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In memory: Him Mark Lai (1925-2009) documented Chinese American history

Historian Him Mark Lai once told a reporter he had about 10,000 books in his San Francisco house.

He inspired young Chinese Americans by helping them research their roots. He was, as historian and friend Judy Yung recalled, a giving person and a “walking encyclopedia.”

Working in both English and Chinese, Lai authored more than 100 essays and 10 books, including A History of the Chinese in California, A Syllabus. He was, as people said, the “Dean of Chinese American History.”

Lai, 83, passed away on May 21 from cancer and other complications, the San Francisco-based Chinese Historical Society of America said in an email to supporters. He is survived by Laura, his wife.

On June 20, friends and admirers will hold a 2:30 p.m. celebration of his life at the Chinese Culture Center, 750 Kearny St., in San Francisco.

Yung, who lives in San Francisco, knew Lai for over 40 years. She worked with him on many projects, including the book, Island: Poetry and History of Chinese Immigrants on Angel Island 1910-1940.

Writer Genny Lim also worked on that book with them.

“He was still trying to work at the computer to the very end,” Yung said Tuesday evening in an email.

“…Actually, he was trying to finish his autobiography before he passed away.”

For insight about Lai, Yung pointed to a 2007 speech she gave in his honor:

I have never known Mark to turn away any researcher, writer, or filmmaker who asked for his help. And we all know that we can count on Mark to have the information we need or to tell us where exactly we can find it. More often than not, he will say, ‘I have something on that and I will get Laura to copy and send it to you.’ (Yes, let us not forget to acknowledge Laura Lai, his soul mate and partner in life, for her contributions to his life and to his work.) No Chinese American historian has given so unselfishly of his time, knowledge, and expertise, and in the process made such a great impact in promoting a better understanding of the lives, struggles, and accomplishments of Chinese Americans past and present.

Seattle historian and writer Ron Chew recalled the days when Lai would visit The Wing Luke Asian Museum. Chew is the Seattle museum’s former executive director:

I always looked forward to his seasonal visits to The Wing Luke Asian Museum to pore through documents in our collection that no one else understood. News of his passing makes all of us who knew and respected his work pause and reflect on how deeply he affected our understanding of ourselves. He was way, way ahead of his time. He was a giant in the genre of Chinese American history because of his ability to make sense of both Chinese and English language sources and apply a Chinese American progressive sensibility to his writing. His owlish appearance, low-key manner and his engineering background belied his wit, humor and humanity.

Lai’s parents were immigrants from Guangzhou, China. He was born on Nov. 1, 1925 in San Francisco’s Chinatown.

In a note distributed by the UCLA Asian American Studies Center, writer Ruthanne Lum McCunn said:

Lai joined the Chinese Historical Society of America soon after its founding in 1963.  These events, together with contemporaneous changes in the status of minorities spurred by the Civil Rights movement, led Lai towards developing a Chinese American identity, and in 1967, he accepted a proposal by Maurice Chuck, editor of the bilingual East/West, the Chinese American Weekly to write a series of articles on Chinese American history.  This marked the beginning of Lai’s career in reclaiming the Chinese/American experience – a fortuitous confluence of his passion for history and his deep commitment to his bicultural heritage and democratic principles.

He also taught himself Mandarin, Chinese history, U.S. history and world history, Yung noted.

During vacations, Lai – who was a mechanical engineer - often headed to bookstores and libraries to read new publications and local newspapers, she added. Or he researched Chinese American communities.

His autobiography will be published in 2009-2010, according to a note from Russell Leong, editor of Amerasia Journal at UCLA. Yung, Leong and McCunn will be the book’s co-editors.

“Ruthanne Lum McCunn, Russell Leong, and I promised him we would finish it for him,” Yung said Tuesday.

Said Leong in his note about Lai’s passing:

Him Mark Lai gave Chinese Americans a voice in history because he listened to ordinary people both in America and China and trained himself to read what they felt and thought – in the Chinese language. His legacy challenges us to listen, to think, and to feel more deeply – to untangle, to clarify, and to refine the historical and political record of our lives here.

The Him Mark Lai Digital Archive Project Web site offers more information about him. New America Media posted text from that UCLA note on its blog.

Lai’s family asks that donations be sent to the “Him Mark Lai Digital Archive Project” at the Chinese Historical Society of America, 965 Clay St., San Francisco, Calif. 94108.

If you worked with Lai, considered him a friend or were inspired by him, please feel free to leave a note about what you will remember.

It would be great if you could leave your full name. I’d like to hear more stories about him.

Thanks.

* And thanks to the Chinese Historical Society of America and filmmaker Felicia Lowe for sharing the video about Lai on YouTube.

UPDATE: Read the San Francisco Chronicle’s obituary on his passing.