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]
History
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
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
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:
2008 - Chinese American Associations — Arcadia Chinese Association, Chinese American Association of Walnut, Diamond Bar Chinese American Association, San Gabriel Valley Chinese American Cultural Association, San Fernando Valley Chinese Cultural Association, South Bay Chinese Woman's Association, South Coast Chinese Cultural Association, South Pasadena Chinese American Club, and Ventura County Chinese American Historical Society[14]
2009 - Chinese Americans in Sports —
Michael Chang (Chinese: 張德培), Tennis player;
Tiffany Chin (Chinese: 陳婷婷), Olympian;
Bob Chow, Olympian;
Norm Chow (Chinese: 周友賢), football Coach; Lawrence Hom, volleyball player; Cameron Inouye, WNBA Referee; Carol Jue, college basketball head coach;
Kim Ng, Los Angeles Dodgers; Jon Soo Hoo, sports photographer;
Richard Tom, Olympian;
Charles B. Wang (Chinese: 王嘉廉), Owner of New York Islanders Hockey Club;
Kevin Wong, volleyball player; Annie Yee, cheerleader; Chinese American Athletic Association; and the Chinatown Firecracker Run Committee[14]
In 2019, the CHSSC participated in the "Gatherings: Collecting and Documenting Chinese American History" exhibit for the
Museum of Chinese in America.[15]