hong family, a family of
prominent Chinese-American community leaders in Los Angeles, California, specifically
focused on the papers and photographs of immigration lawyer You Chung Hong (1898-1977), his
wife, Mabel Hong (1907-1998) and their two sons, lawyer Nowland C. Hong (born 1934) and
architect Roger S. Hong (1941-2006).
The papers and photographs are arranged according to creator, followed by ephemera and
oversize materials.
Note:
Within each series of papers there are subseries chiefly consisting of the following
record types:
Business files consisting of records of each creator's
professional papers, including business correspondence. You Chung Hong's business files
include papers related to his law office operations, business financial records,
correspondence, logs, client lists, visitors' books, leases, deeds, writings, and receipts.
Roger S. Hong's business files include architectural project files, biographies,
certificates, correspondence, notes, and resumes.
Chinatown files reflecting each creator's involvement in the Los
Angeles Chinatown community, such as papers related to commercial development, community
festivals and events, correspondence, feasibility studies, photos, newspaper clippings,
architectural records, financial records, insurance records, property records, menus, and
specifications.
Chinese American Citizens Alliance (CACA) files reflecting each
creator's involvement and participation in the organization. Also included are proceedings
from CACA's biennial national conventions dating from 1912 to 2003.
Education files reflecting each creator's educational background,
including but not limited to their secondary and post-secondary education files. Lecture
notes figure prominently in this sub series.
Personal files including records related to each creator's
personal life, such as correspondence, book catalogs, funeral books, birth certificates,
death certificates, passports, photos, notebooks, speeches, writings, and investment
records.
Political and Community Activities files reflecting each
creator's participation within his or her community and political organizations, such as
political fund raising, war finance drives, various societies and clubs, student
organizations, women's organizations, religious organizations, war relief organizations, and
election committees.
Photographs
Additional textual files containing additional paper files that
were housed separately due to processing constraints but typically correspond intellectually
to the subseries above.
Arrangement
The Hong family papers are organized into six series with sets of subseries:
You Chung Hong (61 boxes)
- Business files (Boxes Y01–Y09)
- Chinatown (Boxes Y10–Y13)
- Chinese American Citizens Alliance (Boxes Y14–Y27)
- Education (Boxes Y28–Y29)
- *Boxes Y30-Y36 have been removed and placed in the Hong legal papers*
- Personal files (Boxes Y37–Y42)
- Political/Community activities (Boxes Y43–Y46)
- Photographic files (Boxes 1–16b)
- Additional textual files (Boxes 17–20)
Mabel Hong (35 boxes)
- Education (Boxes M01–M09)
- Personal files (Boxes M10–M19)
- Political/Community activities (Boxes M20–M29)
- Photographic files (Box 21–23c)
- Additional textual files (Box 24)
Nowland C. Hong (14 boxes)
- Chinese American Citizens Alliance (Box N01)
- Personal files (Boxes N02–N07)
- Political/Community activities (Box N08)
- Photographic files (Boxes 25–29)
- Additional textual files (Box 30)
Roger S. Hong (79 boxes)
- Business files (Boxes R01–R08)
- Chinatown (Boxes R09–R15)
- Education (Boxes R16–R18)
- Personal files (Boxes R19–R26)
- Political/Community activities (Boxes R27–R28)
- Photographic files (Boxes 31-72)
- Additional textual files (Boxes 73-80a)
Ephemera (Boxes E001–E143)
Oversize (Boxes F01–F16 and 81–82)
Additional Creators and Subjects
This list is not meant to be all-inclusive but to represent the people and subjects that
are most prevalent in the collection. Many people and subjects in the collection will not be
on this list.
Personal/Corporate
- Hong, You Chung, 1898-1977
- Hong, Mabel, 1907-1998
- Hong, Nowland C., 1934-
- Hong, Roger S., 1941-2006
- American Bureau for Medical Aid to China
- American Council for Nationalities Service
- American Institute of Architects. California Council
- American Women's Voluntary Services
- Arechaederra Hong Treiman Architects
- Arnebergh, Roger
- Association of Immigration and Nationality Lawyers (U.S.)
- Autry Museum of Western Heritage
- Bradley, Tom, 1917-1998
- Breeze, Carla
- Bullock's Wilshire (Department store)
- Chiang, May-ling Soong, 1897-2003
- Chin, Andrew
- Chin, Hing Qong
- Chin, Quan Gue
- Chinese American Citizens Alliance
- Chinese American Museum
- Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association (Los Angeles, Calif.)
- Chinese Historical Society of America
- Chinese Students' Alliance in the United States of America
- Chinese Students' Intercollegiate Organization
- Chinese Times
- Chinese Women's New Life Movement Association
- Common Council for American Unity
- Community Redevelopment Agency of the City of Los Angeles
- Dawson's Book Shop
- Douglas, Helen Gahagan, 1900-1980
- Federation of Overseas Chinese Association
- Eisenhower, Dwight D. (Dwight David), 1890-1969
- Finch, Robert
- Fong, Hiram, 1907-2004
- Fung, Kenneth Y.
- General Federation of Women's Clubs
- Inaugural Committee (Calif.: 1967)
- Inaugural Committee (U.S.: 1969)
- Japanese American Citizens League
- Knowland, William F. (William Fife), 1908-1974
- Kuchel, Thomas H.
- Kuun Ying Club
- Lawyers' Club of Los Angeles County
- Lawyers' Wives of Los Angeles
- Los Angeles (Calif.). Dept. of City Planning.
- Los Angeles (Calif.). Harbor Dept.
- Los Angeles Chinatown Corporation
- Los Angeles Chinese Chamber of Commerce
- Los Angeles Chinese Women's Club
- Los Angeles Committee for Protection of Foreign Born
- McCarran, Pat, 1876-1954
- Museum of Chinese American History
- Nixon, Richard M. (Richard Milhous), 1913-1994.
- Oregon State Agricultural College
- Oregon State College
- Pacific Area Travel Association
- Perlman, Philip B. (Philip Benjamin), 1890-1960
- President Ford Committee (U.S.)
- Public affairs pamphlet (Public Affairs Committee)
- O'Donnell, Lambert
- Reagan, Ronald.
- See, Lisa
- Sing, Jack Wong
- Smith, Icy
- Snyder, Peter F
- Soohoo, Peter
- Tom, Howard
- United States. Bureau of Immigration Services
- United China Relief (U.S.)
- United States. Immigration and Naturalization Service
- University of Southern California. School of Law
- University of Southern California. School of Urban and Regional Planning
- Walter, Francis E. (Francis Eugene), 1894-1963
- Warren, Earl, 1891-1974.
- Wong, Tyrus.
- Younger, Evelle J.
Indexing: Subjects
- Anti-communist movements -- California.
- Anti-communist movements -- China.
- Anti-communist movements -- Taiwan.
- Architecture -- China -- Beijing -- Designs and plans.
- Architecture -- United States -- 1980-2010.
- Art deco (Architecture) -- United States.
- Architecture -- United States -- 20th century.
- Asian American architects
- Asian American newspapers
- Asian Americans -- California.
- Central Pacific Railroad Company.
- Chinatown (Los Angeles, Calif.)
- Chinatown (San Francisco, Calif.)
- Chinese -- California -- San Francisco.
- Chinese American architects
- Chinese American families
- Chinese American women
- Chinese American women -- Societies and clubs
- Chinese Americans -- California -- Los Angeles.
- Chinese Americans -- Civil rights.
- Chinese Americans -- Legal status, laws, etc
- Chinese Americans -- Political activity.
- Chinese Americans -- Societies, etc
- Chinese Americans -- United States.
- Chinese in the United States.
- Chinese newspapers -- United States
- Chinese students -- United States.
- Chinese-American newspapers
- Citizenship -- America -- Congresses.
- Citizenship -- United States
- Citizenship -- United States -- Cases.
- City planning and redevelopment law -- California -- Los Angeles.
- City planning -- California -- Los Angeles.
- Civil procedure -- United States -- Cases.
- Civil rights -- United States -- Societies, etc.
- Deportation -- United States -- Case studies.
- Emigration and immigration -- United States.
- Emigration and immigration law -- United States.
- Emigration and immigration law -- United States -- Cases
- Emigration and immigration law -- United States -- Congresses.
- Equity pleading and procedure -- United States –Cases
- Ethnicity -- United States.
- Illegal aliens -- United States.
- Immigrants -- Services for -- United States
- Immigration advocates -- California.
- Immigration issues in the United States.
- Japanese American newspapers
- Lawyers -- California -- Los Angeles -- Archives
- Minorities -- United States.
- Naturalization -- United States -- Congresses.
- Neighborhood planning -- California -- Los Angeles -- Case studies.
- Newspapers -- Ownership.
- Older people -- Housing.
- Ports of entry -- United States.
- Propaganda, Anti-communist.
- Racism -- Political aspects -- United States -- Congresses.
- Rare book collection
- Refugees -- China -- Hong Kong.
- Regionalism in architecture -- United States.
- Sino-Japanese War, 1937-1945.
- Statutes -- United States.
- Street railroads -- California -- Los Angeles
- United States -- Emigration and immigration -- Congresses.
- United States -- Emigration and immigration -- Documentation -- Congresses.
- Urban transportation
- War relief.
- Women -- Societies and clubs.
- World War II.
- World War, 1939-1945 -- China.
- World War, 1939-1945 -- Chinese -- California -- Los Angeles.
- World War, 1939-1945 -- Chinese Americans
- World War, 1939-1945 -- Women -- United States.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Chinese Americans -- Societies, etc.
Chinese Americans -- California -- Los Angeles -- Archives
Emigration and immigration law -- United States
Immigration advocates -- California
Lawyers -- California -- Los Angeles -- Archives
World War, 1939-1945 -- Chinese Americans
California -- History -- 20th century -- Sources
Chinatown (Los Angeles, Calif.)
Los Angeles (Calif.)
San Francisco (Calif.)
Financial records
Letters (correspondence) China 20th century
Letters (correspondence) United States 20th century
Personal papers United States 20th century
Photographs 20th century
Professional papers United States 20th century.
Hong family
Hong, Mabel, 1907-1998 --
Archives
Hong, Nowland C., 1934- --
Archives
Hong, Roger S., 1941-2006 --
Archives
Hong, You Chung, 1898-1977 --
Archives
Chinese American Citizens
Alliance
Hong, Mabel, 1907-1998
Hong, Nowland C., 1934-
Hong, Roger S., 1941-2006
Hong, You Chung, 1898-1977