Phoenix Bakery Records: Finding Aid mssPhoenix
Kelly Kress
The Huntington Library
June 2023
1151 Oxford Road
San Marino, California 91108
Business Number: (626) 405-2191
reference@huntington.org
Contributing Institution:
The Huntington Library
Title: Phoenix Bakery records
Creator:
Phoenix Bakery
Identifier/Call Number: mssPhoenix
Physical Description:
2.92 Linear Feet
(4 boxes)
Date (inclusive): 1927-2020 (bulk 1946-2018)
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.
Language of Material: Materials are in English and Chinese.
Open for use by qualified researchers and by appointment. Please contact Reader Services at the Huntington Library for more
information.
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.
[Identification of item]. Phoenix Bakery records, The Huntington Library, San Marino, California.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Gift of Kathryn Chan Ceppi, April 2023.
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.
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.
Processed at the time of accessioning by Kelly Kress in June 2023.
Arranged chronologically within subject.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Bakeries -- United States
Chinatown (Los Angeles, Calif.)
Chinese American businesspeople
Chinese Americans -- California -- Los Angeles
Architectural drawings
Business records
Military records
Chan, F.C. (Fung Chow)
Chan, Lun F.
East West Bank
Leong, Gilbert
Phoenix Bakery
Wong, Tyrus
Box 1, Folder 1-13
Box 2, Folder 1-9
Phoenix Bakery and East West Bank 1945-2020
Phoenix Bakery press and clippings, collected historical material, and materials related to a 1998 building remodel and the
bakery's 80th anniversary in 2018. Also includes F. C. Chan's personal stationery and business cards; documents related to
Lun F. Chan's United States Army Service and award from the Master Baker's Retail Association of Southern California, and
documents related to the founding of East West Bank.
Box 3, Folder 1-3