Him Mark Lai dies at 83; scholar was called dean of Chinese American studies
Him Mark Lai, an engineer by training and historian by avocation whose groundbreaking scholarship and treasure trove of archival documents guided generations of scholars to study the daily lives and struggles of Chinese Americans, died May 21 in San Francisco. He was 83.
The cause was complications of cancer, according to his wife, Laura.
Unassuming but tenacious, Lai was often called the dean of Chinese American studies, a field that did not exist when he taught the first university-level course on Chinese American history in 1969 at San Francisco State.
Although he was never a tenured professor, the bi-literate scholar wrote more than 100 essays and 10 books in English and Chinese, several of which are considered indispensable resources in Chinese American history. His key works include "A History of the Chinese in California, a Syllabus," co-edited with Thomas W. Chinn and Philip P. Choy, and "Outlines: History of the Chinese in America," also written with Choy, who co-taught the 1969 class.
"He was one of the most important historians of Chinese America," said Russell C. Leong, editor of UCLA's Amerasia Journal, who called Lai a historian of the people. "He has done the most to broaden and humanize what it means to be Chinese American, then and now."...
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The cause was complications of cancer, according to his wife, Laura.
Unassuming but tenacious, Lai was often called the dean of Chinese American studies, a field that did not exist when he taught the first university-level course on Chinese American history in 1969 at San Francisco State.
Although he was never a tenured professor, the bi-literate scholar wrote more than 100 essays and 10 books in English and Chinese, several of which are considered indispensable resources in Chinese American history. His key works include "A History of the Chinese in California, a Syllabus," co-edited with Thomas W. Chinn and Philip P. Choy, and "Outlines: History of the Chinese in America," also written with Choy, who co-taught the 1969 class.
"He was one of the most important historians of Chinese America," said Russell C. Leong, editor of UCLA's Amerasia Journal, who called Lai a historian of the people. "He has done the most to broaden and humanize what it means to be Chinese American, then and now."...