2003.110.27

Paper bound book used by sisters Bette and Peggy Chinn when they were students at the Chinese School in Oakland. The school was located at 9th and Harrison in the first free public Chinese Community Center, which was sponsored by Joe Shoong Foundation. Students attended class from 4:00 - 6:00 pm when they were young, and from 6:00 - 8:00 pm when they were high school students. Some of the pieces in this collection were also used by Bette's and Peggy's mother, Mary Lew Chinn, and their uncles Peter and Roy Lew. This book appears to be for a slightly older child and contains a story about farmers or servants bringing a large carrot before a king. There are also illustrations of fruits and plant material, ocean waves, large building, etc. In small pencil markings next to many of the chracters are the pronunciations. Stamped on the back of the book, in black, over and over and over and over is "April 99, 1939."

A Chinese text for grade school, titled `New Edition Reader for Teaching' Volume 7. It covered general subjects such as Chinese proverbs and stories, historical and scenic places in China, and Chinese history. (E. Lee May 2005).

Used: Bette Chinn | Peggy Chinn | Chinatown neighborhood | Chinese School | Chinese language