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C.Y. Chu Chinese American photographs, and trade and immigration documents

 Collection
Identifier: MS 0683
Finding aid note: Stored offsite at the Library Service Center and require 24-hour notice for retrieval. Please contact the Woodson Research Center at 713-348-2586 or woodson@rice.edu for more information.

Scope and Contents

Financial records documenting the career and activities of C. Y. Chu. Also included are C. Y. Chu's 1917 middle school diploma, a 1926 U.S. Dept. of Labor return permit, and more.

Photographs of family events and business gatherings. People pictured include C.Y. Chu, Albert Gee, Mr. Parker Gee, Ms. Wanto Chu, Mabel Gee, Mrs. Wing Hon (mother of Judy Gee Chong), Theresa Gee (mother of Rogene Gee Calvert), Helen Gee (wife of Shelton Gee), Shelton Gee, Mamie Gee (wife of Judge Ron Lew, 1st Asian American Federal Judge in the US), and others. Groups include Chinese Baptist Church First Anniversary, Oct. 3, 1954 Chinese Business Men's Dinner, at Timmy Chan Restaurant, Aug. 5, 1956, Houston, TX, unidentified men's dinner group possibly in Albert Gee's Poly-Asian Restaurant, unidentified dinner group at unidentified restaurant.

Dates

  • 1917 - 1971

Conditions Governing Access

This material is open for research.

Stored offsite at the Library Service Center and require 24-hour notice for retrieval. Please contact the Woodson Research Center at 713-348-2586 or woodson@rice.edu for more information.

Conditions Governing Use

Permission to publish from this material must be facilitated through the Woodson Research Center, Fondren Library, woodson@rice.edu.

Biographical / Historical

Chinese American entrepreneur C.Y. Chu opened the Quong Yick grocery store in Houston circa 1930, believed to be the first Chinese-owned grocery in Houston. C.Y Chu went on to help other Chinese start businesses in the U.S., particularly in Houston.

He passed away long before the existence of HAAA. Raymond Gee went through a dumpster at C.Y.’s house after the latter’s death and subsequent housecleaning by the latter’s brother, and rescued these documents. C.Y.Chu helped lots of Chinese men establish their first grocery businesses when they land in Houston, generously opening his home and helping them set up.

Extent

2 Linear Feet (1 box)

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Overview

Financial records documenting the career and activities of C. Y. Chu. Also included are C. Y. Chu's 1917 middle school diploma, a 1926 U.S. Dept. of Labor return permit, and more.

Photographs of family events and business gatherings.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Donated by Raymond Gee via Dr. Anne Chao, 2013.

Subjects

Record Groups

Finding Aid & Administrative Information

Title
Guide to the C.Y. Chu Chinese American trade and immigration documents, 1917-1958
Status
Completed
Author
Amanda Focke
Date
2018
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Language of description note
English

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