Peter SooHoo, Sr. Papers mssSooHoo
Finding aid prepared by Gina C Giang.
The Huntington Library
June 2019
1151 Oxford Road
San Marino, California 91108
Business Number: (626) 405-2191
reference@huntington.org
Note
Finding aid last updated on August 9, 2023, by Mari Khasmanyan.
Contributing Institution:
The Huntington Library
Title: Peter SooHoo, Sr. papers
Identifier/Call Number: mssSooHoo
Physical Description:
20 Linear Feet
(24 boxes, 6 oversize folders)
Date (inclusive): 1883-2013
Date (bulk): 1923-1945
Abstract: Materials related to Peter SooHoo, Sr.
and his wife Lillie Leung SooHoo, particularly Peter SooHoo's role in creating New Chinatown
in Los Angeles, California; the couple's involvement in professional and community
activities; and their family life.
Language of Material: Material is in English and
Chinese.
Conditions Governing Access
Open for use by qualified researchers and by appointment. Please contact Reader Services at
the Huntington Library for more information.
RESTRICTED. Box 24: Photographs are fragile and only available with curatorial approval.
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.
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements
NOT AVAILABLE. Audiovisual items: one VHS tape in box 22 not available for paging until
reformatted. Please contact Reader Services for more information.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item] Peter SooHoo, Sr. papers. The Huntington Library, San Marino,
California.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Gift of SooHoo Family Trust, January 2019, April 2019, and July 2021.
Biographical / Historical
Peter Francis SooHoo, Sr. (1899-1945) was a Chinese American engineer born in Los Angeles,
California. SooHoo graduated from the University of Southern California with a Bachelor of
Science in engineering in June 1923. In September 1925, he married Lillie Leung at the
Immanuel Presbyterian Church in Los Angeles; the couple had two children, Peter Jr. and
Patricia. SooHoo was employed by the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, where he
worked in the Underground Engineering section from 1925 until his death from a cerebral
hemorrhage in 1945.
Lillie Leung SooHoo (1902-1973) was born in Los Angeles in 1902, the daughter of Tom Leung
(Tom Cherng How) and Wong Bing Woo, immigrants from China's Guangdong Province. She was
appointed Deputy Consul of the Republic of China in Los Angeles, and was active with the Los
Angeles Chinese Women's Club. She lived in the family home in the Silver Lake neighborhood
of Los Angeles until her death in 1973.
Peter SooHoo was active in the Los Angeles Chinese community and a member of the Chinese
American Citizens Alliance, Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association, Chinese
Laundryowners Association of Southern California, China Society of Southern California, and
the director of the Los Angeles Chinese Band. He was also the captain and commanding officer
of the first company of the California State Guard composed entirely of Chinese members. He
was affiliated with various Masonic chapters and was the first Chinese member of Al Malaikah
Temple of the Shrine. As the unofficial "Mayor of Chinatown" and member of the Chinatown
Project Association, SooHoo directed the design and financing of the New Chinatown on North
Broadway in anticipation of the completion of Union Station in the late 1930s. He was also
an artist, creating greeting cards and other materials using the woodcut printing technique.
Scope and Contents
Materials related to Peter SooHoo, Sr. and his wife Lillie Leung SooHoo, particularly Peter
SooHoo's role in creating New Chinatown in Los Angeles, California; the couple's involvement
in professional and community activities; and their family life.
The first series consists primarily of albums, blueprints, correspondence, ephemera,
financial records, and photographs; this material relates to community activities and the
construction and opening of New Chinatown in Los Angeles, California. Included is material
related to Patricia Herman's "Chinese Village Project" and Christine Sterling's "China
City," two tourist destinations conceived in the 1930s. Also included are copies of two
lengthy letters written in August 1937 by Peter SooHoo to Los Angeles mayor Frank Shaw,
where he explains the importance of New Chinatown. Material related to the Bandini Estate
Company is also present due to New Chinatown's location on Bandini Estate property. The
albums include photographs and clippings related to the SooHoo's participation in various
organizations, and the Chinese American community in Los Angeles.
The second series consists primarily of albums, correspondence, ephemera, and photographs
related to Peter SooHoo's family, and his education, personal investments, and work at
LADWP. The bulk of the correspondence is from Peter SooHoo to Lillie SooHoo written from
Fresno, San Francisco, Seattle, and Washington, D.C. about his activities. Included in the
second series are clippings, statements, and sympathy letters related to SooHoo's death in
1945. The albums include photographs and clippings related to SooHoo's wedding, funeral, and
ephemera collected by Peter and Lillie.
Note: Although the albums are separated in two series, there may be a small amount of
community or personal photographs within either series.
The 2021 addendum includes additional letters, photographs, ephemera, and other documents
related to Peter and Lillie SooHoo. There are photographs of the SooHoo and Leung families;
Peter SooHoo, Sr.'s handcrafted woodcut greeting cards and letters to Lillie SooHoo;
materials related to Lillie SooHoo's appointment as Deputy Consul of the Republic of China
in Los Angeles, and work with the Los Angeles Chinese Women's Club; and oversize renderings
of Chinatown buildings and concepts from the 1930s. There are also various publications
related to Los Angeles Chinatown and the Los Angeles Chinese community.
Processing Information
Processed by Gina C Giang in June 2019. In 2020, some materials were flattened, disbound,
or treated in preparation for digitization. The box and folder numbers of material changed
due to the change in size of materials. In 2021, Maggie Hughes updated the container numbers
to reflect housing after conservation work. In June 2023, Kelly Kress processed the 2021
addendum and updated the finding aid to include those materials, which are housed in boxes
19-23. In August 2023, Mari Khasmanyan updated the container count to include box 24.
Related Materials
Existence and Location of Copies
Arrangement
Arranged in three series:
- Series 1: New Chinatown and community, 1883-2007
- Series 2: Personal, 1915-2002
- Series 3: Accession CSmH_2021_201, 1890s-2013
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Chinese Americans -- California -- Los Angeles
Chinese Americans -- California -- Los Angeles -- Social life and
customs
Chinese Americans -- Societies, etc.
Chinatown (Los Angeles, Calif.)
Los Angeles (Calif.)
Blueprints
Correspondence
Scrapbooks
Photograph albums
Photographs
Printed ephemera
Woodcuts (prints)
Chiang, May-ling Soong, 1897-2003
SooHoo, Lillie Leung
SooHoo, Peter Francis, Sr.
SooHoo family
Chinese American Citizens Alliance
Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association
Los Angeles (Calif.). Department of Water and
Power
New Chinatown and community
1883-2007
Box 1, Folder 1
Attendance records, 1929
Scope and Contents
Chinese First Presbyterian Church Cathay band and choir.
Box 1, Folder 2, Folder Oversize 5
Blueprints and maps, 1939
Scope and Contents
Includes data and descriptions related to New Chinatown.
Box 1, Folder 3
Booklets, 1910-1925
Scope and Contents
Two booklets and one book related to Freemasonry.
Box 1, Folder 4
Books, 1941
Scope and Contents
The Soldier and the Law by John A. McComsey and Morris O. Edwards.
Box 1, Folder 5, Box 16, Folder 1
Bylaws, 1922, undated
Scope and Contents
Includes Chinese American Citizens Alliance and Los Angeles Chinatown
Corporation.
Box 1, Folder 6-7
Certificates, 1920-1932
Scope and Contents
Miscellaneous.
Includes Ancient and Accepted Scottis Rite card; Chinese American Citizens Alliance;
Freemasonry; Los Angeles Parlor Native Sons of the Golden State; and Peter SooHoo
certificates book.
Includes letter from Los Angeles Police Department.
Folder Oversize 1
Certificates, 1925-1942
Scope and Contents
Includes Boy Scouts of America; California State Militia; Chinese American Citizens
Alliance; Imperial Council of the Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic
Shrine.
Removed from frames.
Box 1, Folder 8, Folder Oversize 6
Clippings, 1937-1941
Scope and Contents
"New Chinatown" and "China City."
Includes Publicity Record First Anniversary Celebration of New Chinatown & Press
Luncheon and flier for "China City" by Christine Sterling.
Box 7, Folder 1
Commemorative plaques -- Los Angeles Chinatown Corporation, 1988
Scope and Contents
Honoring the Founding Families.
Box 2, Folder 1
1930-1940
Scope and Contents
Thank you letters from various organizations and a school related to New
Chinatown.
Box 2, Folder 2
1935-1937
Scope and Contents
Related to Patricia Herman and Chinese Village Project.
Includes folder with outline and financial details.
Box 2, Folder 3, Box 16, Folder 2
1937-1950
Scope and Contents
Includes letters related to "China City."
Box 2, Folder 4
1938
Scope and Contents
Related to New Chinatown grand opening.
Box 2, Folder 5
1938-1939
Scope and Contents
Related to Joe Shoong and property in New Chinatown.
Includes "Option to Purchase" (copy), Proposed Addition to Los Angeles Chinatown,
and Extension of Los Angeles Chinatown for Mr. Joe Shoong.
Box 2, Folder 6
1941
Scope and Contents
Related to China Nite sponsored by Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association.
Box 2, Folder 7
Descriptions, undated
Scope and Contents
Related to jade, Chinatown and New Chinatown.
Includes "Chinatown Traditions," "The New Los Angeles Chinatown," "Facts About the
New Chinatown," and "Los Angeles Chinatown."
Box 7, Folder 2
Descriptions -- The Los Angeles China Town, undated
Scope and Contents
Related to parcels of land.
Folder Oversize 2
Cathay Musical Society, undated
Scope and Contents
Band rehearsal "Please Do Not Disturb" sign.
Box 2, Folder 8
Chinese American Citizens Alliance, 1923-1956
Scope and Contents
Includes a flier, invitations, membership lists, programs, and 1931 Convention
Souvenir Yearbook.
Box 2, Folder 9
Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association, 1938-1942
Scope and Contents
Includes Chinese Moon Festival program, China Nite program, and a map.
Box 2, Folder 10
Chinese First Presbyterian Church and Chinese Congregational Church, Los
Angeles, 1929-1938
Scope and Contents
Includes Christmas programs; Los Angeles Beacon; official publication of The
Chinese First Presbyterian Church Choir; and The Young People's News.
Box 2, Folder 11
Los Angeles Chinese Girls' Glee Club, 1935
Scope and Contents
Includes a list and China Day programs.
Box 2, Folder 12
Miscellaneous, 1939-1981
Scope and Contents
Includes 33rd Anniversary of Chinese Independence program; Bowl of Rice Party
program; The Central Idea newsletter; Chinese Clubs of Los Angeles bulletin;
Federation of China's War for Freedom program; Kung Hay Fot Choy on KNX/CBS radio
editorial, and Mei Wah Club Golden Anniversary program.
Box 2, Folder 13
New Chinatown, 1938-2007
Scope and Contents
Related to grand openings, anniversaries, and remembrance.
Includes fliers, invitations, programs, postcards, and renditions.
Box 2, Folder 14
Chinese American Citizens Alliance, 1923
Box 2, Folder 15
Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association, 1938, undated
Box 3, Folder 1
The Los Angeles Chinatown Association, 1938
Scope and Contents
Balance sheets.
Box 7, Folder 3
The Los Angeles Chinatown Association, 1939
Scope and Contents
Balance sheets.
Box 8
Gavels, 1940
Scope and Contents
Chinese American Citizens Alliance.
Box 7, Folder 4
Legal documents, 1938-1941
Scope and Contents
Includes agreement, corporation grant deed, notice of non-responsibility, and
resolution.
Box 3, Folder 2
Legal documents, 1940
Scope and Contents
Includes agreements, grant deed, and blank rental agreement forms related to New
Chinatown.
Box 9, Volume 1
California State Militia, 1942
Box 9, Volume 2
May-ling Soong Chiang, 1897-2003 (Madame Chiang Kai-shek), 1943
Box 10, Volume 1
"Old Photographs of Chinatown," 1889-1904
Box 10, Volume 2
New Chinatown, 1938-1939
Scope and Contents
Includes construction, grand opening, and anniversary.
Box 15
Oversize photographs, 1941
Scope and Contents
Includes California State Militia at a parade.
Folder Oversize 3, Box 24
Panoramic photographs, 1921-1929
Scope and Contents
Includes Chinese American Citizens Alliance, Chinese First Presbyterian Church, and
Chinese Moon Festival engagements.
Note: Four photographs have been removed from the oversize folder
and added to box 24.
Conditions Governing Access
RESTRICTED. Box 24: Photographs are fragile and only available with curatorial
approval. Please contact Reader Services at the Huntington Library for more
information.
Folder Oversize 4
Photographs on board, 1931, undated
Scope and Contents
Includes Los Angeles Lodge: officers, women's executive committee, committee
chairmen, board of directors, and delegates.
Box 9, Volume 3
"China City" and New Chinatown, 1937
Scope and Contents
Includes correspondence with Los Angeles and state officials related to New
Chinatown.
Box 18
"China City" and New Chinatown, 1937-1938
Scope and Contents
Extremely brittle.
Box 11, Volume 1-2
China Nite and Chinese Moon Festival, 1920s-1940s
Box 11, Volume 3
Madame Chiang Kai-shek, 1943
Box 9, Volume 4
Peter SooHoo, Sr. and family, 1904-1940s
Scope and Contents
Includes Boy Scouts, California State Militia, Chinese American Citizens Alliance,
Glee Club, music events, and small amount of family photographs.
Box 3, Folder 4
Photographs, 1883-2005
Scope and Contents
Includes Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association; Mei Wah Girls Drum Corps;
Chinese Moon Festival; Glee club; and Chinatown and New Chinatown.
Box 12
Plates, undated
Scope and Contents
Two souvenir plates of New Chinatown.
Box 3, Folder 5, Box 16, Folder 3
Speeches, 1937, undated
Scope and Contents
Miscellaneous.
Includes Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce Luncheon and Chinese Chinatown Project
Association.
Folder Oversize 2
Sketches, undated
Scope and Contents
Erle Webster & Adrian Wilson Architects view in courtyard.
Rendition in color.
Box 3, Folder 6
Stationery, undated
Scope and Contents
The Los Angeles Chinatown letterhead and envelope.
Blank.
Box 3, Folder 7
Booklets, 1926-1994
Scope and Contents
Miscellaneous.
Includes The History of the Admission of Wives of American Citizens of Oriental
Ancestry; Kuramoto Incident; Memories of Grandpa Leung; and The Tanaka Memorial.
Box 3, Folder 8
Down by the Station: Los Angeles Chinatown by
Roberta S. Greenwood, 1996
Box 3, Folder 9
Sweet Bamboo: A Memoir of a Chinese American
Family
by Louise Leung Larson, 1989
Box 3, Folder 10
Sweet Bamboo: A Saga of a Chinese American
Family
by Louise Leung Larson, 1989
Folder Oversize 2
Blueprints, 1937, undated
Scope and Contents
Peter SooHoo's floor plan and Los Angeles (Calif.). Department of Water and Power
conduit connections.
Box 17
Calligraphy, undated
Scope and Contents
50th anniversary commemoration.
Box 3, Folder 11
Certificates, 1942-1944
Scope and Contents
The First California Engineers and Los Angeles (Calif.). Department of Water and
Power.
Folder Oversize 1
Certificates, 1925
Scope and Contents
Includes Sigma Pi Alpha.
Removed from frames.
Box 4, Folder 1
Clippings, 1945
Scope and Contents
Peter SooHoo's funeral.
Includes public statements.
Box 4, Folder 2
1925, 1992-2002
Scope and Contents
Miscellaneous.
Includes correspondence from Pamela Lindell about the SooHoo family and Norine
Dresser's manuscript related to the Chinese Militia.
Box 4, Folder 3-5
1926-1933
Scope and Contents
From Peter SooHoo to Lillie SooHoo, San Francisco, Washington (D.C.), Fresno
(Calif.), and Portland (Or.).
Box 4, Folder 6
1935-1970
Scope and Contents
The City Market of Los Angeles, A Corporation.
Includes Report to Stockholders, 1960, City Market Dividends, 1951-1960; proxies;
and 25th Anniversary program.
Box 4, Folder 7-8
1945
Scope and Contents
Sympathy letters.
Includes a greeting card and a notebook.
Box 4, Folder 9
Chinese restaurants, 1925-1940
Scope and Contents
Includes Golden Pagoda; Mandarin Cafe, San Francisco (Calif.); and Joy Yoeng
Restaurant, New York (N.Y.).
Box 4, Folder 10
Miscellaneous, 1925, undated
Scope and Contents
Includes Martin Art Shops catalogue; Philharmonic Auditorium presents Pieces of
China flier; and a postcard.
Box 13
Rolled material, 1964, undated
Scope and Contents
Two items: Civil Air Transport calendar and reproduction of an unidentified
object.
Box 4, Folder 11
Travels, 1925, undated
Scope and Contents
Includes Detroit and Cleveland Navigation Company pamphlet; New Guide and Key to
Niagara Falls and Toronto; and Views of Peiping and Environs in China postcards.
Box 4, Folder 12
Financial records, 1945-1950
Scope and Contents
Ginling Gift Shop and Pioneer Roof Company invoice.
Includes photographs and clippings.
Box 4, Folder 13, Box 16, Folder 4
Licenses, 1942
Scope and Contents
California. Executive Department. License to Drill and Bear Arms.
Removed from frame.
Box 4, Folder 14
Minutes, 1921-1922
Scope and Contents
University of Southern California Chinese Students' Club.
Box 5, Folder 1
Objects, undated
Scope and Contents
Includes a set of keys and rubber stamps.
Box 5, Folder 2
Paintings, undated
Scope and Contents
Painted on foil and paper.
Fragile.
Box 5, Folder 3
Family and miscellaneous, 1921-1983
Scope and Contents
Includes "Christmas, 1944," "Grandpa's birthday, 1946," Chinese Joss House, Lillie,
Li Hong Chong, Nana, Eleanor, Mamie, and Betty.
Box 5, Folder 4
Peter SooHoo, 1915-1935, undated
Scope and Contents
Includes Custer Intermediate School, University of Southern California, Sigma Pi
Alpha group photograph.
Box 5, Folder 5
Peter SooHoo's funeral, 1945
Box 15
Oversize photographs, 1925, undated
Scope and Contents
Peter SooHoo and Lillie SooHoo's wedding, 1925; Peter SooHoo band director portrait;
Y.C. and Mabel Hong; and Grandfather SooHoo's family portrait.
Folder Oversize 3
Panoramic photographs, 1928-1935
Scope and Contents
Includes wedding anniversary and engagement dinners.
Folder Oversize 4
Photographs on board, undated
Scope and Contents
SooHoo family and friends.
Box 5, Folder 6
Programs, 1923
Scope and Contents
University of Southern California Program of Commencement Exercises.
Box 5, Folder 8
School yearbooks, 1915-1917
Scope and Contents
Custer Intermediate School and Polytechnic High School.
Box 14
Ephemera, 1925-1931
Scope and Contents
Primarily ephemera collected by Peter and Lillie SooHoo.
Extremely brittle.
Box 9, Volume 5
Peter SooHoo's funeral, 1945
Box 5, Folder 9
Speeches, before 1980
Scope and Contents
Related to Peter SooHoo, Sr. by Peter SooHoo, Jr.
Box 6, Folder 1
Stationery, undated
Scope and Contents
Ginling Gift Shop, Peter SooHoo letterheads, and fillers.
Blank.
Box 6, Folder 2
Textbooks, 1928
Scope and Contents
Textbook of One Thousand Characters for Townspeople, volumes 1-4.
Box 6, Folder 3
Thesis, 1942 May
Scope and Contents
The Saga of the Los Angeles Chinese by Edwin R. Bingham.
Box 10, Volume 3
Wedding albums, 1925
Scope and Contents
Peter and Lillie SooHoo's list of dowry and wedding gifts in Chinese.
Box 6, Folder 4
Wills, 1929
Scope and Contents
Peter SooHoo's last will and testament.
Accession CSmH_2021_201
1890s-2013
Physical Description: 3.75 Linear
Feet(5 boxes)
Arrangement
Arranged by subject.
Scope and Contents
Letters, photographs, ephemera, and other documents related to Peter SooHoo, Sr. and
his wife Lillie Leung SooHoo. Includes photographs of the SooHoo and Leung families;
Peter SooHoo, Sr.'s homemade greeting cards and letters to his wife; materials related
to Lillie SooHoo's appointment as Deputy Consul of Republic of China in Los Angeles, and
work with the Los Angeles Chinese Women's Club; and oversize renderings of Chinatown
buildings and concepts from the 1930s. Also includes various publications related to Los
Angeles Chinatown and the Los Angeles Chinese community.
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements
NOT AVAILABLE. Audiovisual items: one VHS tape in box 22 not available for paging until
reformatted. Please contact Reader Services for more information.
Box 19, Folder 1
Cards designed by Peter SooHoo
1930s-1940s
Box 19, Folder 2
Cards designed by Peter SooHoo
1930s-1940s
Box 19, Folder 3
Death and estate
1925-1949
Box 19, Folder 4
Legal documents - Chinatown properties
1938-1941
Box 19, Folder 5
Phone book
approximately 1950s
Box 19, Folder 6
Photographs - family and friends
1890s-1960s
Box 19, Folder 7
Photographs - Los Angeles Chinese Tennis Club
1930s
Box 19, Folder 8
Silver Lake house
approximately 2000s
Box 19, Folder 9
William Leung - copies of letters
1941
Box 20, Folder 1
Lillie SooHoo - correspondence from Peter SooHoo
1920s
Box 20, Folder 2
Lillie SooHoo - Chinese Consulate
1952-1967
Box 20, Folder 3
Lillie SooHoo - Chinese Consulate photographs
1960s
Box 20, Folder 4
Lillie SooHoo - death and estate
1964-1974
Box 20, Folder 5
Lillie SooHoo - Women's Club clippings
1952-1958
Box 20, Folder 6
Lillie SooHoo - Women's Club flyers and announcements
1952-1961
Box 20, Folder 7
Lillie SooHoo - Women's Club scrapbook
1951-1953
Box 21, Folder 1
Publications - Chinatown related
1923-3013
Box 21, Folder 2
Publications - Chinese American Museum
1990s
Box 21, Folder 3
Publications - Chinese documents
undated
Box 21, Folder 4
Publications - miscellaneous
1938-1984
Box 22
Peter SooHoo personal items
1984 and undated
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements
NOT AVAILABLE. Audiovisual items: one VHS tape in box 22 not available for paging
until reformatted. Please contact Reader Services for more information.
Scope and Contents
Television interview with Peter SooHoo on VHS for Los Angeles Chinatown's 50th
anniversary, a woodblock, wallet, and other personal artifacts.
Box 23
Oversize materials
1930s-1960s
Scope and Contents
Renderings of Chinatown's Central Plaza and an oversize wedding photograph.