I had the honor and privilege to work closely with Wellington in documenting the oral history of Salinas Chinatown. This project, which was carried out by CSUMB students, extended from 2008 to 2013. Wellington was our historical director and inspired the students with his own life story of growing up in Chinatown. He was an endless font of knowledge and delighted in sharing the history of the Lee family and the whole community. He was a dedicated archivist and left an amazing photographic collection. He played a key role in the planning grant funded by the National Endowment for the Humanities to convert the Republic Cafe into a museum and cultural center, a project that we still hope to realize. Wellington was a guiding force and founding member of the Asian Cultural Experience. The community owes him a huge debt of gratitude for his dedication and passion in preserving Chinatown’s history. We will miss him immensely. He left us all too soon.
On behalf of the Monterey County Historical Society / Boronda Adobe History Center of Salinas, California, I would like to express my utmost condolences for the passing of Wellington Lee. As President of the Board of Directors of the Monterey County Historical Society, we fully understand and appreciate the significant contributions of so celebrated a community historian.
I had the honor and privilege to work closely with Wellington in documenting the oral history of Salinas Chinatown. This project, which was carried out by CSUMB students, extended from 2008 to 2013. Wellington was our historical director and inspired the students with his own life story of growing up in Chinatown. He was an endless font of knowledge and delighted in sharing the history of the Lee family and the whole community. He was a dedicated archivist and left an amazing photographic collection. He played a key role in the planning grant funded by the National Endowment for the Humanities to convert the Republic Cafe into a museum and cultural center, a project that we still hope to realize. Wellington was a guiding force and founding member of the Asian Cultural Experience. The community owes him a huge debt of gratitude for his dedication and passion in preserving Chinatown’s history. We will miss him immensely. He left us all too soon.
Rina Benmayor
Professor Emerita
Humanities and Communication
CSUMB
On behalf of the Monterey County Historical Society / Boronda Adobe History Center of Salinas, California, I would like to express my utmost condolences for the passing of Wellington Lee. As President of the Board of Directors of the Monterey County Historical Society, we fully understand and appreciate the significant contributions of so celebrated a community historian.