A Sacramento Family’s
Legacy of Healing | AANHPI Heritage
Month
From a Gold Rush
herbalist to a modern cancer
surgeon, one Fiddletown family’s
legacy of healing lives on.
The Sacramento
region's AANHPI healing legacy spans
over a century. Pioneers like the
Fiddletown-based Yee family
transitioned from 19th-century
traditional Chinese herbalism and
saving the lives of early California
governors to modern oncology,
perfectly bridging Eastern and
Western medicine.
The Yee family and
the Chew Kee Store (established
1850) represent one of the most
remarkable medical lineages in
California:
• The
Early Years (1862): Herbalist
Dr. Yee Fung Cheung used traditional
herbal remedies to save the life of
California's First Lady, Jane
Stanford. He also provided care to
gold miners and Chinese laborers on
the Transcontinental Railroad using
over 150 medicinal plants and roots
stored in intricately labeled herb
drawers.
•
Generational Evolution: The
legacy of the Yee family continues
into modern times through
practitioners like Dr. David Yee, a
prominent urologic oncologist at
Sutter Health. He bridges historical
cultural roots with contemporary
Western cancer care, honoring his
ancestors.
• Broader
Impact: The Yee family is not
alone in this bridging of care;
figures like Dr. Herbert Yee served
on the California Dental Board in
the mid-20th century, breaking down
racial barriers in the state.
•
Cultural Preservation: You can
still visit or explore historical
sites tied to this Gold Rush and
Delta medical legacy, such as the
Chew Kee Store in Fiddletown or the
historical AAPI museums located in
the nearby Sacramento Delta town of
Locke.
ABC 10
Sacramento Story
The Herbalist’s
Legacy: Dr. Yee Fung Cheung
Most
Californians—even Chinese
Americans—have never heard of
Fiddletown. Yet in the 1850s, this
Gold Rush town was home to over
5,000 Chinese miners, merchants, and
herbalists—the second-largest
Chinese settlement in the U.S.
The Chew Kee Store
Museum—one of the oldest
rammed-earth adobe buildings in
America—is preserved by the
Fiddletown Preservation Society and
listed on the National Register of
Historic Places.
Featuring an
interview with Dr. Franklin Yee, a
nonagenarian descendant of Dr. Yee
Fung Cheung, the famed herbalist,
this broadcast takes viewers inside
the museum and through Chinese
Americans’ Gold Rush history.
Samantha
Yee, Sacramento
Yee Fung Toy Society
of Canada Hosts Tea Reception to
Welcome Johnson Kin Lun Yee
On Tuesday, June 9,
the Yee Fung Toy Society of Canada
hosted a tea reception at Sun Sui
Wah Seafood Restaurant to warmly
welcome Mr. Johnson Kin Lun Yee,
Founding President of the World Yee
Family Association, who had traveled
from Hong Kong for a visit.
During the tea
reception, Mr. Johnson Kin Lun Yee
gathered with Canadian clan members
and held in-depth discussions on the
preparations for the 9th World Yee
Family Association Convention, to be
held from November 13 to 14 this
year in the Gordon Wu Ballroom at B
P International, Hong Kong. They
also exchanged valuable views on
related matters.
The Yee Fung Toy
Society of Canada expressed its
heartfelt gratitude to Mr. Johnson
Kin Lun Yee for taking time out of
his busy schedule to visit. This tea
reception not only strengthened the
friendship and ties among clan
members at home and abroad, further
promoting mutual exchange and
cooperation, but also brought clan
members together. It laid a solid
foundation for carrying forward the
fine traditions of the Yee clan,
advancing clan fellowship, and
supporting the successful convening
of the 9th World Yee Family
Association Convention.
Martin
Yee, Vancouver, Canada
Thailand Yu Clan
Welcomes the Dragon Boat Festival
On the third day of
the fifth lunar month, Wednesday,
June 17, members of the Thailand Yu
Clan Association gathered in
fellowship for a solemn yet
heartwarming ancestral worship
ceremony, welcoming the Dragon Boat
Festival two days in advance.
Filled with
gratitude and blessings, the
gathering offered a meaningful
opportunity to honour the virtues of
our ancestors, preserve our
cherished traditions, and deepen the
bonds that unite our clan.
May our ancestors
bless all members of the Yu family
with peace, good health, and harmony
at home. May our clan continue to
flourish, carrying its legacy
forward from generation to
generation. Wishing everyone peace,
wellness, and a joyful Dragon Boat
Festival!
Fook Biu
Yu, Bangkok, Thailand
Singapore Yee Clan
Delegation Arrives in Sarawak for 45th
Anniversary Celebration
A 19-member
delegation from the Singapore Yee
Clan Association arrived in Sibu on
Friday, June 26, to attend the 45th
anniversary celebration of Persatuan
Klan Yii Sarawak.
Led by Singapore
Yee Clan Association president Boon
Kwee Ee, the delegation departed
from Terminal 1 of Singapore Changi
Airport on a Scoot flight and landed
at Sibu Airport (SBW) in the
afternoon.
The visit marks the
group’s participation in a three-day
programme organized to commemorate
the Sarawak Association’s milestone
anniversary.
Upon arrival,
Sarawak Yii Clan Association
chairman Chao Ren and several
committee members welcomed the
delegation and arranged transport to
Kingwood Hotel Sibu, where the
visitors checked in.
The delegation is
scheduled to attend a welcome dinner
on Friday evening, and an
anniversary banquet the following
night, bringing together clan
members from various regions to
renew ties and strengthen
fellowship.
During their stay,
the visitors are also expected to
experience Sibu and Sarawak’s
cultural diversity, local cuisine
and natural attractions.
This afternoon,
after checking in at the Kingwood
Hotel Sibu, my wife and I took a
short walk to a nearby park along
the Rajang River. We enjoyed the
riverfront scenery and Sibu’s
distinctive charm, marking a
pleasant start to the celebrations
ahead.
Eu Han
Yam, Singapore
Chronicle of the Thai Yee Clan
Association’s Visit to Malaysia
The Thai Yu Clan
Association traveled to Malaysia
to celebrate the 45th anniversary
of the Persatuan Klan Yii Sarawak.
The Thai Yu Clan
Association recently formed a
delegation and traveled to
Malaysia to take part in a series
of commemorative events marking
the 45th anniversary of the
Persatuan Klan Yii Sarawak. The
visit was deeply meaningful,
strengthening fellowship among
clan members from different
countries and highlighting the
enduring bond of the Yee family.
Highlights of
the Itinerary:
Opening of
the Celebration: On the
evening of June 26, the delegation
arrived in Sibu and was invited to
attend a grand welcome dinner held
at the Sheraton Hotel, officially
marking the beginning of the
celebratory visit.
Cultural
Exchange and Grand Gathering:
On the morning of June 27, the
delegation visited the Persatuan
Klan Yii Sarawak clubhouse. In
view of Sibu’s large Foochow
Chinese community, the itinerary
also included a special visit to
the World Fuzhou Shiyi Heritage
Gallery, offering deeper insight
into the area’s diverse Chinese
cultural heritage. That evening,
the centerpiece of the
celebration—the 45th anniversary
commemorative banquet—was held in
grand style at the Kingwood Hotel.
Dozens of banquet tables filled
the venue, where distinguished
guests gathered. In addition to
representatives from Yee clan
associations across Malaysia,
delegations from Thailand,
Singapore, and Bandung, Indonesia
also came together to share in the
occasion.
Continuing
Bonds of Fellowship: On
June 28, the delegation proceeded
to visit the Bintulu Yee Clan
Association, where they were
warmly received by the local
president and clan members. After
lunch, the group continued to the
Persatuan Klan Yu Miri and, that
evening, was invited to dine with
several senior members of the
local Fengcai Hall. Seeing these
elders remain spirited and
vigorous even into their nineties
was both admirable and inspiring.
A Warm
Welcome in Kuching: On June
29, the delegation flew to
Kuching, where they were warmly
welcomed by local clan members.
Clan elder Yee Min Sin, owner of
the Sheraton Hotel in Sibu,
graciously hosted a cordial dinner
at the hotel.
Acknowledgments:
The five-day,
four-night visit was completed
smoothly and successfully. The
Thai Yu Clan Association extends
its sincere appreciation to
President Chao Ren and the finance
team of the Persatuan Klan Yii
Sarawak for their thoughtful
arrangements and attentive
hospitality throughout the trip.
This cross-border bond of kinship
will remain one of the most
treasured memories of the journey,
and we look forward to more
opportunities for exchange and
cooperation in the future.
Fook Biu
Yu, Bangkok, Thailand
Chicago Yee Fung Toy July 4th Picnic
On July 4,
Independence Day in the United
States, members and board members
of the Chicago Yee Fung Toy Family
Association gathered at Half Day
Forest Preserve in Vernon Hills,
Illinois, to spend a warm and
enjoyable time filled with
community fellowship. Located
about a 45-minute drive from
Chicago, this peaceful and
pleasant natural preserve provided
a comfortable and spacious outdoor
setting for the picnic gathering.
Half Day Forest
Preserve covers 243 acres and
features a three-acre fishing
pond, picnic shelters, and a
playground, making it well suited
for hiking, bicycling, family
gatherings, and various outdoor
activities. That day, everyone
gathered in nature, strengthened
their bonds through friendly
conversation, and enjoyed the
relaxed and cheerful holiday
atmosphere.
The activities
were rich, lively, and enjoyable,
including bingo, a cup-stacking
competition, candy tossing, and a
raffle. The venue was filled with
laughter and excitement, leaving
participating relatives, family
members, and friends with happy
and unforgettable memories.
The picnic meal
that day was provided by Popeyes
fried chicken, along with dishes
from Star Light Restaurant.
Located in Chicago’s Chinatown,
Star Light Restaurant is a local
restaurant operated by members of
the Yee family, adding even more
familiar hometown taste and
community fellowship to the
gathering.
Our heartfelt
thanks go to all relatives, family
members, and friends who
participated in and helped prepare
for this picnic, making the event
full of laughter, warmth, and
wonderful memories. We look
forward to gathering again in the
future and continuing the deep
bonds, spirit of unity, and warm
community traditions of the Yee
family.
