Guide to the Chingwah Lee papers M1807
Sara Timby
Department of Special Collections and University Archives
2011 ; revised 2021
Green Library
557 Escondido Mall
Stanford 94305-6064
specialcollections@stanford.edu
Language of Material:
English
Contributing Institution:
Department of Special Collections and University Archives
Title: Chingwah Lee papers
Identifier/Call Number: M1807
Physical Description:
0.5 Linear Feet
(1 box)
Date (inclusive): circa 1920-1980
Abstract: Small collection of material by and about Chinese American writer, actor, art appraiser and scholar Chingwah Lee.
Language of Material: There are a few Chinese-language newspapers and other publications.
Conditions Governing Access
Open for research; material must be requested at least 36 hours in advance of intended use.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Gift of Atha Fong, 2011; purchase, 2012 and 2013. Accessions 2011-006 and 2013-082.
Biographical / Historical
Chingwah Lee was born in 1901 in San Francisco's Chinatown. Three generations on his father's side were art dealers in both
China and America. His mother's side were noted shipbuilders. He was a graduate of the University of California and of the
Chinese Academy. A Chinese American author and editor (Chinese Digest - a cultural Chinese magazine published in English),
actor and movie consultant (The Good Earth, Little Mister Jim, Thirty Seconds over Tokyo, Blood Alley and others), art collector
and consultant, and antiques appraiser and dealer (particularly Chinese ceramic art), he was also active in civic affairs
as a tour guide, eighteen-year director of the Chinese Boy Scout movement, and former secretary of the Chinese branch of the
Y.M.C.A. He died in 1980.
Preferred Citation
[identification of item], Chingwah Lee papers (M1807). Dept. of Special Collections and University Archives, Stanford Libraries,
Stanford, Calif.
Related Materials
Audio recording of Lee available in the H.K. Wong collection (M2021)
https://searchworks.stanford.edu/view/zz535sm0896
Photograph of Chingwah Lee by Cindy Westbrook Hu, 1975 (MISC 1867)
https://searchworks.stanford.edu/view/10321804
Additional postcards of Lee's film work, and at least photograph are in the Philip P. Choy papers (M2521)
https://searchworks.stanford.edu/view/13311530
Scope and Contents
Small collection of material including articles about Chingwah Lee, publicity for his speaking engagements, typescripts for
a Chinatown tour manual, correspondence and records for his art selling and appraisal business, and other ephemera.
Conditions Governing Use
While Special Collections is the owner of the physical and digital items, permission to examine collection materials is not
an authorization to publish. These materials are made available for use in research, teaching, and private study. Any transmission
or reproduction beyond that allowed by fair use requires permission from the owners of rights, heir(s) or assigns
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Chinese Americans.
Chinatown (San Francisco, Calif.)
Art, Chinese -- Collectors and collecting
box 1, folder 1
The Good Earth and Impact postcards
Scope and Contents
Two photo postcards featuring Chingwah Lee meeting with Anna May Wong and Ella Raines of the movie "Impact" (1949), on which
Lee served as a technical consultant. Frank Tanner is listed as the photographer in one of the photos. Both are signed by
Lee in English and Chinese. One depicts Lee sitting between the two women holding a book open for them to see, the other shows
him standing between them pouring tea.
A third photo postcard depicts Lee in costume as Ching, a character in the film "The Good Earth," for which he served as a
talent scout.
box 1, folder 3
Biographies, photographs, personal ephemera
box 1, folder 4
Personal correspondence: legal
box 1, folder 7
"Chang" consignment, 1967
box 1, folder 10
Publicity & event programs
box 1, folder 15
Chinatown tour manual & related
box 1, folder 17
Japanese Houses and Gardens
