Lee On Dong Association 羅省李氏敦宗公所

       The Lee On Dong Benevolent Association was established in 1935 in Old Chinatown; the present building in New Chinatown was completed in 1959. There were as many as two thousand members in the 1940s, of which a sizable portion was foreign-born Chinese.

Large Crowd in Front of Yee Sing Chong at Bottom Floor of Lee Association Building, circa 1950s

       While its membership is not as large as it used to be, the association continues to attract new immigrants as members. They also host various political and recreational activities today, including hosting banquets and picnics, as well as  providing scholarships to students. They also have a credit union for their members, and their building is open daily for members to convene and play mahjong. Leaders of the Lee On Dong Benevolent Association have also been actively involved in CCBA (and consequently in Chinatown activities), as several members have served as president of the organization  and held other officer positions. Currently, the Lee On Dong Benevolent Association is a part of a national network of Lee family associations that includes over 11 member organizations across the United States. It also remains a Cantonese-language, fraternal organization, with a separate affiliated women’s club

Select from the following interviewees to learn more: