Jack Song and Mary Song Oral History, Transcript

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TranscriberAnna Quan LeonContributorScottsdale Public LibraryIntervieweeJack SongSong, MaryDescriptionJack and Mary Song were restaurant owners in Scottsdale, Arizona. Jack Song was born in Chandler, Arizona in 1929 and moved to Scottsdale before he was a year old. He talks about growing up in Scottsdale, the schools he attended, and being the only Chinese family in the neighborhood. In 1952 he was drafted into the U.S. Army and given only three options: clerk/typist, truck driver or cook—he choose cook. In the 1960's Mr. Song opened China Lil's, one of the first Chinese restaurants in Scottsdale. He talks about other restaurants in Scottsdale and the people who ran them. Mr. Song discusses Scottsdale's redevelopment and the removal of the Scottsdale barrio. In the 1980's he opened a bar and jazz club, J Chew & Co. in downtown Scottsdale. Mr. and Mrs. Song talk about the many performers who visited. Mary Song was born and raised in San Francisco and moved to Scottsdale in the 1980s. In the postscript Mrs. Song talks about the history of China Lil's and what became of it after it closed.SubjectScottsdale (Ariz.)--HistoryChinese Americans--Arizona--BiographyChinese restaurants--Arizona--ScottsdaleBars (Drinking establishments)--Arizona--ScottsdaleJazz musiciansDate Original2011-01-27Date Range1930s (1930-1939)1940s (1940-1949)1950s (1950-1959)1960s (1960-1969)1970s (1970-1979)1980s (1980-1989)1990s (1990-1999)2000s (2000-2009)2010s (2010-2019)TypeTextOriginal FormatTranscriptsLanguageEnglishContributing InstitutionState Archives- Arizona State Library, Archives and Public RecordsCollectionCapturing Arizona's StoriesRights StatementFrom the collection of the History and Archives Division, Arizona State Library, Archives and Public Records. Copyright and/or publication rights for all items in this collection are retained by this institution. For assistance with permission to re-use or other reference questions, please contact the Archives at [email protected]

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City or TownScottsdaleCountyMaricopa CountyStateArizonaCountryUnited States

Oral HistoryJack Song and Mary SongPlaceScottsdaleTopicArt and Creative WorksBusiness and IndustryCommunitiesMilitaryRace and Ethnicity

Administrative

IdentifierSongJM01272011.pdfDate Digitized1905-07-05Digital FormatPDF

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Jack Song and Mary Song Oral History, Transcript