Quote from Alex bobby on March 15, 2025, 4:45 AM

The Rich Legacy of Chinese Americans in Texas: A History Worth Remembering

Texas is home to the third-largest Asian American population in the United States, according to the U.S. Census, with Chinese Americans forming the largest subgroup. Although their history in the Lone Star State is not as widely known as that of their counterparts in California or New York, their contributions are deeply embedded in the nation’s fabric.

Preserving History at Rice University’s Houston Asian American Archive

In an effort to document and share these stories, Rice University established the Houston Asian American Archive (HAAA) in 2009. The archive, spearheaded by co-founder Anne Chao, contains the oral histories of approximately 500 individuals, offering an unfiltered glimpse into the past.

“Oral history gives you a sense of immediacy and maybe more informality. And it’s also unfiltered,” Chao explained. Beyond oral records, the archive also preserves memorabilia and artefacts from Houston’s Asian American community, helping future generations understand their heritage in a city synonymous with energy, space exploration, and innovation.

Albert Gee: A Pioneer in Houston’s Chinese American Community

One of the most well-known Chinese Americans in Houston’s history was Albert Gee. Known as the unofficial mayor of Houston’s Chinese community during the 1960s and 1970s, Gee gained prominence in social and business circles.

Born in Detroit in 1920, Gee’s early life was marked by hardship. After his father’s passing in 1927, his mother took the family back to China, hoping her children would one day return to the U.S. Alone at just 11 years old, Gee re-entered the United States and settled in San Francisco before eventually making his way to Houston with the support of friends and relatives.

In Houston, Gee established successful grocery stores and restaurants, attracting Hollywood celebrities such as Elvis Presley and Bob Hope. Beyond his business ventures, Gee played an instrumental role in helping Chinese immigrants settle and thrive in the city. His legacy continues to be honoured through records housed in HAAA and educational programs in Texas.

Helping Newcomers and Expanding the Community

Albert Gee and his wife, Jane Eng, viewed themselves as Americans while staying connected to their cultural roots. They actively helped new Chinese immigrants establish themselves in Houston, offering housing and support.

The Gee surname became widely recognised in Houston, though not all Gees were related. The history of various Gee families is preserved in the 1998 anthology The Gees in Houston, Texas. One of the anthology’s contributors, Rogene Gee Calvert, shared the story of her father, David Gee, a man whose journey to America was marked by perseverance and hardship.

David Gee: A ‘Paper Son’ Who Built a Life in Texas

David Gee arrived in the United States from China during the era of the Chinese Exclusion Act, which restricted most Chinese immigration while allowing merchants, diplomats, and students to enter. He was 17 years old, but his official documents stated he was four years younger—a practice used by many Chinese immigrants known as “paper sons” or “paper daughters.”

After being detained for nearly a year at the Angel Island Immigration Station, he was eventually granted permission to stay. He first settled in San Francisco before relocating to Houston in 1938 to join a family friend. Later, he returned to San Francisco to marry his wife and brought her to Houston, where he worked in the grocery business and helped build the city’s Chinese American community.

Navigating Jim Crow Laws in Texas

Large-scale Chinese immigration to Houston began in the 1940s and 1950s. At that time, racial segregation laws known as Jim Crow were enforced across the South. However, Houston’s application of these laws was less rigid compared to other Southern states, creating a somewhat more inclusive environment for Chinese immigrants seeking economic opportunities.

“They were just in between and just dependent upon how well the neighbourhood or people accepted them,” said Ted Gong, senior adviser to the Chinese American Museum in Washington.

Despite these challenges, Albert Gee played a pivotal role in integrating Houston’s restaurant industry during the civil rights movement. As president of the Houston Restaurant Association, he contributed to the desegregation of restaurants in the early 1960s—a significant milestone in the city’s history.

Education and Representation: Filling the Gaps in Asian American History

Decades later, Gee’s contributions were honoured in a web comic for Texas students in 2023. The comic is featured on Adventures of Asia, a free educational platform developed by Asia Society Texas. The platform collaborates with HAAA to provide lesson plans called Asia in the Classroom, helping educators integrate Asian American history into their curricula.

“Our Asian American students in particular said they want to see themselves represented in the curriculum,” said Jennifer Kapral, director of education and outreach at Asia Society Texas Center.

Despite the growing Asian American population in the U.S., their historical contributions remain underrepresented in school textbooks. A Pew Research Center study found that the Asian American population nearly doubled between 2000 and 2019, yet an analysis of 30 U.S. history textbooks revealed that Asian American history was barely mentioned—typically receiving only one to two pages in entire textbooks.

Honouring the Past, Inspiring the Future

Today, Asian American Houstonians are actively working to preserve their heritage by documenting their family histories, safeguarding artefacts, and ensuring that the contributions of their ancestors are not forgotten. Thanks to institutions like HAAA and Asia Society Texas, future generations will have access to the stories of perseverance, struggle, and triumph that define the Chinese American experience in Texas.

As Texas continues to evolve, the legacy of Chinese Americans in the state remains an essential part of its history—one that deserves recognition, celebration, and a permanent place in the American narrative. Their journey serves as a testament to resilience and determination, proving that the spirit of community and perseverance continues to thrive in Houston and beyond.