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Collection Guide
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Leong (Gilbert, Florence, and Leslee See) Collection
mssLeong  
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Collection Details
 
Table of contents What's This?
  • Conditions Governing Access
  • Conditions Governing Use
  • Preferred Citation
  • Immediate Source of Acquisition
  • Biographical / Historical
  • Scope and Contents
  • Processing Information
  • Related Materials
  • Arrangement

  • Contributing Institution: The Huntington Library
    Title: Gilbert, Florence, and Leslee See Leong collection
    Creator: Leong family
    Creator: See family
    Identifier/Call Number: mssLeong
    Physical Description: 38.44 Linear Feet (48 boxes, 1 oversize folder)
    Date (inclusive): 1870-2019, bulk 1885-1995
    Abstract: Documents, correspondence, photographs, clippings, and other materials related to the Leong and See families, prominent members of the Los Angeles Chinese community and early business owners in Los Angeles Chinatown. Collection includes items related to individual Leong and See family members, as well as the restaurants and other businesses they operated in Chinatown. There are also materials related to the history and development of Los Angeles Chinatown and the Chinese community in Los Angeles, including Chinatown businesses, churches, and schools, and Chinese American artists, particularly Tyrus Wong.
    Language of Material: Materials are 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.

    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]. Gilbert, Florence, and Leslee See Leong collection, The Huntington Library, San Marino, California.

    Immediate Source of Acquisition

    Gift of Leslee See Leong, February 2020.

    Biographical / Historical

    Gilbert Leong (1911-1996) was an architect, artist, and founder of East West Bank; Florence (Sissie) See Leong (1909-1989) was a prominent Chinatown community leader. Their daughter Leslee Leong (b. 1945) is the current owner of the F. Suie One Co. antiques store in Pasadena, California, a family business since the 1890s. Florence See's father Fong See arrived in the United States from China in 1871, and partnered with his wife Letticie (Ticie) Pruett See to open a shop in Los Angeles Chinatown, which evolved into the F. Suie One Co. The See family also owned and operated the popular Chinatown restaurant Dragon's Den from 1935 to 1943. Gilbert Leong's parents Leung Jeung and Woo Choi Lan were married in China and later settled in the United States. Woo Choi Lan taught Chinese classes to children in Los Angeles and was heavily involved in her church community, while Leung Jeung started a produce business. The Leung family later owned and operated two restaurants: Chinese Garden in Hollywood, from 1928 to 1933, and Soochow in Chinatown, from 1933 to 1968. Both families initially resided in Chinatown, and later moved to other areas of Los Angeles while keeping close business ties to Chinatown. Artist Tyrus Wong was close to both families, attending art school with Gilbert Leong and designing the menus for Dragon's Den.

    Scope and Contents

    Collection materials span the entire history of the See and Leong families in the United States, from the late 19th to the early 21st century, including immigration documentation, business records, and family photographs and correspondence. Business records document the F. Suie One Co. antiques stores, and Dragon's Den, Chinese Garden, and Soochow restaurants. There are also photographs, clippings, and other materials related to the history and development of Los Angeles Chinatown, including the demolition of Old Chinatown, and the Chinese community in Los Angeles, including businesses, churches, and schools. The collection also includes significant original artwork by Chinese American artist Tyrus Wong.

    Processing Information

    Processed to box level by Kelly Kress in December 2021. Collection arrived with materials in loose leaf binders as well as loose items. Some binders were disassembled and materials foldered. Printed lists of contents included with some binders were transferred to the folders. Original binder titles were retained as box and folder titles when possible.

    Related Materials

    Lisa See Collection photCL 624

    Arrangement

    Organized in four series:
    • Series 1. Family papers, 1870-2019, bulk 1895-1990
    • Series 2. Family businesses, 1895-2001
    • Series 3. Tyrus Wong, 1933-2017
    • Series 4. Los Angeles Chinatown and Chinese community, 1894-2017

    Subjects and Indexing Terms

    Calligraphy, Chinese
    Chinatown (Los Angeles, Calif.)
    Chinese American artists
    Chinese Americans -- California -- Los Angeles
    Los Angeles (Calif.)
    Autochromes (photographs)
    Business records
    Drawings (visual works)
    Menus
    Paintings (visual works)
    Photographs
    Leong family
    See family
    Wong, Tyrus