Descriptive Summary
Administrative Information
Biographical Note
Related collection:
Scope and Content
Arrangement
Indexing Terms
Descriptive Summary
Title: Roger S. Hong Collection
Dates: 1936-2001
Bulk dates: 1960-1995
Collection Number: archHong
Creator:
Hong, Roger S., 1941-2006.
Extent:
8 flat boxes, 8 rolled-tube boxes, and 15 oversize folders
Repository:
The Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens.
Architecture Collections
1151 Oxford Road
San Marino, California 91108
Phone: (626) 405-2191
Email: reference@huntington.org
URL: http://www.huntington.org
Abstract: Roger S. Hong was an architect who
worked primarily on commercial projects in California from the 1960s-2001. Hong was
actively involved in efforts to revitalize Chinatown in Los Angeles, and the
collection features early drawings of the building of “New Chinatown” in the late
1930s, and proposals by Hong for renovations and improvements in the
1980s-2000s. The collection also includes samples of Hong's other professional projects, as well as his childhood artwork,
student work, and Tau Epsilon Phi fraternity scrapbooks (1960-1962) from the University of Southern California.
Language of Material: The records are in English.
Note:
Finding aid last updated on November 12, 2013.
Administrative Information
Access
Open to qualified researchers by prior application through the Reader Services
Department. For more information, contact Reader Services.
Publication Rights
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 permission rests with the researcher.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], Roger S. Hong Collection, The Huntington Library, San
Marino, California.
Acquisition Information
Gift of Roger S. Hong, June 2006.
Biographical Note
Roger S. Hong (September 23, 1941 - October 27, 2006) was born in Los Angeles,
California, the youngest son of You Chung Hong (Y. C. Hong) and Mabel Hong. He earned his
Bachelor of Architecture degree from the University of Southern California in 1965,
followed by a Master of Science degree in City and Regional Planning in 1968. He was
certified in many states, including California, to practice as a licensed architect.
Some of his notable architectural projects include: the Thomas & Mack Center
arena at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas; the United Bank headquarters (Los Angeles, CA); Kun Lun Hotel
(Beijing, China); Hotel Nikko (Beverly Hills, CA); the Y. C. Hong residence (Los
Angeles, CA); Chieh Shou Sports Park (Taipei, Taiwan); Kaiser Richmond Medical
Center (Richmond, CA); Froedtert Memorial Hospital (University of Milwaukee, WI);
KCET Public Television headquarters (Los Angeles, CA); and various buildings and
facilities in and around the Los Angeles Chinatown area. After working at several
firms, he co-founded the architectural firm Arechaederra/Hong/Treiman Architects in
1981. Hong retired from his firm in 1993 and devoted himself to preserving the Hong
family history, the restoration and preservation of Los Angeles' Chinatown, and
various charitable and community causes.
Hong's father, You Chung Hong (May 4, 1898 - November 8, 1977), was a prominent
Chinese American immigration lawyer based in Los Angeles, California. He is reputed
to be the first Chinese American to pass, in 1923, the California State Bar
exam. Y. C. Hong was also one of the founders of Los Angeles' New Chinatown
(1938).
Related collection:
This collection includes material on Roger Hong's business and community activities, along with many architectural project
files.
Scope and Content
The Roger S. Hong Collection spans the years 1936-2001 and consists primarily of architectural drawings by Los Angeles architect
Roger Hong dating from the 1960s to 2001, as well as earlier drawings of
Los Angeles' New Chinatown (1936-40s) by architects Erle Webster and Adrian Wilson. In the mid-1930s, all of Old Chinatown
was demolished to make way for Union Station.
Many of the displaced families and businesses went to the nearby 900 block of North Broadway and developed New Chinatown.
The drawings by Webster & Wilson show the
development of this historic area of Los Angeles through survey records, street plans and drawings for buildings for You
Chung Hong.
The collection also includes Roger Hong's proposed revitalization plans for Chinatown, 1979-2001. These drawings and Hong's
other professional work in this
collection are primarily for commercial projects. One exception is the Y. C. Hong residence, a modern home designed while
Hong was starting his professional career at
Buff & Hensman and Associates, and constructed in 1969. The collection also includes samplings of Hong's professional
work done while at various firms and in
his capacity as private architectural consultant in the 1990s.
Hong's childhood artwork and work done while he was a student at the University of Southern California are also part of the
collection, including his Tau Epsilon Phi
fraternity scrapbooks, 1960-1962.
Alternative Form of Materials Available
Arrangement
The collection is arranged in the following two series:
- I. Personal papers, approximately 1950-2001
- II. Project plans and drawings, 1936-2001
Indexing Terms
Personal Names
Hong, Roger S.,
1941-2006.
Hong, You Chung,
1898-1977.
Subjects
Architects – California.
Architecture -- California -- Los
Angeles.
Architecture -- Designs and
plans.
Chinese Americans -- California -- Los
Angeles -- History.
Chinese Americans -- Societies,
etc.
Geographic Areas
Chinatown (Los Angeles,
Calif.)
Genre
Architectural drawings.