Lee, Chingwah

Chingwah Lee was born in 1901 in San Francisco's Chinatown. Three generations on his father's side were art dealers in both China and America. His mother's side were noted shipbuilders. He was a graduate of the University of California and of the Chinese Academy. A Chinese-American author and editor (Chinese Digest - a cultural Chinese magazine published in English), actor and movie consultant (The Good Earth, Little Mister Jim, Thirty Seconds over Tokyo and Blood Alley), art collector and consultant, and antiques appraiser and dealer (particularly Chinese ceramic art), he was also active in civic affairs as a tour guide, 18-year director of the Chinese Boy Scout movement, and former secretary of the Chinese branch of the Y.M.C.A. He died in 1980.