Peter SooHoo, Sr. papers

Materials related to Peter SooHoo, Sr. and his wife Lillie Leung SooHoo, particularly Peter SooHoo's role in creating New Chinatown in Los Angeles, California; the couple's involvement in professional and community activities; and their family life.

The first series consists primarily of albums, blueprints, correspondence, ephemera, financial records, and photographs; this material relates to community activities and the construction and opening of New Chinatown in Los Angeles, California. Included is material related to Patricia Herman's "Chinese Village Project" and Christine Sterling's "China City," two tourist destinations conceived in the 1930s. Also included are copies of two lengthy letters written in August 1937 by Peter SooHoo to Los Angeles mayor Frank Shaw, where he explains the importance of New Chinatown. Material related to the Bandini Estate Company is also present due to New Chinatown's location on Bandini Estate property. The albums include photographs and clippings related to the SooHoo's participation in various organizations, and the Chinese American community in Los Angeles.

The second series consists primarily of albums, correspondence, ephemera, and photographs related to Peter SooHoo's family, and his education, personal investments, and work at LADWP. The bulk of the correspondence is from Peter SooHoo to Lillie SooHoo written from Fresno, San Francisco, Seattle, and Washington, D.C. about his activities. Included in the second series are clippings, statements, and sympathy letters related to SooHoo's death in 1945. The albums include photographs and clippings related to SooHoo's wedding, funeral, and ephemera collected by Peter and Lillie.

Note: Although the albums are separated in two series, there may be a small amount of community or personal photographs within either series.

The 2021 addendum includes additional letters, photographs, ephemera, and other documents related to Peter and Lillie SooHoo. There are photographs of the SooHoo and Leung families; Peter SooHoo, Sr.'s handcrafted woodcut greeting cards and letters to Lillie SooHoo; materials related to Lillie SooHoo's appointment as Deputy Consul of the Republic of China in Los Angeles, and work with the Los Angeles Chinese Women's Club; and oversize renderings of Chinatown buildings and concepts from the 1930s. There are also various publications related to Los Angeles Chinatown and the Los Angeles Chinese community.