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Him Mark Lai

April 12, 2024

Him Mark Lai (Chinese: 麥禮謙; Jyutping: mak6 lai5 him1; pinyin: Mài Lǐqiān; November 1, 1925 – May 21, 2009) was a historian of Chinese American, a leader of the Chinese-American community, and writer. He helped restore the state of Chinese American historiography. Lai "rescued, collected, catalogued, preserved and shared" historical sources in Chinese and English. He was known as the "Dean of Chinese American history"[1] by his academic peers, despite the fact that he was professionally trained as a mechanical engineer with no advanced training in the academic field of history. The Chronicle of Higher Education named Lai "the scholar who legitimized the study of Chinese America".[2]

Him Mark Lai
麥禮謙
Born(1925-11-01)November 1, 1925
San Francisco
DiedMay 21, 2009(2009-05-21) (aged 83)
San Francisco
Alma materUniversity of California, Berkeley



Ancestral hometown: Nanhai district, Foshan city, Guangdong province, China
Occupations
  • Historian
  • mechanical engineer
Websitehimmarklai.org

Early life edit

Lai was born in San Francisco, California on November 1, 1925. At the age of five, Lai attended Chinese school at San Francisco Chinatown's Nom Kue School. Early in his life, Lai showed great aptitude for history. In high school, Lai won first prize at a San Francisco citywide history contest. He attended first in City College of San Francisco for two years and later, he obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in mechanical engineering at the University of California, Berkeley in 1947. In the 1960s, Lai began taking night courses in history at the University of California, Berkeley's extension program. Inspired by his instructor Stanford Lyman, Lai started to pursue research in Chinese American history.[3] As a community activist, Lai joined the Chinese American Democratic Youth League, or Mun Ching, where he met Laura Jung, whom he eventually married in 1953.[4] In 1963, Lai joined the Chinese Historical Society of America, and there he began to accumulate research on Chinese American history. Lai has also curated several exhibits, and taught courses in Chinese American history at San Francisco State University, University of California, Berkeley and City College of San Francisco.

Life edit

Lai was not satisfied with the ways the Chinese American experience had been depicted in mainstream history writing, and so he collaborated with Thomas Chinn and Philip Choy to publish A History of the Chinese in California: A Syllabus, in 1969. With Philip Choy, Lai also wrote History of the Chinese in America: An Outline, in 1972. Lai and Choy used this piece as the foundation to co-teach a course at San Francisco State University in 1969 and also taught the same course at UC Berkeley's Ethnic Studies Department in the 1970s. This course became the basis for understanding the Chinese American experience and agenda for pursuing further research.[5]

In 1973, Lai joined the Chinese Culture Center in San Francisco in order to use his historical knowledge to serve the community. Lai developed an exhibit for the Chinese Culture Center titled Two Centuries of Struggle and Achievement: The Chinese of America 1685- 1980, which eventually traveled to China. In 1984, Lai retired from his work as a mechanical engineer at the Bechtel Corporation in order to concentrate full-time on his historical research. Through extensive research of historical sources, Lai was able to create two compilations- Chinese Newspapers Published in North America, 1854- 1975 with Karl Lo (1977) and A History Reclaimed: An Annotated Bibliography of Chinese Language Materials on the Chinese of America (1986). These can be accessed in the special Him Mark Lai collection in the Asian American Studies Library of Ethnic Studies at the University of California, Berkeley. Beginning in 1987, Lai began publishing a journal series entitled Chinese America: History and Perspectives. Lai has served on board and three times as President of the Chinese Historical Society of America and on board and chair of the Chinese Culture Foundation of San Francisco.

Him Mark Lai's most well-known work is "Island: Poetry and History of Chinese Immigrants on Angel Island, 1910–1940",[6] written in conjunction with Judy Yung and Genny Lim. These three formed the History of Chinese Detained on Island Project (HOC-DOI) to translate the Chinese poetry found on the walls of the Angel Island Immigration Station and to collect oral histories of detainees on Angel Island, based on the specific restrictions of the 1882 Chinese Exclusion Act. Their resulting manuscript was independently published in 1980, and published by University of Washington Press in 1991. Lai joked to a newspaper reporter that "that book is the only one that makes [him] any money."[7]

In 1991 Him Mark Lai and Albert Cheng created the In Search of Roots Program through a partnership with the Chinese Historical Society of America, Chinese Culture Foundation, and the Overseas Chinese Affairs Office from Guangdong, China. This year-long program trains a dozen Chinese American youths how to research their family history through National Archives and Records Administration documents and oral history during the Spring. Each Summer, the students visit their ancestral villages in the Pearl River Delta region of China. Upon their return, the students create a visual display of their genealogy and display it at the Chinese Culture Center during Lunar New Year.

In 2003, the Ethnic Studies Library at UC Berkeley announced their "Him Mark Lai Collection," over 200 feet (61 m) of Lai's private research material, which he donated to the library for use by other scholars.[8]

In 2004, Lai published a seminal study on key organizations and institutions in Chinese America, entitled Becoming Chinese American: A History of Communities and Institutions. Lai became an influential leader of the Chinese Historical Society of America by hosting periodical conferences and publishing volumes of collected research.

In 2007, Him Mark Lai was diagnosed with terminal bladder cancer, yet he continued his research and writing.[9] Lai died at his home on May 21, 2009.[10] He was 83. The cause was complications of cancer, according to his wife, Laura.[11] After his death his work remained the core of the curriculum for Roots: Him Mark Lai Family History project.

The UCLA Asian American Center Press announced plans to publish his autobiography in 2009 or 2010, co-edited by Ruthanne Lum McCunn, Judy Yung, and Russell C. Leong.[12] In 2010 the San Francisco Public Library Commission voted to rename its Chinatown branch after Lai.[13]

Organizations edit

Him Mark Lai was what Albert Lowe calls a "stealth organizer," who was involved in progressive organizations throughout his life, strategically disguised as an interested researcher and scholar, and did not face the same community popularity or governmental scrutiny as higher profile Asian American activists of his era, such as Grace Lee Boggs and Yuri Kochiyama. Nevertheless, he was investigated by the FBI for his activities in Min Qing, as depicted in the 1991 film, The Chinatown Files.[14]

  • Chinese League for Peace and Democracy, San Francisco Chapter
  • Chung Sai Yat Po, volunteer (1949)
  • Min Qing (Mun Ching), (Chinese American Democratic Youth League/Chinese American Youth Club), President (1951–1959)
  • Chinese Historical Society of America (CHSA) (1963–2009)
  • East/West: The Chinese American weekly (1967)
  • Chinese Culture Center (CCC)
  • Chinese for Affirmative Action
  • In Search of Roots Program (1991–2009)

Publications edit

Articles

  • "A Historical Survey of Organizations of the Left Among the Chinese in America," Bulletin of Concerned Asian Scholars (Fall 1972)
  • "Chinese on the Continental U.S.," Harvard Encyclopedia of American Ethnic Groups
  • Encyclopedia of Chinese Overseas and Huaquiao Huaren baike quanshu [Encyclopedia of Chinese and people of Chinese descent overseas]

Manuscripts

  • A History of the Chinese in California: A Syllabus (1969)
  • Island: Poetry and History of Chinese Immigrants on Angel Island, 1910–1940" (1980)
  • A History Reclaimed: An Annotated Bibliography of Chinese Language Materials on the Chinese of America (1986)
  • From Overseas Chinese to Chinese American: History of Development of Chinese American Society during the Twentieth Century (1992, written in Chinese)
  • Becoming Chinese American: A History of Communities and Institutions (2004)
  • Autobiography (forthcoming)

Editor

  • Amerasia Journal, editorial committee.
  • Chinese America: History & Perspectives, Editor (1987–2009)

Education edit

Filmography edit

References edit

  1. ^ "The Scholar Who Legitimized the Study of Chinese America". The Chronicle of Higher Education. January 13, 2000. Retrieved March 24, 2008.
  2. ^ "Glamour and Grace Annual Gala 2008" Chinese Historical Society of America.
  3. ^ Ou. Weiye. "A Brief Biography of Him Mark Lai". Celebrating Him Mark Lai: The Dean of Chinese American Historians.
  4. ^ "Voice and Vision Gala 2010" Chinese Historical Society of America.
  5. ^ Wang, L. Ling-Chi. "Him Mark Lai: A Tribute to the Dean of Chinese American History". Celebrating Him Mark Lai: The Dean of Chinese American Historians.
  6. ^ Him Mark Lai, Judy Yung, Genny Lim. Island: Poetry and History of Chinese Immigrants on Angel Island, 1910–1940 (University of Washington Press, 1991). ISBN 0-295-97109-6
  7. ^ . Oakland Tribune. December 1, 2007. Archived from the original on September 24, 2015. Retrieved March 24, 2008.
  8. ^ . Annotation: The Newsletter of the National Historical Publications and Records Commission. March 2003. Archived from the original on March 27, 2008. Retrieved March 24, 2008.
  9. ^ L.A. Chung, "Documenting Chinese in America", San Jose Mercury News, October 27, 2007.
  10. ^ . UCLA Today. May 27, 2009. Archived from the original on February 26, 2011. Retrieved May 29, 2009.
  11. ^ Elaine Woo June. "Him Mark Lai Dies at 83; Scholar Was Called Dean of Chinese American Studies." Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles Times, 14 June 2009. Web. 11 Sept. 2012.
  12. ^ https://www.overseaschineseconfederation.org/events/Him%20Mark%20Lai%20Tributes.doc[permanent dead link]
  13. ^ Kwong, Jessica (November 6, 2010). "It's in the books: The Chinatown branch has become the city's fifth library to be named after an individual". San Francisco Chronicle.
  14. ^ [1] The Chinatown Files

External links edit

April 12, 2024
mark, chinese, 麥禮謙, jyutping, mak6, lai5, him1, pinyin, mài, lǐqiān, november, 1925, 2009, historian, chinese, american, leader, chinese, american, community, writer, helped, restore, state, chinese, american, historiography, rescued, collected, catalogued, pr. Him Mark Lai Chinese 麥禮謙 Jyutping mak6 lai5 him1 pinyin Mai Lǐqian November 1 1925 May 21 2009 was a historian of Chinese American a leader of the Chinese American community and writer He helped restore the state of Chinese American historiography Lai rescued collected catalogued preserved and shared historical sources in Chinese and English He was known as the Dean of Chinese American history 1 by his academic peers despite the fact that he was professionally trained as a mechanical engineer with no advanced training in the academic field of history The Chronicle of Higher Education named Lai the scholar who legitimized the study of Chinese America 2 Him Mark Lai麥禮謙Born 1925 11 01 November 1 1925San FranciscoDiedMay 21 2009 2009 05 21 aged 83 San FranciscoAlma materUniversity of California Berkeley Ancestral hometown Nanhai district Foshan city Guangdong province ChinaOccupationsHistorian mechanical engineerWebsitehimmarklai wbr org Contents 1 Early life 2 Life 3 Organizations 4 Publications 5 Education 6 Filmography 7 References 8 External linksEarly life editLai was born in San Francisco California on November 1 1925 At the age of five Lai attended Chinese school at San Francisco Chinatown s Nom Kue School Early in his life Lai showed great aptitude for history In high school Lai won first prize at a San Francisco citywide history contest He attended first in City College of San Francisco for two years and later he obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in mechanical engineering at the University of California Berkeley in 1947 In the 1960s Lai began taking night courses in history at the University of California Berkeley s extension program Inspired by his instructor Stanford Lyman Lai started to pursue research in Chinese American history 3 As a community activist Lai joined the Chinese American Democratic Youth League or Mun Ching where he met Laura Jung whom he eventually married in 1953 4 In 1963 Lai joined the Chinese Historical Society of America and there he began to accumulate research on Chinese American history Lai has also curated several exhibits and taught courses in Chinese American history at San Francisco State University University of California Berkeley and City College of San Francisco Life editLai was not satisfied with the ways the Chinese American experience had been depicted in mainstream history writing and so he collaborated with Thomas Chinn and Philip Choy to publish A History of the Chinese in California A Syllabus in 1969 With Philip Choy Lai also wrote History of the Chinese in America An Outline in 1972 Lai and Choy used this piece as the foundation to co teach a course at San Francisco State University in 1969 and also taught the same course at UC Berkeley s Ethnic Studies Department in the 1970s This course became the basis for understanding the Chinese American experience and agenda for pursuing further research 5 In 1973 Lai joined the Chinese Culture Center in San Francisco in order to use his historical knowledge to serve the community Lai developed an exhibit for the Chinese Culture Center titled Two Centuries of Struggle and Achievement The Chinese of America 1685 1980 which eventually traveled to China In 1984 Lai retired from his work as a mechanical engineer at the Bechtel Corporation in order to concentrate full time on his historical research Through extensive research of historical sources Lai was able to create two compilations Chinese Newspapers Published in North America 1854 1975 with Karl Lo 1977 and A History Reclaimed An Annotated Bibliography of Chinese Language Materials on the Chinese of America 1986 These can be accessed in the special Him Mark Lai collection in the Asian American Studies Library of Ethnic Studies at the University of California Berkeley Beginning in 1987 Lai began publishing a journal series entitled Chinese America History and Perspectives Lai has served on board and three times as President of the Chinese Historical Society of America and on board and chair of the Chinese Culture Foundation of San Francisco Him Mark Lai s most well known work is Island Poetry and History of Chinese Immigrants on Angel Island 1910 1940 6 written in conjunction with Judy Yung and Genny Lim These three formed the History of Chinese Detained on Island Project HOC DOI to translate the Chinese poetry found on the walls of the Angel Island Immigration Station and to collect oral histories of detainees on Angel Island based on the specific restrictions of the 1882 Chinese Exclusion Act Their resulting manuscript was independently published in 1980 and published by University of Washington Press in 1991 Lai joked to a newspaper reporter that that book is the only one that makes him any money 7 In 1991 Him Mark Lai and Albert Cheng created the In Search of Roots Program through a partnership with the Chinese Historical Society of America Chinese Culture Foundation and the Overseas Chinese Affairs Office from Guangdong China This year long program trains a dozen Chinese American youths how to research their family history through National Archives and Records Administration documents and oral history during the Spring Each Summer the students visit their ancestral villages in the Pearl River Delta region of China Upon their return the students create a visual display of their genealogy and display it at the Chinese Culture Center during Lunar New Year In 2003 the Ethnic Studies Library at UC Berkeley announced their Him Mark Lai Collection over 200 feet 61 m of Lai s private research material which he donated to the library for use by other scholars 8 In 2004 Lai published a seminal study on key organizations and institutions in Chinese America entitled Becoming Chinese American A History of Communities and Institutions Lai became an influential leader of the Chinese Historical Society of America by hosting periodical conferences and publishing volumes of collected research In 2007 Him Mark Lai was diagnosed with terminal bladder cancer yet he continued his research and writing 9 Lai died at his home on May 21 2009 10 He was 83 The cause was complications of cancer according to his wife Laura 11 After his death his work remained the core of the curriculum for Roots Him Mark Lai Family History project The UCLA Asian American Center Press announced plans to publish his autobiography in 2009 or 2010 co edited by Ruthanne Lum McCunn Judy Yung and Russell C Leong 12 In 2010 the San Francisco Public Library Commission voted to rename its Chinatown branch after Lai 13 Organizations editHim Mark Lai was what Albert Lowe calls a stealth organizer who was involved in progressive organizations throughout his life strategically disguised as an interested researcher and scholar and did not face the same community popularity or governmental scrutiny as higher profile Asian American activists of his era such as Grace Lee Boggs and Yuri Kochiyama Nevertheless he was investigated by the FBI for his activities in Min Qing as depicted in the 1991 film The Chinatown Files 14 Chinese League for Peace and Democracy San Francisco Chapter Chung Sai Yat Po volunteer 1949 Min Qing Mun Ching Chinese American Democratic Youth League Chinese American Youth Club President 1951 1959 Chinese Historical Society of America CHSA 1963 2009 East West The Chinese American weekly 1967 Chinese Culture Center CCC Chinese for Affirmative Action In Search of Roots Program 1991 2009 Publications editArticles A Historical Survey of Organizations of the Left Among the Chinese in America Bulletin of Concerned Asian Scholars Fall 1972 Chinese on the Continental U S Harvard Encyclopedia of American Ethnic Groups Encyclopedia of Chinese Overseas and Huaquiao Huaren baike quanshu Encyclopedia of Chinese and people of Chinese descent overseas Manuscripts A History of the Chinese in California A Syllabus 1969 Island Poetry and History of Chinese Immigrants on Angel Island 1910 1940 1980 A History Reclaimed An Annotated Bibliography of Chinese Language Materials on the Chinese of America 1986 From Overseas Chinese to Chinese American History of Development of Chinese American Society during the Twentieth Century 1992 written in Chinese Becoming Chinese American A History of Communities and Institutions 2004 Autobiography forthcoming Editor Amerasia Journal editorial committee Chinese America History amp Perspectives Editor 1987 2009 Education editNam Kue School San Francisco Chinatown Commodore Stockton Elementary School Francisco Junior High School Galileo High School 1945 Class valedictorian City College of San Francisco 1947 BS in mechanical engineering UC BerkeleyFilmography editThe Chinatown Files 2001 http www filmakers com index php a filmDetail amp filmID 1094 Him Mark Lai The People s Historian 2004 References edit The Scholar Who Legitimized the Study of Chinese America The Chronicle of Higher Education January 13 2000 Retrieved March 24 2008 Glamour and Grace Annual Gala 2008 Chinese Historical Society of America Ou Weiye A Brief Biography of Him Mark Lai Celebrating Him Mark Lai The Dean of Chinese American Historians Voice and Vision Gala 2010 Chinese Historical Society of America Wang L Ling Chi Him Mark Lai A Tribute to the Dean of Chinese American History Celebrating Him Mark Lai The Dean of Chinese American Historians Him Mark Lai Judy Yung Genny Lim Island Poetry and History of Chinese Immigrants on Angel Island 1910 1940 University of Washington Press 1991 ISBN 0 295 97109 6 Chinese American scholar s work going digital Oakland Tribune December 1 2007 Archived from the original on September 24 2015 Retrieved March 24 2008 The Him Mark Lai Collection Reclaiming a History of the Chinese In America Annotation The Newsletter of the National Historical Publications and Records Commission March 2003 Archived from the original on March 27 2008 Retrieved March 24 2008 L A Chung Documenting Chinese in America San Jose Mercury News October 27 2007 In Memoriam Him Mark Lai and Nathan H Shapira UCLA Today May 27 2009 Archived from the original on February 26 2011 Retrieved May 29 2009 Elaine Woo June Him Mark Lai Dies at 83 Scholar Was Called Dean of Chinese American Studies Los Angeles Times Los Angeles Times 14 June 2009 Web 11 Sept 2012 https www overseaschineseconfederation org events Him 20Mark 20Lai 20Tributes doc permanent dead link Kwong Jessica November 6 2010 It s in the books The Chinatown branch has become the city s fifth library to be named after an individual San Francisco Chronicle 1 The Chinatown FilesExternal links editHim Mark Lai Digital Archive Project http himmarklai org established on October 28 2007 by the Chinese Historical Society of America Finding Aid to the Him Mark Lai Papers http content cdlib org ark 13030 kt7r29q3gq retrieved 3 24 2008 Him Mark Lai Heritage Fund https archive today 20130414114435 http www c c c org support hmlheritagefund retrieved 4 12 2020 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Him Mark Lai amp oldid 1217528605, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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