Chinese Historical Society of Southern California

Chinese Historical Society of Southern California (CHSSC, Chinese: 南加州華人歷史學會; pinyin: Nán Jiāzhōu Huárén Lìshǐ Xuéhuì) is an historical society and organization based in Los Angeles Chinatown, California. There are monthly meetings,[1] field trips,[2] archive and library collections,[3][4][5] oral history projects, scholarships, and publications.[1] [2][3][4][5]

Chinatown Heritage and Visitor Center

History edit

On November 1, 1975, the CHSSC held its founding meeting at Cathay Bank in Los Angeles, California. Its key attendees included Paul Louie, William Mason, and Paul De Falla.[6]

Its mission is:

  • To bring together people with a mutual interest in the important history and historical role of Chinese and Chinese Americans in Southern California;
  • To pursue, preserve and communicate knowledge of this history; and
  • To promote the heritage of the Chinese and Chinese American community in support of a better appreciation of our rich, multi-cultural society.

The CHSSC purchased the site of their present building in Bernard Street in the mid 1990s,[7] constructing a Chinatown Heritage & Visitors Center that is open to the public.[8]

Projects edit

CHSSC has published several books. Duty & Honor was published in 1998, celebrating Chinese American World War II veterans,[9] and Portraits of Pride I (2004) & II (2012),[10] which are collections of the biographies of high achieving but little known Chinese Americans.

In 1992, the society purchased a shrine built in 1880 and 42 surrounding burial places in Evergreen Cemetery, which they restored. It is now a registered historic monument.[7][11]

CHSSC Honorees edit

Each year the Chinese Historical Society of Southern California honors Chinese Americans who have made significant contributions to the greater Los Angeles community. They have included:

In 2019, the CHSSC participated in the "Gatherings: Collecting and Documenting Chinese American History" exhibit for the Museum of Chinese in America.[15]

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ a b Hotharth, Tom (12 January 2017). "Dodgers photographer Jon SooHoo frames his family legacy for Chinese Historical Society". Daily News. Retrieved 27 April 2019.
  2. ^ a b Singh Gee, Alison (26 February 2018). "Beyond Gold Mountain: Yosemite's Chinese American History". Sierra Club. Retrieved 27 April 2019.
  3. ^ a b "Chinese Historical Society of Southern California Collection, ca.1880-1933". digitallibrary.usc.edu. Retrieved 27 April 2019.
  4. ^ a b "Cal State LA class collects history of local Chinese American community". Pasadena Star News. 6 February 2017. Retrieved 27 April 2019.
  5. ^ a b "World War II Chinese American veterans collection". Online Archive of California. Retrieved 27 April 2019.
  6. ^ "Chinese Historical Society of Southern California". chssc.org. Retrieved August 18, 2019.
  7. ^ a b Connie Kang, K. (17 September 1992). "Chinese Group Wins Battle to Buy 1888 Shrine". Los Angeles Times. ISSN 0458-3035. Retrieved 27 April 2019.
  8. ^ Hemmerlein, Sandi (17 January 2017). "Welcome the Coming of Spring With These Lunar New Year Celebrations". KCET. Retrieved 27 April 2019.
  9. ^ Catalogue - Duty & Honor. OCLC 40988527.
  10. ^ "Chinese in California exhibit opens". www.berkeley.edu. 4 August 2005. Retrieved 27 April 2019.
  11. ^ Ni, Ching-Ching (July 25, 2010). "Irvin R. Lai dies at 83; Chinese American community leader in Los Angeles". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 17 January 2016.
  12. ^ CHSSC 2005 Honorees Archived 2008-07-05 at the Wayback Machine
  13. ^ CHSSC 2006 Honorees Archived 2008-07-05 at the Wayback Machine
  14. ^ a b c "Honorees". Chinese Historical Society of Southern California. Retrieved 27 April 2019.
  15. ^ "Mission and History – Chinese Historical Society of Southern California". Retrieved 2024-03-27.

External links edit