After two years of planning by three founders, Paul Louie, William Mason, and Paul De Falla, CHSSC holds its first meeting in the basement of Cathay Bank in Los Angeles Chinatown. Stan Lau is elected as the first president.

Led by the Yee brothers, CHSSC organizes a flag brigade and marches in the Chinese Chamber of Commerce's Lunar New Year parade in Los Angeles Chinatown for the first time. CHSSC has continued to lead the parade since then.

CHSSC creates by-laws and is incorporated in California as a non-profit

First Gum Saan Journal
CHSSC publishes the first issue of Gum Saan Journal, with Margie Lew as chief editor.

In collaboration with Dr. Lucie Cheng and the Asian American Studies Center at UCLA, CHSSC, led by Suellen Cheng and Munson Kwok, complete an oral history project that interviewed 165 Chinatown community members.

Image Courtesy of Peter Soo Hoo Jr.

In conjunction with the Asian American Studies Center at UCLA, CHSSC publishes its first book, Linking our Lives, about Chinese American women in Los Angeles.

CHSSC along with the Chinese Historical Society of America organize a field trip to San Francisco to visit Chinese American sites.

Fashion Show

CHSSC helps organize this celebration and co-publishes The Golden Years commemorative booklet.

CHSSC helps revive the Moon Festival celebration in Los Angeles Chinatown.

CHSSC organizes a second tour of 19th century Chinese American sites in the Mother Lode.

Led by Stanley Mu, CHSSC organizes a National Chinese American Studies Conference at California State University, Los Angeles.

CHSSC awards its first scholarship for students pursuing research on Chinese American subjects

CHSSC co-sponsors the exhibit "Painting with Light: Life Achievements of James Wong Howe" on the Chinese American cinematographer.

CHSSC purchases two late 19th century Queen Ann style houses at 411 and 415 Bernard Street built by the Fritz family.

These houses become the Chinatown Heritage and Visitors Center, and permanent headquarters for CHSSC.

Phase One of the Chinese memorial's conservation–construction of a protective wall, wrought-iron fence, steps and a gate–was completed in June of 1995 through private donations and a grant from the City of Los Angeles Cultural Affairs Department.

Phase Two–reinforcing and refurbishing of the monument's structural elements and recreation of its center stone or stele– was completed in June, 1997.

CHSSC hosts the 19th-Century Chinese Memorial Shrine restoration completion and re-dedication ceremony.

Field trip to Promontory, Utah to participate in the 130th anniversary of the driving of the Golden Spike that completed the Transcontinental Railroad.

CHSSC publishes this book (edited by Susie Ling) that explores the history of Chinese Americans in Southern California.

Revisiting East Adams captures the history of a Chinese community in downtown Los Angeles from the 1930s to 1950s.

CHSSC becomes involved in the disposition of the disinterment of 128 burials, and artifacts, during the construction of the Metro Gold Line. Of the 128 human remains, 19 were identified as Asian.

CHSSC is notified that Chinese headstones were lining the driveway next to the crematorium at Evergreen Cemetery.

CHSSC completes this oral history project, exploring life in Los Angeles Chinatown during the 1930s and 1940s. Final product includes a booklet and a website. Among participants were CHSSC volunteers and students from the University of California Los Angeles.

The Memorial Wall honors those who were disinterred during the construction of the Metro Gold Line.

Photo by O.C. Lee

CHSSC becomes involved with the historic preservation struggle of this building. Demolition is temporarily averted. The National Trust for Historic Preservation recognizes the site on its America's 11 Most Endangered Sites list.

CHSSC helps organize this trip, which includes hikes to Sing Peak (named after Chinese mountain cook Tie Sing), to roads built by Chinese, and to a historic hotel where a Chinese chef worked.


Sing Peak named for Tie Sing pictured below.

Photo: United States Geological Survey

CHSSC organizes this field trip to celebrate the 100th anniversary of a town built by and for Chinese Americans in the Sacramento Delta.

Assemblyman Frank Bigelow (5th Assembly District) presents CHSSC and Yosemite National Park with a proclamation that recognizes and honors Chinese contributions and the important role the Chinese played in the history of Yosemite National Park and the Sierra Nevada.

Participated in exhibit: Gatherings: Collecting and Documenting Chinese American History

CHSSC was a community partner for C.A.C.A. ceremonies in Los Angeles and Simi Valley. At the four ceremonies, living Chinese American WWII veterans or their families received bronze replicas of the Congressional Gold Medal which was enacted in 2018. A special thanks to Major Generals Robert Lee, Suzanne Vares-Lum and Ted Wong as well as C.A.C.A. National President Melanie Chan.

A virtual exhibit featuring the murals created by Tyrus Wong for Grandview Gardens Restaurant premiers. These unique murals have not been on display since the mid-90s. The exhibit reveals Tyrus's original concepts and drawings for the artwork produced in 1961. Grandview Gardens history, in both Old and New Chinatowns, is also displayed through Wong family interview, photos, artifacts, and newspaper accounts.

At the ribbon cutting ceremony for the newest Metrolink station in Santa Clarita,  CHSSC President Ricky Leo spoke about the contributions of the Chinese in the building of the railroad, including the 7,000 foot long San Fernando Tunnel. The historic plaque that the Historical Society dedicated in 1976 at the nearby Lang Station, which is no longer in operation, was moved to this new location. The 1976 dedication was for the 100th anniversary of the driving of the last golden spike completing the railroad between San Francisco and Los Angeles. He told the crowd about how the 3,000 Chinese laborers who blasted through solid rock, endured intense temperatures and lost lives and limbs to complete the tunnel.

A new plaque honoring all Chinese Railroad Workers was also dedicated.