Gordon Quan papers

Collection

Identifier: MS 0618

Staff Only

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

This collection contains papers generated by Quan’s political career, as well as papers and newspaper clippings relating to his work with local charities and committees. Also included are various memorabilia, items relating to the local Houston Asian American communities and a variety of awards received by Quan.

Dates

Creation: 1982-2012

Creator

Gordon Quan (Person)

Language of Materials

Materials are in Chinese (newspaper clippings), Spanish (newspaper clippings), Urdu (newspaper clippings) and English.

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.

Use restrictions

Permission to publish from this material must be obtained from the Woodson Research Center, Fondren Library, Rice University.

Biographical Note

Gordon Quan was born in China, though he became an American citizen at birth due to his father being a U.S. servicemember. The Quan family moved to Houston following the Chinese Revolution in 1951. Quan received a degree in History and Government from the University of Texas at Austin. He then returned to Houston, where he taught at E.O. Smith Junior High School, and earned a Master’s Degree in Education from the University of Houston and a law degree from the South Texas College of Law.

Quan founded his immigration firm, Quan, Burdette & Perez PC, in early 1980. In 1999, Quan became the first Asian American to be elected into the Houston City Council in an at large position. In 2001, he was selected by Mayor Lee. P. Brown and the City Council to serve as Mayor Pro-Tem. Quan has also served as president of the board of directors of the Asian Pacific American Municipal Officials organization and held many other positions in various charities and committees throughout Houston. After ending his term on the City Council, Quan returned to practicing law at his firm, which merged with Tindall & Foster PC in 2007 to become Foster Quan LLP.

Extent

4 Linear Feet ( (3 boxes plus digital content))

Additional Description

Abstract

This collection consists of business papers, articles, photographs, and awards created by or about Gordon Quan, immigration lawyer and former Houston City Council member. Also included are articles and items about the Houston community in general and the Houston Asian American community specifically.