St. Louis Chinese American News Records

Collection

Identifier: A3224

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

The records include handwritten plans in Chinese for the first three issues of the newspaper; congratulatory cards; and an invitation, photographs, and negatives from a reception to celebrate the newspaper. The records are dated September 1990 and are arranged chronologically. The handwritten Chinese plans for each of the first three issues were originally housed in binders. The binders included layout pages; a few faxes, notes, and memos on business letterhead; and congratulatory letters in English from Senator John C. Danforth and from the St. Louis Regional Commerce and Growth Association. Both of the letters were printed in the newspaper’s second issue (September 14-20, 1990). The St. Louis Chinese American News hosted an invitation-only cocktail reception at the Chinese Culture Center (8406 Olive Street Road) on September 7, 1990. The invitation is printed in both English and Chinese. A portion of the photographs taken during the reception were printed in the second issue of the paper (f.2). However, people in the photographs are not identified. The reception photographs were originally filed in the back of the Layout Binder for Issue #2 (f.5)

Dates

1990

Creator

St. Louis Chinese American News (1990-) (Saint Louis, Mo.) (Author, Organization)

Conditions Governing Access

The collection is open for research use.

Conditions Governing Use

For permission to publish, quote from, or reproduce material in this collection, please contact the Archives Reference Desk at archives@mohistory.org. Copyright restrictions may apply. The researcher assumes full responsibility for conforming to the laws of copyright.

Historical Sketch

In September 1990, Sandy Tsai and her husband George started publishing a free weekly newspaper, the St. Louis Chinese American News. George Tsai moved to St. Louis in 1983 and opened Baily Inc, a Chinese restaurant supply company. The Tsais formerly owned restaurants in Florida. As the St. Louis Chinese population grew throughout the 1980s, the couple recognized a need in the community for a newspaper. The Tsais were also instrumental in establishing a Chinese Cultural Center and language school. The newspaper is published in Chinese, one of only two non-English publications in St. Louis in 1990. As in the 19th century, one goal for the Chinese newspaper was to assist new immigrants as they settled into a new culture and society. Another aim was to preserve the Chinese language and culture. The St. Louis Chinese American News printed local news and translated national and international news into Chinese. Early staff members included Dachung Pat Peng, editor, and Francis Yueh, a reporter and later chief editor.

Extent

0.24 Cubic Feet ( (6 folders))

Language of Materials

Chinese

Additional Description

Arrangement

Chronological

Physical and Technical Requirements

There are no physical or technical restrictions.

Donor Information

The papers were donated by May Yueh in 2022 (accession number 2022-060).

Separated Materials

The first three issues of the St. Louis Chinese American News are in the MHS Library (September 7-13, September 14-20, and September 21-27, 1990).

Sources Consulted During Processing

1. “Rebirth: Immigration Means New Ethnic Papers,” William Flannery (St. Louis Post-Dispatch, November 5, 1990, p.3). 2. “Chinese Food Supplier Finds Success in Middle of America,” EPPS Hudson (St. Louis Post-Dispatch, December 14, 2007, p.B5).