Asian American Small Business Association Records
Scope and Contents
This collection documents activities of the Asian American Small Business Association and its founder and director, Charlie Soo. The bulk of the material consists of news releases and flyers promoting events. It also includes newspaper articles about Argyle Street, letters from Soo, reports, newsletters, and ephemera.
Dates
- 1990 - 2001
Creator
- Soo, Charlie, 1945-2001 (Person)
Conditions Governing Access
Materials are open without restrictions.
Conditions Governing Use
Please consult staff to determine ability to reuse materials from collection.
Biographical / Historical
The Asian American Small Business Association (AASBA) was established by Charlie Soo in 1979 to encourage economic development on Argyle Street from Sheridan Road to Broadway, and on Broadway near Argyle Street. Cecil Partee, head of Chicago’s Department of Human Services, asked Soo to reinvigorate the Argyle Street community. Soo, a graduate of Roosevelt University and a member of several economic development committees, created the AASBA to unite business owners to fight crime, improve streets, revamp the rapid transit station, and increase public awareness of the community. Economic grants were used to fix sidewalks, update facades, and remodel the rapid transit station. Events like Argyle Fest and Chinese New Year aimed to increase awareness of Argyle Street among politicians and the public. Charlie Soo died in 2001, and the group’s activity appears to have ended with his death.
Extent
.75 Linear Feet (in 2 boxes)
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
The Asian American Small Business Association (AASBA) was established by Charlie Soo in 1979 to encourage economic development on Argyle Street from Sheridan Road to Broadway, and on Broadway near Argyle Street. The bulk of the collection consists of news releases and flyers promoting events. It also includes newspaper articles on Argyle Street, letters from Soo, reports, newsletters, and ephemera.
Arrangement
The collection is arranged in three series. Folders within series are arranged alphabetically.
Series 1: Administrative and Historical Files, 1990-2001
This series contains annual reports, news clippings, newsletters, a directory, programs, and biographical information about Charlie Soo.
Series 2: Correspondence and Ephemera, 1990-1999
This series contains Charlie Soo's letters to 48th Ward Alderman Mary Ann Smith and his friends Robert and Marion Krueger. It also contains a small amount of miscellaneous personal ephemera and correspondence.
Series 3: Events and Local Businesses, 1990-1996
This series contains programs, fliers, invitations, reports, and news clippings that document events that the Asian American Small Business Association sponsored and participated in. It also includes a small amount of information about local businesses and organizations.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Donated by Robert Krueger, Marion Krueger, and Charlie Soo.
- Asian American businesspeople Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Community development, Urban Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Uptown (Chicago, Ill.) Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
Creator
- Soo, Charlie, 1945-2001 (Person)
Source
- Krueger, Robert W., 1925-2019 (Donor, Person)
- Krueger, Marion (Donor, Person)
- Soo, Charlie, 1945-2001 (Donor, Person)
- Title
- Guide to the Asian American Small Business Association Records
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Processed by Harry Klinkhamer, 1996. Updated and ingested into ArchivesSpace by Allyson Smally, 2020-2021.
- Date
- 1996
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
- Language of description note
- Finding Aid is written in English.
Repository Details
Part of the Northside Neighborhood History Collection Repository
Sulzer Regional Library
Chicago Public Library
4455 N. Lincoln Avenue
Chicago IL 60625 United States
(312) 742-4455
northsidehistory@chipublib.org