Stockton Chinese Christian Center Collection, 1935-1954

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Summary

Title:
Stockton Chinese Christian Center collection
Dates:
1935-1954
Creators:
Colliver, George
Abstract:
The collection consists of photographs, newspaper clippings, and a 1946 annual report related to the Chinese Christian Center from 1935 to 1954.
Extent:
.5 feet
Language:
Languages represented in the collection: English
Preferred citation:

Stockton Chinese Christian Center collection. MSS 319. Holt-Atherton Department of Special Collections, University of the Pacific Library.

Background

Scope and content:

The collection consists of photographs, newspaper clippings, and a 1946 annual report related to the Chinese Christian Center from 1935 to 1954. The materials were provided by friends and members of the Center. The majority of the contributions came from Dr. and Mrs. Colliver's personal collection. The whole collection was donated in a binder entitled Dr. and Mrs. George H. Colliver's Photo Collection: Highlighting events during the Chinese Christian Center era 1930s-1950s. There are brief synopsis of the center and short biographical sketches of three of the Center's leaders and contributors: Dr. George H. Colliver, Lim Poon Lee, and Bishop Wilbur Wong Yan Choy. The collection also includes a 2007 video created by St. Mark's United Methodist Church entitled The Chinese Christian Center Stockton, California: A Photographic Journey 1935-1954. The video begins with a 15 minute interview with Wilbur Choy from July 10, 2004. The video continues with a slide show of images of Center activities. Some of the images and information about the images included in the slide show are not found in the rest of the collection. The materials offer an insightful look into the times and activities of the young men and women gathering and participating at the Center.

Biographical / historical:

The Chinese Christian Center began as the Chinese Methodist Episcopal Mission which was established as a Methodist Home Mission Project on Hunter Street in Stockton, California in 1905. In 1925 the Mission moved to Lafayette Street and was renamed the Chinese Christian Center in 1941. From 1930-1934 Lim P. Lee was the student pastor of the Mission and was responsible for starting the Boy Scout troop which led to the eventual formation of a boys' club at the local YMCA. Lee was a former student of Rev. Dr. George H. Colliver, who was a professor at the College of the Pacific. In 1936 Dr. Colliver took leadership of the Mission when he was appointed pastor from 1936-1949. Bishop Wilbur Wong Yan Choy was the Associate Pastor of the Center from 1943-1949 and pastor from 1954-1959. In 1955 the Center moved to South San Joaquin Street.

Arrangement:

The main part of the collection, Dr. and Mrs. George H. Colliver's Photo Collection: Highlighting events during the Chinese Christian Center era 1930s-1950s, was donated in binder format. That part of the collection has remained in original order and placed in folders 1.2-1.5.

Physical location:
For current information on the location of these materials, please consult the library's online catalog.
Rules or conventions:
Finding aid prepared using Describing Archives: a Content Standard

About this collection guide

Collection Guide Author:
Processed by Nicole Grady
Date Prepared:
© 2008
Date Encoded:
Machine-readable finding aid created by Nicole Grady. Machine-readable finding aid derived from MS Word. Date of source: August 6, 2008.

Access and use

Restrictions:

Collection open for research.

Terms of access:

Permission for publication is given on behalf of Special Collections as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained by the researcher.

Preferred citation:

Stockton Chinese Christian Center collection. MSS 319. Holt-Atherton Department of Special Collections, University of the Pacific Library.

Location of this collection:
University of the Pacific, Holt-Atherton Department of Special Collections, University Library
Stockton, CA 95211, US
Contact:
(209) 946-2404
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