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Transcription: [01:41:49]
{SPEAKER name="Douglas Lee (Interviewee)"}
No one has ever contacted me. And, I don't know how widely this has circulated because the journal that I had it published in,

[01:42:00]
{SPEAKER name="Douglas Lee (Interviewee)"}
the Annals of the Historical Society of the Pacific Northwest was the historical society that I founded.

[01:42:05]
{SPEAKER name="Douglas Lee (Interviewee)"}
And while I was president and editor we published a couple of volumes. And when I moved away from Seattle and well elsewhere, the society eventually folded.

[01:42:17]
{SPEAKER name="Samir Meghelli, Ph.D. (Interviewer)"}
Hmm.

[01:42:19]
{SPEAKER name="Douglas Lee (Interviewee)"}
So, the number of people who know of this article is quite limited, you know, and I did give a copy to the Historical Society of Washington D.C. is that the one you saw?

[01:42:32]
{SPEAKER name="Samir Meghelli, Ph.D. (Interviewer)"}
Yes.

[01:42:34]
{SPEAKER name="Douglas Lee (Interviewee)"}
It has a yellow cover with a round circle with a carp and a salmon representing the Northwest.

[01:42:42]
{SPEAKER name="Douglas Lee (Interviewee)"}
No, this one actually says on it, A Paper Prepared for Presentation at the Second Annual Meeting of the Association for East Asian--

[01:42:49]
{SPEAKER name="Samir Meghelli, Ph.D. (Interviewer)"}
[[crosstalk]] Oh, ok ok so you don't have the published version you have an unpublished version.

[01:42:53]
{SPEAKER name="Samir Meghelli, Ph.D. (Interviewer)"}
Yeah, yeah.

[01:42:54]
{SPEAKER name="Douglas Lee (Interviewee)"}
I should give a copy of this journal to the historical society because I have some extra old copies.

[01:42:59]
{SPEAKER name="Douglas Lee (Interviewee)"}
Ahm, the published form is a little bit different not really significantly different from that paper.

[01:43:07]
{SPEAKER name="Samir Meghelli, Ph.D. (Interviewer)"}
Hmm.

[01:43:07]
{SPEAKER name="Douglas Lee (Interviewee)"}
I did give that paper at a conference now that you -- I recall yes.

[01:43:12]
{SPEAKER name="Douglas Lee (Interviewee)"}
It is kind quite novel I mean, there are a lot of studies on local Chinese American communities in Fresno,

[01:43:26]
{SPEAKER name="Douglas Lee (Interviewee)"}
and here and there, and there have been a number of works on New York, and Boston, and Chicago,

[01:43:33]
{SPEAKER name="Douglas Lee (Interviewee)"}
but hardly anything on Washington D.C. and particularly in that early period.

[01:43:38]
{SPEAKER name="Samir Meghelli, Ph.D. (Interviewer)"}
Yeah I mean I have to say that, even today in 2016 there's probably really only 1 or 2 at most other studies of Washington D.C. --

[01:43:53]
{SPEAKER name="Douglas Lee (Interviewee)"}
Uh-huh. Uh-huh. [[affirmative]]

[01:43:55]
{SPEAKER name="Samir Meghelli, Ph.D. (Interviewer)"}
--Chinatown community. And I think yours is probably still the most extensive.

[01:44:00]
{SPEAKER name="Samir Meghelli, Ph.D. (Interviewer)"}
I mean, those other ones cover a later period as well but I think yours is the most extensively researched.

[01:44:09]
{SPEAKER name="Samir Meghelli, Ph.D. (Interviewer)"}
So, it has stood the test of time.

[01:44:15]
{SPEAKER name="Douglas Lee (Interviewee)"}
Thank you, thank you. I appreciate that.

[01:44:21]
{SPEAKER name="Douglas Lee (Interviewee)"}
Um, I enjoyed doing it, it is one of the works that I'm most proud of, it means a lot to me personally,

[01:44:26]
{SPEAKER name="Douglas Lee (Interviewee)"}
I would've loved to have translated it into Chinese and shown it to my parents, I think they would've enjoyed it, you know.

[01:44:36]
{SPEAKER name="Douglas Lee (Interviewee)"}
But they -- they both have been gone one died in '67 and one died in '72 so it's been a long time.

[01:44:42]
{SPEAKER name="Douglas Lee (Interviewee)"}
I don't think my sons -- my adult sons have ever even looked at this. [[laughter]]

[01:44:47]
{SPEAKER name="Samir Meghelli, Ph.D. (Interviewer)"}
Oh wow.

[01:44:48]
{SPEAKER name="Douglas Lee (Interviewee)"}
Yeah, so.

[01:44:51]
{SPEAKER name="Douglas Lee (Interviewee)"}
Um, You know, I will be very happy to keep in touch with you. As I said, we're going to go the East Coast next year, um

[01:44:59]
{SPEAKER name="Douglas Lee (Interviewee)"}
If the occasion presents itself and I'm able to get down to D.C. I will certainly like to meet with you.

[01:45:07]
{SPEAKER name="Samir Meghelli, Ph.D. (Interviewer)"}
Yeah, I'd love that.

[01:45:08]
{SPEAKER name="Douglas Lee (Interviewee)"}
And, and I hope you and your colleague will keep in touch.

[01:45:13]
{SPEAKER name="Samir Meghelli, Ph.D. (Interviewer)"}
No, we absolutely will, and you know, part of what we're doing is part of this project, you know,

[01:45:21]
{SPEAKER name="Samir Meghelli, Ph.D. (Interviewer)"}
in some ways the practical outcome is an exhibition that will be opening next September,

[01:45:30]
{SPEAKER name="Samir Meghelli, Ph.D. (Interviewer)"}
And as part of the initiative we're, you know, collecting, either temporarily or permanently, items for our collections and for the exhibition,

[01:45:40]
{SPEAKER name="Samir Meghelli, Ph.D. (Interviewer)"}
so things like photographs, any artifacts and those kinds of things,

[01:45:45]
{SPEAKER name="Samir Meghelli, Ph.D. (Interviewer)"}
and since you did mention that you had photographs and even an original copy of the menu from your parent's restaurant,

[01:45:52]
{SPEAKER name="Samir Meghelli, Ph.D. (Interviewer)"}
I would just like to throw out the idea that, if you would be open to it,

[01:46:00]
{SPEAKER name="Samir Meghelli, Ph.D. (Interviewer)"}
that's something that, you know I think we would love to consider featuring in the exhibition you know as a loan, if you're interested in, you know, keeping it --

[01:46:09]
{SPEAKER name="Douglas Lee (Interviewee)"}
Uh-huh. [[affirmative]]

[01:46:11]
{SPEAKER name="Samir Meghelli, Ph.D. (Interviewer)"}
-- or if not than even potentially a donation.

[01:46:12]
{SPEAKER name="Samir Meghelli, Ph.D. (Interviewer)"}
So I just want to throw that out to you as a possibility and um--

[01:46:17]
{SPEAKER name="Douglas Lee (Interviewee)"}
Sure, sure, sure. This exhibit is on the Chinese in Washington D.C.?

[01:46:21]
{SPEAKER name="Samir Meghelli, Ph.D. (Interviewer)"}
So it's actually broader, we're looking at about seven or so neighbourhoods across Washington D.C with Chinatown being--

[01:46:30]
{SPEAKER name="Douglas Lee (Interviewee)"}
Oh, oh ok. Different ethnic neighbourhoods, different communities?

[01:46:32]
{SPEAKER name="Samir Meghelli, Ph.D. (Interviewer)"}
Yes exactly, and--

[01:46:34]
{SPEAKER name="Douglas Lee (Interviewee)"}
Oh, ok.

[01:46:36]
{SPEAKER name="Samir Meghelli, Ph.D. (Interviewer)"}
-- I mean, as it's turned out, we've just been so, captivated if you will by the history of D.C.'s Chinatown

[01:46:44]
{SPEAKER name="Samir Meghelli, Ph.D. (Interviewer)"}
and really by what we see as a need to better document and preserve the history of D.C.'s Chinatown,

[01:46:50]
{SPEAKER name="Samir Meghelli, Ph.D. (Interviewer)"}
since as I mentioned your paper is probably the best and most extensive thing that was written and that was now thirty some odd years ago and so we've just been particularly taken by the history of the neighbourhood and so --

[01:47:07]
{SPEAKER name="Douglas Lee (Interviewee)"}
Uh-huh, uh-huh, uh-huh. [[affirmative]]

[01:47:08]
{SPEAKER name="Samir Meghelli, Ph.D. (Interviewer)"}
So we're actually, one of the things that we're doing now is we received a grant, a small grant to film some oral history interviews and to create a short video to appear in the exhibition

[01:47:19]
{SPEAKER name="Samir Meghelli, Ph.D. (Interviewer)"}
So we're just working on that, starting to work on that now, and you know we're continuing to do oral histories, we've done a fair amount and so we really appreciate you you know responding to us and --

[01:47:39]
{SPEAKER name="Douglas Lee (Interviewee)"}
Hmm. Uh huh. Well, why don't I go through my photos, and pick out the ones I think are relevant,

[01:47:47]
{SPEAKER name="Douglas Lee (Interviewee)"}
and somehow, I guess I could scan them and then send them to you electronically.

[01:47:57]
{SPEAKER name="Samir Meghelli, Ph.D. (Interviewer)"}
That would be wonderful, yeah.

[01:48:00]
{SPEAKER name="Douglas Lee (Interviewee)"}
Yes, and I will, in regards to the menu, it's a huge menu it's gotta be about maybe 18 inches tall,

[01:48:12]
{SPEAKER name="Douglas Lee (Interviewee)"}
and about a foot wide and it opens up and it's too big to scan but I'll take a photograph of it and just send that to you and if you're interested.

[01:48:22]
{SPEAKER name="Douglas Lee (Interviewee)"}
I could loan it, I might even donate it I don't know what will happen to it after I'm gone so maybe it might be better to donate it I don't know. [[clearing throat]]

[01:48:37]
{SPEAKER name="Douglas Lee (Interviewee)"}
So I can make these arrangements, what is your, what is your timeline?

[01:48:40]
{SPEAKER name="Samir Meghelli, Ph.D. (Interviewer)"}
So, as I mentioned, the actual exhibition itself is slated to open --

[01:48:46]
{SPEAKER name="Douglas Lee (Interviewee)"}
It's next year uh --

[01:48:47]
{SPEAKER name="Samir Meghelli, Ph.D. (Interviewer)"}
Yeah in September of 2017, um --

[01:48:51]
{SPEAKER name="Douglas Lee (Interviewee)"}
Uh-huh. [[affirmative]]

[01:48:52]
{SPEAKER name="Samir Meghelli, Ph.D. (Interviewer)"}
but, you know, the nature of exhibitions is such that, you know, we have quite a long lead time in order for things to be finalized and so --

[01:49:01]
{SPEAKER name="Douglas Lee (Interviewee)"}
Mm-hmm. [[affirmative]]

[01:49:03]
{SPEAKER name="Samir Meghelli, Ph.D. (Interviewer)"}
The timeline is really that by the end of this calendar year,

[01:49:06]
{SPEAKER name="Samir Meghelli, Ph.D. (Interviewer)"}
em, and, you know I have to have a draft of the actual script for the exhibition and a pretty clear sense of what will actually be appearing in the exhibition and then that'll be finalized in the first couple months of 2017.

[01:49:25]
{SPEAKER name="Douglas Lee (Interviewee)"}
Ok. Ok, well right now I'm teaching a couple of Chinese history courses at U.C. Berkeley and elsewhere and I'm preparing those two manuscripts for publication so my plate is very full for I would say for the next month or so.

[01:49:44]
{SPEAKER name="Samir Meghelli, Ph.D. (Interviewer)"}
Okay.

[01:49:45]
{SPEAKER name="Douglas Lee (Interviewee)"}
You know.

[01:49:45]
{SPEAKER name="Samir Meghelli, Ph.D. (Interviewer)"}
Yeah.

[01:49:46]
{SPEAKER name="Douglas Lee (Interviewee)"}
After that, I can turn my attention to other things.

[01:49:49]
{SPEAKER name="Samir Meghelli, Ph.D. (Interviewer)"}
No I mean yeah that would be wonderful we would really appreciate that and --

[01:49:54]
{SPEAKER name="Douglas Lee (Interviewee)"}
Mm-hmm.

[01:49:55]
{SPEAKER name="Samir Meghelli, Ph.D. (Interviewer)"}
Yeah, absolutely.

[01:49:57]
{SPEAKER name="Douglas Lee (Interviewee)"}
Okay, well it was nice to talk to you, and if your colleague is still there it was nice to talk to her too.

[01:50:04]
{SPEAKER name="Unnamed Colleague"}
Yes. [[laughter]]

[01:50:05]
{SPEAKER name="Samir Meghelli, Ph.D. (Interviewer)"}
Yes, she's still here as well, yes.

[01:50:07]
{SPEAKER name="Douglas Lee (Interviewee)"}
Oh good.

[01:50:07]
{SPEAKER name="Unnamed Colleague"}
Thank you so much for your time. I speak Mandarin. But I can understand Cantonese.

[01:50:08]
{SPEAKER name="Douglas Lee (Interviewee)"}
Is she Cantonese?

[01:50:08]
{SPEAKER name="Unnamed Colleague"}
I speak Mandarin. But I can understand Cantonese.

[01:50:15]
{SPEAKER name="Douglas Lee (Interviewee)"}
你講國語?聽不懂廣東話?[[English: Do you speak Mandarin? Do you understand Cantonese?]]

[[01:50:20]]
{SPEAKER name="Unnamed Colleague"}
我講國語。我識聽一點點廣東話,但是講得不好。[[English: I speak Mandarin. I understand some Cantonese, but I don't speak it too well.]]

[01:50:25]
{SPEAKER name="Douglas Lee (Interviewee)"}
毋,你講得不錯。哈哈。 [[English: No, You speak not bad. Haha]]

[01:50:28]
{SPEAKER name="Unnamed Colleague"}
多謝。[[English: Thank you]]

[01:50:30]
{SPEAKER name="Douglas Lee (Interviewee)"}
我知道大學仔”天不怕地不怕,最怕廣東人講官話“。哈哈。[[English: I know college people are fearless but they are most afraid of speaking Cantonese. Haha]]

[01:50:38]
{SPEAKER name="Unnamed Colleague"}
是嗎?[[English: Readlly?]]

[01:50:41]
{SPEAKER name="Douglas Lee"}
Okay, nice talking to you both. And just keep in touch. You have my phone number, do you have my email address?

[01:50:49]
{SPEAKER name="Samir Meghelli, Ph.D. (Interviewer)"}
Yes I do.

{SPEAKER name="Douglas Lee (Interviewee)"}
Okay.

[01:50:51]
{SPEAKER name="Samir Meghelli, Ph.D. (Interviewer)"}
Oh and that reminds me, did you happen to receive the release form that I mailed?

[01:50:57]
{SPEAKER name="Douglas Lee (Interviewee)"}
You were sending it by U.S. postage? No, I haven't but it may be coming today or whatever.

[01:51:04]
{SPEAKER name="Samir Meghelli, Ph.D. (Interviewer)"}
Yeah I mean I'd expect it to arrive sometime in the next few days or so.

[01:51:09]
{SPEAKER name="Douglas Lee (Interviewee)"}
Okay, and I will send that back to you immediately so you'll have it.

[01:51:13]
{SPEAKER name="Douglas Lee (Interviewee)"}
Okay great, yeah and I put an envelope inside with the postage on it already so you can just drop it in the mailbox or something.

[01:51:21]
{SPEAKER name="Douglas Lee (Interviewee)"}
Okay! Sounds great and I look forward to working with you.

[01:51:25]
{SPEAKER name="Samir Meghelli, Ph.D. (Interviewer)"}
Likewise, thanks so much and best of luck with the teaching and then the manuscripts which we're very much looking forward to seeing out in the world, and--

[01:51:33]
{SPEAKER name="Douglas Lee (Interviewee)"}
I'll keep you informed.

{SPEAKER name="Samir Meghelli, Ph.D. (Interviewer)"}
And we'll be in touch.

[01:51:36]
{SPEAKER name="Unnamed Colleague"}
And yeah, very looking forward to seeing you maybe sometime next year?

{SPEAKER name="Douglas Lee (Interviewee)"}
Okay, thank you, thank you, bye-bye.

[01:51:41]
{SPEAKER name="Samir Meghelli, Ph.D. (Interviewer)"}
Alright, take care.

{SPEAKER name="Unnamed Colleague"}
Take care. Bye.

[01:51:43]
{SPEAKER name="Douglas Lee (Interviewee)"}
Okay. Bye-bye.


Transcription Notes:
Mandarin/Cantonese transcription revision needed [01:50:30]. Not completely sure what that sentence was. Done with Mandarin/Cantonese transcription.