Family Matriarch LK Lennie Lee (1923–2021) lived a long and productive life. While sorting through her belongings, we discovered a book she had written about her life and times — plus those of our forebears. At the top of the first page, there was a handwritten note:
“Grandmother Lee’s Autobiography.
Note: Needs Corrections and upgrading”
Our family began reviewing her work expecting conventional tales — the Gold Rush, the railroads — but instead, we found astonishing stories. Lennie claimed our ancestors inspired Robert Louis Stevenson’s Treasure Island.
Sojourners To Joke Sings: Tales of Chinatown and Beyond reveals what we uncovered while exploring her claims.
Cathcart Map
of San Francisco’s
Chinatown
While conducting research, a very interesting book came to light by Jim Schein:
Based on the work of photographer/map maker Ken Cathcart, Jim has produced a hand-colorized map of Chinatown in 1947 highlighting historically significant locations in “Dai Fou” (Big City). The map depicts many of the places Lennie referred to and is a wonderful visual aid for the target audience of Sojourners to Joke Sings...young people.
You are invited to take a virtual tour of San Francisco Chinatown. Study the map, then press the button below and a series of icons will appear. Click on any one and a dialogue box will appear giving a little information about the place selected.
Images courtesy of Schein and Schein Inc.
About the Authors
Lennie Lee and son Ron Lee had similar careers as real estate investors and public school teachers. In her spare time, she wrote an extensive autobiography and memoir that included detailed observations of life in San Francisco’s Chinatown beyond the facade of tourism.
Ron spent his free time advocating for a variety of issues involving Asian American Native Hawaiian Pacific Islanders. At Lennie’s request he was directed, along with his two daughters and nephews, to edit and add to her work. The result is an extraordinary adventure story and a description of the entire Chinese diaspora.