Chinese American Eyes: Howard Lee and the New Chinatown Souvenir Photograph Folders

Wednesday, July 26, 2023

Howard Lee and the New Chinatown Souvenir Photograph Folders

Howard Kenneth Lee, a photographer, was born Lee Gock How on June 2, 1913 in Canton, China, according to his Petition for Naturalization application dated September 9, 1954.

A passenger list named the cities and dates of the steamship Shinyo Maru’s journey: Hongkong (November 1), Shanghai (November 4), Nagasaki (November 6), Kobe (November 9), Yokohama (November 13), and Honolulu (November 24). Lee and his parents, Lee Court Ming and Hom Chee, arrived in San Francisco, California on December 6, 1916. (See lines 145–147)

Lee married Marie Nishioka, May 22, 1933, in Visalia, California. Marie’s Japanese name, Mariye, was on her father’s Petition for Naturalization application.

The 1937, 1938, 1941 and 1942 Los Angeles, California city directories listed Lee at 2816 Trinity.

The 1940 United States Census said Lee and his wife had three sons, Howard, Curtis and Stephen. Also in the household was his sister-in-law, Hisaye Nishioka. They lived at the same address. Lee was a salesman for wholesale fruit and produce.

On October 16, 1940, Lee signed his World War II draft card. His address was unchanged. Lee was self-employed. He was described as five feet eight inches, 160 pounds, with brown eyes and black hair.

The Los Angeles Examiner, June 25, 1938, published a full-page advertisement inviting the reader to “The Enchanting Charm of Old China in Los Angeles.” The New Chinatown debuted. It’s not clear when the souvenir photographs began at the restaurants. On the back of some of the souvenir photograph folders was “Lee’s Souvenir Photos, 426 East 28th Street, Los Angeles 11, Calif.” The address had a postal zone number that began in 1943.

That address was recorded in the 1950 census for Lee’s family which included a daughter, Lorna. Lee was self-employed in photography.

Lee was naturalized on November 11, 1954.

Lee passed away on June 25, 1983 in Los Angeles. He was laid to rest at Forest Lawn Memorial Park.

Photograph folders

Li Po Cafe, July 2, 1945

Photograph inserted on the left side of the frame.

Golden Pagoda Cafe, October 28, 1945

At some point, five Chinese characters were added to the art.

Rice Bowl, March 14, 1947

Letterpress Printing Block

The name, Lombardi, is near the lower right-hand corner of the cover. How Lombardi got the assignment is unknown. I believe the following person created the artwork.

Adamo Lombardi was a South Italian born on January 13, 1904 in Buenos Aires, Argentina, according to his Declaration of Intention naturalization application dated May 22, 1933. However, his World War II daft card and the Social Security Death Index said his birth year was 1902. On September 27, 1907, Lombardi’s family arrived in the port of New York from Naples, Italy.

Lombardi was naturalized under the name Adam Carl Lombardi on July 10, 1936 in Los Angeles.

The 1938 Los Angeles, California city directory listed Lombardi as a commercial artist at the QRS Neon Corporation. He lived at 1212 South Alvarado.

Lombardi’s 1938 voter registration said he was an artist and Democrat who lived at 1842 West 12th Street.

According to the 1940 United States Census, Lombardi lived with his parents, Vincent and Maria, in Los Angeles at the same address. Lombardi had four years of high school and earned $820 in 1939.

On February 15, 1942, Lombardi signed his World War II draft card. He resided at 1202 South Irolo Street and was a self-employed commercial artist. He named his mother, Carmela Lombardi, as the contact person. (Her middle name, Maria, was used in the 1940 census.)

Lombardi married Francisca R. Nuno on August 25, 1944 in Los Angeles. The marriage information was on his wife’s Petition for Naturalization application.

The 1950 census said Lombardi had four daughters. His family lived at 479 North Serrano Avenue. Lombardi was a commercial artist at a floodlight company.