Bock Ark papers
Abstract
The papers of Chinese immigrant Bock Ark (1896-1974), a Baltimore restauranteur and active member of the Chinese community, relate to Chinese-American activities in Baltimore and on the East Coast. Subjects include immigration laws, refugee relief, World War II, child welfare, the New Life movement, emergency army training, and Generalissimo and Madame Chiang Kai-Chek. Also included are materials concerning Bock's wife, Sue Bock, who was president of the Chinese Women's Association of Baltimore.
Important Information for Users of the Collection
This collection is open for research.
Bock Ark papers, Special Collections, University of Maryland Libraries.
Photocopies of original materials may be provided for a fee and at the discretion of the curator. Please see our Duplication of Materials policy for more information. Queries regarding publication rights and copyright status of materials within this collection should be directed to the appropriate curator.
This collection is PROCESSED.
Historical Note
Bock Ark was born August 27, 1896 in Toisan, China and came to the United States in 1911. He lived with an uncle who had a laundry in Baltimore, Maryland. While attending Sunday School at Grace and St. Peter's Church he worked in his uncle's laundry. He went back to China in 1920 and married there in 1921. He returned to Baltimore and started a restaurant during World War I at 208 W. Fayette Street. During the depression Mr. Bock closed the restaurant and managed a laundry until 1937.
He became involved in Chinese-American organizations in 1937, becoming president of the Consolidated Chinese Association of Baltimore in 1938. He was also a leader of the Chinese Benevolent Society, Secretary of the Chinese Merchant's Association, and representative of the Chungking Government. In 1944, he started Chunking Restaurant and continued until 1960. He was a prominent figure in Baltimore Chinese affairs and a business leader of the local Chinese community.
His wife, Mrs. Sue Bock, was the president of the Chinese Women's Association of Baltimore and was also active in other Chinese women's associations.
Scope and Contents of the Collection
The Bock Ark papers cover the period from 1938 to 1969.
Important subjects covered in this collection include child welfare, war funds, refugee relief, the New Life movement, foreign exchanges, medical aid, Madame Chang Kai Shek, war bond drives, the movement against Japan, the productive relief fund, contributions, war orphans, emergency army training, Refugee Relief Act, communism, immigration law, the Revolution of March 29, 1910, Chinese history, and linen cloth.
Custodial History and Acquisition Information
Mrs. Bock Ark deposited the Bock Ark papers with the University of Maryland Libraries in 1974.
Processing Information
Processed by HJW, April 22, 1975. Revised by Caitlin Wells, July 6, 2011.
One folder of photographs from the Biographical Print Files was reintegrated back into the collection on July 6, 2011.
EAD markup created using EAD database in Microsoft Access. Markup completed by Jennie A. Levine.
Arrangement of Collection
Organized as three series.
Detailed Description of the Collection
Series 1: Bock Ark, 1938 to 1969 (1.00 linear foot)
There is one series in which folders are arranged alphabetically by organizations and subjects.
Important subjects covered in this collection include child welfare, war funds, refugee relief, the New Life movement, foreign exchanges, medical aid, Madame Chang Kai Shek, war bond drives, the movement against Japan, the productive relief fund, contributions, war orphans, emergency army training, Refugee Relief Act, communism, immigration law, the Revolution of March 29, 1910, Chinese history, and linen cloth.
| Description | Series | Box / Reel | Folder / Frame | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chinese History -- Chronicles, 1910-1939 | series 1 | box 1 | folder 1 | |
| Chinese History -- Heroes of March 29, 1910 Revolution, 1910-1939 | series 1 | box 1 | folder 2 | |
| Chinese Women's Association of Baltimore, undated | series 1 | box 1 | folder 3 | |
| Chinese Women's Association of Baltimore -- Contributions -- and Thank You notes for contributions, undated | series 1 | box 1 | folder 4 | |
| Chinese Women's Association of Baltimore -- List of contributions by association, undated | series 1 | box 1 | folder 5 | |
| Chinese Women's Association of Baltimore -- Financial records, 1941-1945 | series 1 | box 1 | folder 6 | |
| Chinese Women's Association of Baltimore -- Official letters and notices -- From: the Treasury Department Headquarters in Chungking, 1940-1955 | series 1 | box 1 | folder 7 | |
| Chinese Women's Association of Baltimore -- Official letters and notices -- Chinese government. Madame Chang. Ta:sun County Government., 1940-1955 | series 1 | box 1 | folder 8 | |
| Chinese Women's New Life Movement Association, undated | series 1 | box 1 | folder 9 | |
| Chungking Restaurant -- Menu, undated | series 1 | box 1 | folder 10 | |
| Federation of Overseas Chinese Association -- Statement of Anti-Communist Conference of Overseas Chinese in The Americas, 1954-1963 | series 1 | box 1 | folder 11 | |
| Federation of Overseas Chinese Association -- Official notes for anniversary of the Memorial Day, International Women's Day, 1954-1963 | series 1 | box 1 | folder 12 | |
| Federation of Overseas Chinese Association -- Certificates, 1954-1963 | series 1 | box 1 | folder 13 | |
| Goodwill Mission of Chinese Anti-Communists -- Five Chinese anti-communists returnees from Korea, 1954 | series 1 | box 1 | folder 14 | |
| Goodwill Mission of Chinese Anti-Communists -- New York's Rally against Communists, 1954 | series 1 | box 1 | folder 15 | |
| Kuo Min Tang of China in America -- List of Representatives -- certificates, 1964-1970 | series 1 | box 1 | folder 16 | |
| Kwang Tung Sheng Government -- Certificates, 1942 | series 1 | box 1 | folder 17 | |
| Miscellaneous -- Invitation cards, undated | series 1 | box 1 | folder 18 | |
| Miscellaneous -- Receipts of contributions to child welfare and refugee relief, undated | series 1 | box 1 | folder 19 | |
| Miscellaneous -- Post card. New Year card., undated | series 1 | box 1 | folder 20 | |
| National Chinese Welfare Council -- Includes: Rules of the Council, meeting reports, proceedings of national conference, list of members, schedules of meeting, financial reports, resolution of immigration law, New York chapter notices, 1963-67 | series 1 | box 1 | folder 21 | |
| Conference of Chinese Communities in America -- Proceedings, resolutions on Immigration and Refugee Relief Act. -- resolutions of, 1957 | series 1 | box 1 | folder 22 | |
| Scrapbook, undated | series 1 | box 1 | folder 23 | |
| Photo Album, undated | series 1 | box 2 | folder 1 | |
Series 2: Memorabilia, 1945-1972 (15 items)
This series consists of name tags, rubber stamps, badges, and pins from Chinese organizations in Baltimore, Maryland. These items are located in the Memorabilia collection, memorabilia items 328-343.
| Description | Series | Box / Reel | Folder / Frame | Item | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Memorabilia | series 2 | box 1 | folder 1 | ||
| Name Tags. cardboard, 3 1/2" x 2", undated | series 2 | box 1 | folder 1 | item 328 | |
| Name Tags. metal pin on 1 1/8"x2 1/8", undated | series 2 | box 1 | folder 1 | item 329 | |
| Stamps, rubber. Chinese Women's Association of Baltimore, undated | series 2 | box 1 | folder 1 | item 330 | |
| Stamps, rubber. Chinese Women's New Life Movement Association of Baltimore, undated | series 2 | box 1 | folder 1 | item 331 | |
| Badges. On Leong Chinese Merchants Association. Convention of Leong, Cleveland, 1948 | series 2 | box 1 | folder 1 | item 332 | |
| Badges. On Leong Chinese Merchants Association. 45th Annual Convention, St. Louis, MO, 1949 | series 2 | box 1 | folder 1 | item 333 | |
| Badges. On Leong Chinese Merchants Association. Dedication and opening of building, 1951 | series 2 | box 1 | folder 1 | item 334 | |
| Badges. On Leong Chinese Merchants Association. 49th Annual Convention, Baltimore, 1953 | series 2 | box 1 | folder 1 | item 335 | |
| Badges. On Leong Chinese Merchants Association. Dedication and opening of building, Boston, MA, 1957 | series 2 | box 1 | folder 1 | item 336 | |
| Badges. Metal shield, 2"x2 1/2" special police officer, Baltimore, 1774, undated | series 2 | box 1 | folder 1 | item 337 | |
| Pins. Anti-communist chinese heroes, 1972 | series 2 | box 1 | folder 1 | item 338 | |
| Pins. Sun Yatt Sen 100th Anniversary, 1972 | series 2 | box 1 | folder 1 | item 339 | |
| Pins. Chinese boys' newspaper [62], 1972 | series 2 | box 1 | folder 1 | item 340 | |
| Pins. V for Victory pin, American and Chinese flags, 1972 | series 2 | box 1 | folder 1 | item 341 | |
| Pins. Circular pin with Chinese flag, 1972 | series 2 | box 1 | folder 1 | item 342 | |
| Sticker. Red Cross sticker, 4"x4", 1945 | series 2 | box 1 | folder 1 | item 343 | |
Series 3: Photographs, Late 1930s (24 prints)
The Photograph series includes 24 black and white prints. Prints include depictions of wounded soldiers; embroidered flags; celebrations of Women's Day in Chungking; children in an orphanage; young and old in a production line making shoes for soldiers; Madam Chiang Kai-Shek giving speeches and receiving awards; the three Sung sisters inspecting hospitals and orphanages; Hilda Yen in pilots uniform circa 1938; people working in the spinning industry; Kuang Ping-chun inspecting and orphanage; female members of the New Life movement; artwork by female New Life members; members of the executive training class of the New Life movement; and an orphanage after Japanese bombardment of Chungking in 1938.
This series has been transferred to the Photograph collection. Photographs that were previously removed to the Biographical Print Files have been reintegrated into the collection.
The box inventory for this series is not currently available online. Please refer to the series description above for a broad description of the materials or contact the department for more information.
Related Material
For other related archival and manuscript collections, please see the following subject guides.
Selected Search Terms
This collection is indexed under the following headings in the University of Maryland Libraries' Catalog. Researchers desiring related materials about these topics, names, or places may search the Catalog using these headings.
Subjects
- Bock, Ark -- 1896-1974.
Names (Added Entries)
- Chiang, May-ling Soong -- 1897-2003.