Phoenix Bakery records, 1927-2020 (bulk 1946-2018)

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Summary

Creators:
Phoenix Bakery
Abstract:
Materials related to the history of Phoenix Bakery, its founder F.C. (Fung Chow) Chan, and head baker Lun F. Chan; including documents, photographs, and ephemera.
Extent:
3.83 Linear Feet (4 boxes)
Language:
Materials are in English and Chinese.
Preferred citation:

[Identification of item]. Phoenix Bakery records, The Huntington Library, San Marino, California.

Background

Scope and content:

Materials related to the history of Phoenix Bakery, its founder F.C. (Fung Chow) Chan, and head baker Lun F. Chan. Includes documents related to the design and construction of the 969 N. Broadway building; business records; advertisements and press; ephemera including stationery, menus, and employee name tags and clothing patches; photographs; and construction drawings by architect Gilbert Leong and artist Tyrus Wong. Other materials include a small amount of papers related to the founding of East West Bank and some of F.C. Chan's other business interests, and Lun F. Chan's United States Army documents.

Biographical / historical:

Opened in 1938 by husband-and-wife team F.C. (Fung Chow) Chan and Wai Hing, Phoenix Bakery was founded to serve the Los Angeles Chinese American community by producing traditional Chinese pastries and cookies. Originally located at Broadway and Alpine Streets, the bakery moved to New Chinatown in 1941. Around this time the Chan family commissioned artist Tyrus Wong to design the bakery's iconic logo featuring a boy hiding a pastry box behind his back. Expanding operations, Phoenix Bakery hired architect Gilbert Leong to design and build a new building at 969 N. Broadway in 1973, and the bakery relocated there in 1977. Phoenix Bakery is known today for its almond cookies, moon cakes, and signature fresh strawberry whipped cream cake, and is one of the few remaining businesses dating from the early days of New Chinatown.

F.C. (Fung Chow) Chan (1909-2001) was born in Guangdong Province, China, and immigrated to the United States in 1933 to attend business school at the University of Southern California. After running an art and antiques store, the Tai Chan Store, with his father for a short time, Chan and his wife Wai Hing opened Phoenix Bakery in 1938. Realizing no banks existed to serve the Chinese American community in Los Angeles, Chan went on to help establish Cathay Bank in 1962 and East West Bank in 1973.

Lun F. Chan, brother of F. C. Chan, was born in Hong Kong in 1921, and immigrated to the United States in 1937 from Guangdong Province, China. He enlisted in the United States Army and served as an interpreter in the early years of World War II. Lun F. Chan joined Phoenix Bakery as head baker in 1943 after returning from Hong Kong to learn from Chinese master bakers. He is credited with creating Phoenix Bakery's signature fresh strawberry whipped cream cake, and won several culinary awards.

Acquisition information:
Gift of Kathryn Chan Ceppi, April 2023 and August 2024.
Processing information:

Processed at the time of accessioning by Kelly Kress in June 2023. In January 2025, Kress processed the 2024 addendum.

Arrangement:

Arranged chronologically within subject.

Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

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]. Phoenix Bakery records, 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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