Maxine Gonong Papers, 1943-1983, bulk (1946-1960)

Collection context

Summary

Creators:
Gonong, Maxine M., (Maxima Monje Gonong)
Abstract:
Correspondence, documents, photographs, speech notes, newspaper columns, research notes and clippings, and other materials relating to Gonong's roles as a foreign service officer in the Philippine Consulate General of San Francisco, as a public speaker in that capacity along the West Coast, as a columnist for the Associated Filipino Press, and as an officer and member of several Filipino and women's organizations (government, church, and community-based) in Seattle, San Francisco, and Stockton. Includes some personal papers.
Extent:
1 carton, 2 manuscript boxes (1.8 linear feet)
Language:
Most of the material in this collection is in English, with some correspondence and personal papers in Tagalog.
Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], Maxine M. Gonong Papers (SFH 59), San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library.

Background

Scope and content:

Correspondence, speech drafts, newspaper columns, research notes and clippings, photographs, and other materials relating to Gonong's roles as a foreign service officer at the Philippine Consulate General of San Francisco, as a public speaker in that capacity along the West Coast, as a columnist for the Associated Filipino Press, and as an officer of multiple Filipino and other government, church, and community-based organizations in Seattle, San Francisco, and Stockton. Includes some personal papers, as well as miscellaneous affidavits, residency, and citizenship documents for 1958-1977.

Biographical / historical:

Maxine Gonong (1914-1997) was a Filipina American community leader, activist, writer, and speaker. She came to the United States from the Philippines on a scholarship from University of Seattle when she was 18. During the mid-1940s, she served on the Mayor's City Council and President of the Filipino Community of Seattle. She then moved to San Francisco, got a degree in foreign service from University of San Francisco, and in 1947 got a position as Foreign Service Officer for the Philippine Consulate General, where she worked for a decade. She held many positions and belonged to many organizations in the Filipino community in Seattle, San Francisco, and Stockton, including: President of the Filipino Women's Club of San Francisco; President of the Filipino United Community Organization of America, Inc., San Francisco; Vice President of the Filipino Community of San Francisco, Inc; President of the Women's Society for Christian Service of the Filipino Methodist Church, the Women's Society for Christian Service of the Filipino Methodist Church, San Francisco; and officer of the Ligaya Lodge No. 135 of the Legionarios del Trabajo in America, Inc., a Filipino fraternal organization headquartered in Stockton. Gonong also wrote a column--"News from the City by the Golden Gate"--for the Associated Filipino Press published in Los Angeles; Gonong was married to Cob (Cab?) Cubar Cabaltera in 1975. She died in San Francisco on September 22, 1997.

Acquisition information:
Purchase.
Arrangement:

Materials are arranged according to Gonong's function or role, then by document type.

Physical location:
Open for research. The collection is offsite and advance notice is required for retrieval. Material must be requested at least 4 business days in advance of visit.
Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Access and use

Restrictions:

The collection is open for research and available for use during San Francisco History Center hours. Photographs are available during Photo Desk hours. This collection must be requested at least 4 business days in advance of visit.

Terms of access:

All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the City Archivist. Permission for publication is given on behalf of the San Francisco Public Library as the owner of the physical items.

Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], Maxine M. Gonong Papers (SFH 59), San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library.

Location of this collection:
San Francisco Public Library
100 Larkin Street
San Francisco, CA 94102, US
Contact:
(415) 557-4567