Photo: Christmas card 1953. Fom left: Jigi, Albert, Alberta, Lily, Lil and Ron
The Lovely Family
The bios below present a snapshot of the family as of 1954 when the eventful Summer of 1954 letters were exchanged.
Mom
Lily C. C. Ho Quon, born October 18, 1902, in Honolulu. Graduated from Ginling Academy, Nanjing. Named California State “Mother of the Year” by the Golden Rule Foundation in 1945. In 1944, founded the Los Angeles Chinese Women's Club to build bridges between the Chinese community and larger American community; in 1947, it became the first non-Caucasian women's organization accepted into the California Federation of Women's Clubs, with a junior affiliate started in 1953. Also active with the Los Angeles Philharmonic’s International Committee, which was started in 1951.
Dad
Albert Toy Quon, born May 23, 1901, in the Hoi Ping/Sei Yup area of Guangdong. Around 1929, founded Quon-Quon, a wholesale import-export company specializing in ceramics, baskets and other decorative and gift items, after working in his uncle’s retail business of a similar nature, Quon Mane, in San Diego. Located at 1823 South Hope Street with offices eventually in San Francisco, Hong Kong, Bangkok, Singapore, Jakarta, Manila and Tokyo. First Asian to be admitted to the Los Angeles Rotary Club (#5). Started scholarships for Asian students at USC in 1953.
Lily and Albert met at the University of Southern California, graduated in 1928 and married in Nanjing on August 23, 1929, and then again in a ceremony in Seattle. As newlyweds, they lived briefly in LA where eldest daughter Alberta was born, then in San Diego where the other three children were born, and finally settled in LA after 1937.
Residing in 1954 at 714 N. Rodeo Drive, Beverly Hills.
Residing in 1954 at 714 N. Rodeo Drive, Beverly Hills.
Al
Alberta Pauline Quon, born June 19, 1930. Graduated from Berkeley in 1952. Studying interior design at Parson’s School of Design. Residing at 120 Riverside Drive, New York City.
(Given the middle name "Pauline" after the Paul sisters who had lived in China and who hosted Lily when she first returned to the US around 1927).
(Given the middle name "Pauline" after the Paul sisters who had lived in China and who hosted Lily when she first returned to the US around 1927).
Lil
Lillian or Liliane Mae Quon, born August 1, 1932. Completing her studies at University of Southern California. Residing in an on-campus apartment at 1014 West 36th Street, Los Angeles.
Jigi (sometimes spelled "Gigi"; also "G")
Jeannette Quon, born February 12, 1936. Completed her freshman year at Occidental College. Attending summer school at University of Hawaii. Address is 2569 Dole Street (Frear Hall), Honolulu.
Ron
Ronald C. H. Quon, born May 7, 1937. Rising senior at The Webb School. Vacationing and learning to drive.