Opening Hours
Daily: 10 A.M.–5 P.M.
Closed on Tuesdays
1151 Oxford Road
San Marino, CA 91108
Manuscripts
Daily: 10 A.M.–5 P.M.
Closed on Tuesdays
1151 Oxford Road
San Marino, CA 91108
Manuscripts
Group portrait of a twelve member band in traditional Chinese dress. Band members are identified on verso. In the first row, from left to right, are: Howard Leung; Taft Leung; Peter SooHoo; Lillie SooHoo; Monroe Leung; George Chan; Paul Tom; and Arthur Lem. Only two members are identified in the second row, in the middle, are David SooHoo and Tash, the band leader. The men on either side are not identified.
mssSooHoo
Manuscripts
Portrait of Peter SooHoo in a band uniform, the cap says "Director". Signed in corner: Sincerely yours, Peter SooHoo.
mssSooHoo
Manuscripts
Copy images of two pages from an unknown publication that has an image of the Chinese American Citizen Alliance's Band, a description of the band, and listing of the officers and members. Peter SooHoo was the band director.
mssSooHoo
Manuscripts
Image of a band playing in front of the West Gate of New Chinatown during the dedication and grand opening. There is a stage set up under the gate, where Peter SooHoo is standing at the microphone. Also on the stage are Los Angeles Mayor Frank Shaw, California Governor Frank F. Merriam, Princess Der Ling, Anna May Wong, and Mr. T.K. Chang, of the Chinese Council.
mssSooHoo
Image not available
Manuscripts
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.
Image not available
Manuscripts
This collection of items relates to the North American Indian Concert Band and performances from the 1910s as well as attempts to reassemble the band in 1926. The bulk of the letters are from David Russell Hill (director) and Carl Wahler (manager). As a Native American businessman, Hill demanded fair wages for himself and his men. In the middle of negotiating their European tour, Hill wrote to Wahler: "I know the people in Germany think that I am charging an unreasonable high price but Mr. Wahler you realize fully what this means to me, toyou [sic], and to this country..." (May 7, 1910). There are also several letters from Wahler's sons Arthur and Eddie. In one letter, Arthur asks for money to assemble a "coon band" because "it cost running around after these coon" [undated]. The majority of the men in the band came from American Indian Schools. They were trained to play classical and marching band music, not traditional Native American songs. There is a hand-written list of band members that shows many of the men were from Southwestern tribes and a few from the Onondaga. The postcards (mostly duplicates) illustrate the band's elaborate costumes while holding Western instruments. The program from the Red Star Line shows that the band played American and European concert pieces. As a novelty, the band occasionally played stereotypical songs that did not necessarily properly represent the heritage and diversity of the Native American members' tribe. There are two volumes in Box 2. The first volume is a diary of sorts with names of Native American band members, notes pertaining to venues, and financial records from the tour in 1910. There is an index for the second volume and it lists names of band, accounts, postal card account, contracts, transportation, and Hill's pay. Cataloger's note: Some of the material in German.
mssIndianconcert
mssSooHoo