Exhibit: Santa Barbara Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage, 1870s-1970s
Mary (Yee) Young (1931-)
Loving Mother, Grandmother, and Great-Grandmother; Devoted Sister; and a Lifelong Learner
By Melinda Yamane Crawford
Mary Yee Young
Early Family History
Mary Yee was born on April 9, 1931 in Santa Barbara, CA to Yee Wing Quen (aka Henry Yee), who was born on May 5, 1905 in Canton, China and Chin Lin Que (aka Anna Yee), who was a U.S. citizen born on March 14, 1905 in San Francisco, CA. Mary’s parents were married on May 27, 1925 in San Francisco, CA. Mary was the youngest of four children. Her sister Ella Yee Quan was the eldest; followed by her other sister, Jessie; and next came her brother Joe.
According to Chin Lin Que’s arrival case file, her mother’s parents were Chin Goy Lang and Lee Shee Moy. Her maternal grandfather was a merchant who owned a pawnbroker’s shop in San Francisco prior to his return to China. Her maternal grandmother died in Arizona when her mother was age 3 or 4.
Mary’s paternal grandfather, Yee Wah Yee
Yee Wing Quen’s parents were Yee Wah Yee (1868-1945) and Chin Shee (1876-1934). Her paternal grandfather was a Chinese herbalist and had his own store at 829 Santa Barbara St. When he was not working, Mary recalled how her paternal grandfather was always writing and would paint beautiful Chinese calligraphy onto scrolls.
Between 1932-1934, tragedy struck the family on three occasions with the death of her father’s younger brother, Howard, on October 7, 1932 at age 11; his wife, Chin Lin Que, on June 9, 1934; and his mother, Chin Shee, on June 19, 1934.
Mary’s parents, Wing Quen Yee and Lin Que Chin
As Chinese Arrivals in California
Upon their arrival in San Francisco, CA on September 12, 1916, Mary’s paternal grandmother, Chin Shee, along with family members Yee Wing Kee and Yee Wing Quen, underwent an investigation to determine their eligibility for admission under the Chinese exclusion laws. Yee Wah Yee also participated in his family’s arrival case investigation. Included in his responses was his statement that he first arrived in San Francisco, CA in 1879, that Yee Wing Quen was his biological son, and that Yee Wing Kee was actually his deceased brother’s son and their adopted son.
Growing Up in Santa Barbara Chinatown
Mary’s family lived at 829 ½ Santa Barbara St, which was the upstairs apartment above her grandfather’s store. Within the two-bedroom apartment also lived her grandfather, two uncles (Albert and James), one aunt (Hilda), and Mary and her older siblings, Ella, Jessie and Joe. One bedroom was for the men, and the other was for the women. In the women’s bedroom, there was a single four-drawer chest, and each had one drawer to store all her clothing items.
Mary’s father, Yee Wing Quen, worked a variety of odd jobs throughout his career, working in their laundry on Chapala St., for different grocery stores including one in Arizona. Her father was often away from home but when he was with the family, Mary recalls that he only spoke in Chinese.
The siblings attended Lincoln Elementary School, Santa Barbara Junior High School, and Santa Barbara High School; and Mary’s uncles and aunt also attended at least the latter two schools. Mary, a Sealbearer, graduated with the Class of 1949, along with famed professional baseball player, Eddie Matthews, Jr.
Mary was an outstanding student. Understandably, one of her biggest disappointments in life was that she had received a scholarship from Stanford University but was never able to use it since it was her turn to take care of her father. She did, however, graduate from De Anza College while raising her young family.
Mary shared how her Uncle Al would sometimes take her for a ride in his jalopy and how he loved to fly. During World War II, both her Uncle Al and Uncle Jim were stationed in Burma. Her Uncle Al flew over Burma with the Flying Tigers, delivering supplies and food. Her Uncle Jim would often check Uncle Al’s plane to make sure everything was in order before and after his brother’s missions.
When Mary was about 16-years-old, she worked in the children’s ward at St. Francis Hospital. She had also served as the secretary for Miss Francis Gower, Dean of Girls at Santa Barbara High School until her services were requested at La Cumbre Junior High, where she worked for their principal.
Life After Santa Barbara
Mary and her husband raised their two sons, Steven and Clifford, in Santa Clara County – first in Sunnyvale, CA and then later in Saratoga, CA. Today, Mary remains a proud and devoted mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. She holds dear her many memories of Santa Barbara and her family; and continues to mourn the loss of her older siblings and her older son, Steven.
Acknowledgements
Many thanks to Mary Yee Yong for sharing her family history, stories and photographs; and to Raymond Chong for his support, photos and others contributions.
References
Arrival Case File for Chin Lin Que. Accessed at National Archives at San Francisco, CA. March 31, 2023.
Arrival Case File for Chin Shee. Accessed at National Archives at San Francisco, CA. March 31, 2023.
Arrival Case File for Yee Wing Kee. Accessed at National Archives at San Francisco, CA. March 31, 2023.
“Chin Lin Que Yee”. Daly City, San Mateo County, California, U.S., FindaGrave, 1600s to Current.
Duplicate Certificate of ID for Chin Lin Que. Accessed at National Archives at San Francisco, CA. March 31, 2023.
Duplicate Certificate of ID for Yee Wing Quen. Accessed at National Archives at San Francisco, CA. March 31, 2023.
“Yee Wing Quen”, California, U.S., Federal Naturalization Records, 1843-1999. Accessed on Ancestry.com.
Young, Mary Yee. Interviews with Melinda Yamane Crawford. January 29, February 2, March 30, and April 22, 2023.