Harry W. Lawton collection on Chinese in California
Collection Scope and Contents
This collection contains newspaper clippings, photographs, documents and other material collected by Harry W. Lawton pertaining to the experiences of 19th-20th century Chinese immigrants in California, primarily in the Inland Empire region of Southern California. Includes material regarding the archaeological dig at the former Chinatown site in Riverside, California, research material that was used in the book Wong Ho Leun: An American Chinatown, and a selection of newspaper clippings compiled by Lawton on the early Chinese immigrants that settled in Southern California.
Dates
- Creation: 1852-1991, undated
- Creation: Majority of material found within 1870-1900
Creator
- Lawton, Harry W., 1927-2005 (Person)
Languages
The collection is primarily in English; material in Chinese is also present.
Access
This collection is open for research.
Publication Rights
Copyright Unknown: Some materials in these collections may be protected by the U.S. Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.C.). In addition, the reproduction, and/or commercial use, of some materials may be restricted by gift or purchase agreements, donor restrictions, privacy and publicity rights, licensing agreement(s), and/or trademark rights. Distribution or reproduction of materials protected by copyright beyond that allowed by fair use requires the written permission of the copyright owners. To the extent other restrictions apply, permission for distribution or reproduction from the applicable rights holder is also required. Responsibility for obtaining permissions, and for any use rests exclusively with the user.
Biographical Note
Harry W. Lawton (1927-2005) was a writer, journalist, editor and historian interested in preserving the history of California. Lawton was best known for his book Willie Boy: A Desert Manhunt and his work to preserve the culture and history of Native American tribes in California. However, he was also heavily involved with the Chinese community of Riverside, California and served as the historian on the Great Basin Foundation's archaeological dig at the former Chinatown site in Riverside, California from 1984-1985. Through this involvement Lawton compiled an extensive collection of research material pertaining to the early Chinese immigrants that settled in California, primarily those in the Inland Empire region of Southern California.
Extent
9.17 Linear Feet (22 boxes)
Abstract
This collection contains newspaper clippings, photographs, documents and other material collected by Harry W. Lawton pertaining to the experiences of 19th-20th century Chinese immigrants in California, primarily in the Inland Empire region of Southern California. Includes material regarding the archaeological dig at the former Chinatown site in Riverside, California, research material that was used in the book Wong Ho Leun: An American Chinatown, and a selection of newspaper clippings compiled by Lawton on the early Chinese immigrants that settled in Southern California.
Collection Arrangement
This collection is arranged into six series as follows:
- Series 1. Los Angeles County, 1852-1895
- Series 2. Orange County, 1878-1887
- Series 3. Riverside County, 1867-1991, undated
- Series 4. San Bernardino County, 1867-1986, undated
- Series 5. San Francisco County, 1877-1900
- Series 6. General, 1872-1991, undated
Acquisition Information
Gift of Harry W. Lawton, 2002.
Processing History
Processed by Brandy Royce, Student Processing Assistant, 2010.
Genre / Form
Geographic
Topical
- Title
- Harry W. Lawton collection on Chinese in California
- Status
- Processed
- Author
- Finding aid prepared by Brandy Royce, Student Processing Assistant.
- Date
- 2013
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
- Language of description note
- Description is in English.
Repository Details
Part of the Manuscript Collections Repository
University of California
Rivera Library
P.O. Box 5900
Riverside 92517-5900 USA
specialcollections@ucr.edu