Ying On Merchants and Labor Benevolent
Association
Collection Name:
Chinese Documents from Tucson, Arizona, collection
Inclusive Dates:
1913-1968
Physical Description:
10 linear feet
Abstract:
This collection contains personal papers, business records, and related
materials from a Chinese community, the Ying On Merchants and Labor Benevolent
Association of Tucson, Arizona.
Collection Number:
AZ 376
Repository:
University of Arizona Libraries, Special Collections
University of Arizona
PO Box 210055
Tucson, AZ 85721-0055
Phone: 520-621-6423
Fax: 520-621-9733
URL: http://speccoll.library.arizona.edu/
Historical Note
A Chinese community of merchants began to develop in Tucson, Ariz. in
the later half of the 1800's. To maintain their ethnic identity, Chinese men
met in tongs where they could follow their native traditions and speak of home.
A similar organization, The Ying On Association was established in the 1930's
to serve as a boarding house for single Chinese men upon arrival to Tucson,
Ariz. It also served as fraternal organization for elderly Chinese men, and as
a source of assistance for members with business problems. A more detailed
history of this collection is included with the inventory at the repository.
Scope and Content Note
This collection contains personal papers, business records, and related
materials from a Chinese community, the Ying On Merchants and Labor Benevolent
Association of Tucson, Arizona. Included are correspondence with family
members, legal papers, ledger books, bills, receipts, newsletters, gambling
records, photographs of the men, advertising posters, and calendars. Among the
individuals documented are Lee Wee Kuan, Lee Wah Ying, Moon Gar Gin, Gin You
Chung, and Gin Boon Loon. Organizations represented include the Chee Kung Tong,
other tongs, the Suey Ying labor association, the Chinese Anti- Communist
League, and many of the Chinese-operated stores and restaurants in Tucson.
Gambling records are for cards, checkers, dominos, and chess.
Most materials are in Chinese; some printed forms are in English
It is the responsibility of the user to obtain permission to publish
from the owner of the copyright (the institution, the creator of the record,
the author or his/her transferees, heirs, legates, or literary executors). The
user agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Arizona Board of Regents for the
University of Arizona, its officers, employees, and agents from and against all
claims made by any person asserting that he or she is an owner of
copyright.
Access Terms
Personal Name(s)
Chung, Gin You
Gin, Moon Gar
Kuan, Lee Wee
Loon, Gin Boon
Ying, Lee Wah
Corporate Name(s)
Arizona State Museum
Chee Kung Tong -- Records and
correspondence
Tucson Urban Renewal
Project
Ying On Merchants and Labor Benevolent
Association -- Records and correspondence
Geographic Name(s)
Tucson (Ariz.) -- History -- 20th century -- Sources
Tucson (Ariz.) -- Emigration and
immigration
Subject(s)
Chinese -- Arizona -- Tucson -- History
Chinese American business people -- Arizona --
Tucson
Bills and receipts.
, 1950-1959, 1964, 1966 and
undated
7
10
Miscellaneous material.
box
folder
8
1-7
Financial reports.
, January 1952-June
1961
box
folder
9
1-3
Financial reports.
, July 1961-December
1964
9
4-5
Balance sheets, etc.
, 1950-1953
9
6-9
Balance sheets, etc.
, 1956-1959
9
10-11
Balance sheets, etc.
, 1965-1967
box
folder
10
1
Receipt books for rent.
, 1950-1956, 1960,
1966
10
2
Receipt books for yearly dues.
, 1951-1960
10
3
Duplicate rent receipts.
, August 1959-March
1960
10
4
Receipt book with names of those paying yearly dues to the
national Ying On Association.
, August-December
1947
box
11
Receipt books for the sale and purchase of sesame oil.
, 1947, 1950, 1955-1958,
1960
See also Box 19 Oversize for charts listing membership names and
addresses and officers. Box 20 Oversize lists the names, addresses, and
telephone numbers of the members of the Ying On Tucson group.
box
folder
12
1
Ying On Club, Tucson, Ariz, Bills and receipts:
Individually signed notes for "drinks on account."
12
2
Ying On Club, Tucson, Ariz, Bills and receipts: A-1
Distributors, Inc.
, 1956
12
3
Ying On Club, Tucson, Ariz, Bills and receipts:
Buxton-Smith Merchandise Co.
, 1953-1956
12
4
Ying On Club, Tucson, Ariz, Bills and receipts: Pueblo
Sales, Inc., Wholesale Liquor.
, 1955-1956
12
5
Ying On Club, Tucson, Ariz, Bills and receipts:
Ritter-Walker Distributing Co., Wholesale Liquor.
, 1953-1956
12
6
Ying On Club, Tucson, Ariz, Bills and receipts: United
Liquor Supply, Inc.
, 1955-1956
12
7
Ying On Club, Tucson, Ariz, Bills and receipts: Various
food and drink.
, 1951-1956
12
8
Ying On Club, Tucson, Ariz, Bills and receipts:
Maintenance, etc.
, 1951-1967
12
9
Ying On Club, Tucson, Ariz: Daily balance sheets.
, July
1953
12
10
Ying On Club, Tucson, Ariz: Ledger of accounts with
various companies.
, 1946-1949
Chee Kung Tong: Revised By-Laws and list of members.
, 1920
13
6
Chee Kung Tong: Ledger.
, 1914-1924
box
14
Chee Kung Tong: General account book.
, 1920-1934
See also Box 19 Oversize for photographs of the 1923 conference.
box
folder
15
1
Chinese Anti-Communist League, Tucson Branch: Newsletter.
, 1952
15
2
Suey Ying (Labor) Association: Book with accounts,
signatures of members attending meetings and an explanation of the
organization's composition in relation to the Sing Lee Company.
