Asian American Small Business Association

Asian American Small Business Association collection of visual materials, 1991-2001

Descriptive Inventory for the Collection at the Chicago Historical Society

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Main entry: Asian American Small Business Association (Chicago, Ill.)

Title: Asian American Small Business Association collection of visual materials

Dates: 1991-2001

Size:

Call#: 2001.0229 PSM

2 photoprints: b&w; 5 x 7 inches and smaller.

1 calendar: photomechanical print; 8.5 x 11 in.

Call#: 2001.0229 PCP0068

13 photoprints: col; 11 x 14 inches and smaller.

Call#: 2001.0229 PPL

4 posters: photomechanical prints; 11 x 14 inches and smaller.

Call#: 2001.0229 V

10 videotapes

Description of the collection

Includes photographs, posters, 1999 Chinatown calendar, and videotapes relating to activities of the AASBA, headquartered in the Uptown Community Area of Chicago and founded by Charlie Soo, a Chinese immigrant, in the 1970s in order to promote a New Chinatown business district, especially along Argyle Avenue. Members of the organization include restaurants and other businesses operated by people of various Asian American ethnicities, including Vietnamese, Chinese, Laotian, Hmong, Cambodian, and Pacific Islanders. Topics of images include local politicians; Charlie Soo; the CTA elevated train station at Argyle; restaurants, residents, and tourists in Uptown; the Taste of Argyle annual street fair; dragon, rabbit, and snake symbols; and the Chinese Lunar New Year Reception (usually held at a hotel in the Loop).

Finding aid available (2001-229).

Online catalog headings for the collection

Subject headings:

Soo, Charlie,$dd. 2000.

Asian American Small Business Association (Chicago, Ill.)

Asian American Small Business Association (Chicago, Ill.). Chinese Lunar New Year Reception.

Taste of Argyle Avenue.

Asian Americans--Illinois--Chicago--1990-1999.

Chinese Americans--Illinois--Chicago--1990-1999.

Community organization--Illinois--Chicago.

Immigrants--Illinois--Chicago--1990-1999.

Argyle Avenue (Chicago, Ill.)

Uptown (Chicago, Ill.)

Added entries:

Soo, Charlie,$dd. 2000.

Container list

Call #: 2001.0229 PSM:

2 photoprints: b&w; 5 x 7 inches and smaller:

Charlie Soo with Barbara McGowan winning Sanitary District Award, ca. 2000. b&w, 5 x 7 in.

Charlie Soo at podium standing under large AASBA sign, ca. 1990s. b&w, 4 x 6 in.

Calendar, 1999. Spiral bound calendar with images of events in Chicago's Chinatown and of Miss Chicago, Chinatown contestants and winners. 8 3/4 x 11 in.

Call #: 2001.0229 PCP0068:

13 photoprints: col; 11 x 14 inches and smaller:

1. Charlie Soo with President Clinton (w/caption affixed to photo), 7/26/1993. 3 1/2 x 4 3/8 in.

2. Charlie Soo with Illinois Lt. Gov. Corrine Wood, ca. 2000. 4 x 6 in.

3. Charlie Soo with three others being awarded Sanitary District Award, ca. 2000. 4 x 6 in.

4. Charlie Soo with four others being awarded Sanitary District Award, ca. 2000. 4 x 6 in.

5. Charlie Soo alone after being awarded Sanitary District Award, ca. 2000. 4 x 6 in.

6. Charlie Soo with Cardinal Francis George, ca. 2000. 4 x 6 in.

7. Charlie Soo with enlargement of U.S. postage stamp for Chinese New Year, ca. 2000. 3 3/4 x 5 3/4 in.

8. Men carrying dragon on Argyle St. for Lunar New Year Celebration, ca. 2000). 11 x 14 in.

9. Dragon w/ firecrackers exploding in background, Argyle St. Lunar New Year Celebration, ca. 2000. 11 x 14 in.

10. Charlie Soo with two people and holding Argyle St. CTA poster, ca. 1990s. 8 x 10 in.

11. Charlie Soo with Larry King, ca. 1990s. 8 x 10 in.

12. Charlie Soo with Judy Barr Topinka holding CTA/Argyle Street poster, ca. 1990s. 8 x 10 in.

13. Officer Landon Mathesion with arm around woman, 5/27/2000. Photo by Frank Crescenzi. 8 1/2 x 11 in.

Call #: 2001.0229 PPL:

Broadsides:

1. White poster on foam board with black lettering: "WELCOME/TO/NEW YEAR

PARTY/CHARLIE SOO A.A.S.B.A. . . . YEAR OF THE/RABBIT 4697." Includes reproductions of art by Grace Lai: a rabbit and the Argyle Street El platform.

Date: 17 February 1999. 11 1/8 x 17 in.

2. Red poster with white and yellow lettering: "Welcome/To the Chinese New Year Celebration, honoring/the Year of the Snake/4699, and our guests/Charlie Soo/Host." Includes stylized image of a snake designed by Breymeyer Disign & Diamond Colour.

Date: 2001. 11 x 17 in.

3. White Chicago Transit Authority poster: "ARGYLE ST. CHICAGO/Chicago Transit Authority Salutes/ASIAN/AMERICAN/HERITAGE/MONTH." Includes reproduction of art by Grace Lai of the Argyle Street El platform at Argyle and Broadway (7/1991).

Date: ca. 1990s. 14 x 20 in.

4. Red Chicago Transit Authority poster: "Asian/Pacific/Islander Heritage/YEAR/OF THE/DRAGON." Includes three images of dragons. Design by Jerry Hutchins.

Date: 2000. 17 x 11 in.

Call #: 2001.0229 V: Videotapes (10 VHS)

1. Chicago's Asian Village: Urban Success Story. Promotional video created by E/P Productions for AASBA, 1994. VHS approx. 5 min (includes footage with Charlie Soo).

2. Channel 28 (WUCH) coverage of the 10th Annual Small Business Development Conference sponsored by AASBA, 23 October 1999. VHS approx. 1 1/2 min. (includes footage with Charlie Soo).

3. Channel 7 (WLS) "Someone You Should Know" segment by Harry Porterfield on Charlie Soo. VHS approx. 2:20.

4. "Count" Census 2000 public service announcement includes Mayor Richard M. Daley (one version English/one version Spanish). VHS one minute.

"North Side Neighbors Video Magazine" programs (6) broadcast on Prime Cable 35, sponsored by Lake View Realty and produced by Frank Crescenzi to promote business and culture on the North Side (each tape is approx. 15 to 30 minutes).

5. AASBA-Year of the Tiger Chinese Lunar New Year Event, broadcast 13 & 14 Feb. 1998.

6. Chinese Lunar New Year 4697 Year of the Hare event in Uptown, by AASBA, broadcast 26 & 27 Feb. 1999.

7. Chinese Lunar New Year, event in Uptown sponsored by AASBA, broadcast 11 & 12 Feb. 2000.

8. Chinese New Year 4699 Year of the Snake, event in Uptown sponsored by AASBA, broadcast 9 & 10 Feb. 2001.

9. 9th Annual Small Business Development Conference/AASBA meeting on 10/24/1998, broadcast 6 & 7 Nov. 1998.

10. Bug Update; Blood Drive; Charlie Soo with Illinois State Controller touring Uptown businesses and Oz Fest-Children's Museum, broadcast 7 & 8 Aug. 1998.

11th Annual Small Business Development Luncheon sponsored by AASBA, broadcast 3 & 4 Nov. 2000.