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Linda Wu and Janita Gee records of the Gee family in Houston

 Collection
Identifier: MS 0878
Finding aid note: 

Content Description

This collection includes sources which document Gee restaurants and/or events, the family of Jane and Albert Gee, and activities of the Chinese American Citizens Alliance (Houston Chapter). Formats include photos (circa 75), letters, plaques, awards, certificates, newspaper clippings, magazine clippings, brochures, pamphlets.

Dates

  • 1955 - 2011

Conditions Governing Access

This material is open for research.

Conditions Governing Use

Permission to publish from this material should be facilitated through the Woodson Research Center.

Biographical / Historical

The Gee family first rose to prominence with C.B. Albert Gee (b. 1920) and his success in the Houston restaurant business. He began working in the industry in 1936, first as an assistant to his uncle Harry Gee, Sr., before opening up restaurants of his own, such as Gee's Kitchen, the Frying Pan, and the Ding How—the latter of which was his first large restaurant. He went on to establish the PolyAsian Restaurants, where Cantonese, Japanese, and Polynesian foods were served. He helped pioneer Chinese take out with the Chinese Oven and Hong Kong Chef restaurants. He served as president of the Houston Restaurant Association from 1961-62 as well as president of the Houston Lodge of the Chinese American Citizens Alliance (CACA), which he helped to found. For the first hundred years or so of CACA's history (founded in 1895), he was the only person not from California to ever serve as the CACA National Grand President. The records in this collection—documenting Albert Gee's recognition in CACA, the Houston community, and the nation—come from his two daughters, Linda Wu and Janita Gee. Wu graduated from the University of Texas, Austin with a degree in fashion merchandising, working in retailing with Joske's of Texas before becoming a real estate broker; she eventually retired, remaining active in Houston's Asian American community and serving as CACA president in 2011. Gee graduated from Texas Christian University and got her master's from San Francisco State College before working as head of the science department at Moreau Catholic High School in Hayward, California.

Extent

4 Linear Feet (4 boxes (2 of plaques / memorabilia, 1 of documents, one of oversize photos and proclamations))

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Overview

This collection includes sources which document Gee restaurants and/or events, the family of Jane and Albert Gee, and activities of the Chinese American Citizens Alliance (Houston Chapter). Formats include photos (circa 75), letters, plaques, awards, certificates, newspaper clippings, magazine clippings, brochures, pamphlets.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Linda Wu and Janita Gee records of the Gee family in Houston, 1955-2011, MS 878, Woodson Research Center, Fondren Library, Rice University

Subjects

Record Groups

Finding Aid & Administrative Information

Title
Guide to the Linda Wu and Janita Gee records of the Gee family in Houston, 1955-2011
Status
Completed
Date
2022
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin

Repository Details

Repository Details

Part of the Woodson Research Center, Rice University, Houston, Texas Repository

https://library.rice.edu/woodson
Contact:
Fondren Library MS-44, Rice University
6100 Main St.
Houston Texas 77005 USA

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Harmful Content Statement
© 2023 Woodson Research Center
Fondren Library, Rice University
Physical Address: 6100 Main, Houston, Texas 77005-1827
Mailing Address: MS-44, P.O. Box 1892, Houston, Texas 77251-1892