Résumé

Draftsman, Andrew Willatzen, Architect, Seattle, WA, c. 1918-1926. On 09/12/1918, Chinn worked in the office of Andrew Willatzen (1876-1974) that was located in Room #422 of the Boston Block in Seattle. He started working here while he was a student at the University of Washington and continued here until at least 1926. (See Seattle, Washington, City Directory, 1926, p. 409.)

Draftsman / Designer, Thomas, Grainger and Thomas, Architects, Seattle, WA, 1928-1934. In 1931, he was listed as a draftsman for Thomas, Grainger and Thomas, Architects. (See Seattle, Washington, City Directory, 1931, p. 351.)

Partner, Bockerman and Chinn, Architects, Seattle, WA, 1937-1938.

Principal, Sam Wing Chinn, Architect, Seattle, WA, 1939-1940.

Architect, Federal Housing Administration (FHA), Seattle, WA, 1940-1963. In 02/1942, the FHA office leased Room #460 of the Dexter Horton Building in Seattle. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation National Archives at St. Louis; St. Louis, Missouri; Wwii Draft Registration Cards For Washington, 10/16/1940-03/31/1947; Record Group: Records of the Selective Service System, 147; Box: 31, accessed 05/11/2023.) He was an Assistant Chief Examiner for the FHA in 1948. (See Seattle, Washington, City Directory, 1948, p. 243.) His title was Assistant Chief Inspector at FHA in 1953. (See Seattle, Washington, City Directory, 1953, p. 255.) in 1955 and 1958, Chinn worked as the Assistant Chief Architect for the Seattle office of the FHA. (See Seattle, Washington, City Directory, 1955, p. 259 and Seattle, Washington, City Directory, 1958, p. 259.)

Professional Activities

Registered architect in the State of WA. He received his license on 04/18/1935.

High School / College

Attended Central School, Seattle, WA, -1912.

Graduate, Franklin High School, Seattle, WA, 02/1912-1916. At Franklin High School, Chinn followed a college preparatory track, like most average to above-average Franklin students of his time. He belonged to the Science Club, French Club and participated in "Class Baseball." (See Franklin High School Tolo Yearbook, vol. 7, no. 8, 06/1916, p. 29.)

B.Arch., University of Washington, Seattle (UW), Seattle, WA, 1917-1922, Chinn was the first Asian-American graduate of the UW School of Architecture. He belonged to the Chinese Students Club in 1922. (See University of Washington Tyee Yeabrook, 1922, p. 461.)

Relocation

Wing Sam Chinn was born in San Francisco, CA, on 11/16/1897. It is unknown when Wing Sam and his parents Tai Hee and Cheung Shee Chinn moved from San Francisco north to Seattle, WA, but it was before 1910. It is possible that Tai Hee moved to Seattle to be near his elder brother (or cousin) Gee Gow Chinn (born c. 1855 in China), who likely lived here by at least 1903.

By 1910, Wing Sam and his family had settled at 218 Washington Street in Seattle's Pioneer Square neighborhood. The household included his parents, brother Kum Shing Chinn and his wife Ah Moy Chinn (born c. 1890 in China) and Wing Sam Chinn. Next door, at 224 Washington, Gee Gow Chinn and his second wife (unnamed other than "Mrs. Gee Gow Chinn,") lived with their four children. Gee Gow was 26 years older than his second wife. One son, Yee Chinn, was born c. 1890 in China, undoubtedly from his first marriage. Gee Gow Chinn's daughter Mabel Chinn had been born in WA State in about 1903, born to his second wife. Gee Gow had immigrated to the US in 1879 according to this census, after his younger brother Tai Hee in 1875. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1910; Census Place: Seattle Ward 1, King, Washington; Roll: T624_1658; Page: 7b; Enumeration District: 0061; FHL microfilm: 1375671, accessed 05/11/2023.)

On 09/12/1918, Chinn lived with his parents at 312 12th Avenue South in Seattle. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Registration State: Washington; Registration County: King Source Information: U.S., World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2005. Original data: United States, Selective Service System. World War I Selective Service System Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration. M1509, 4,582 rolls. Imaged from Family History Library microfilm, accessed 05/11/2023.) He continued to live at home at 312 12th Avenue in 1922 and 1925. (See Seattle, Washington, City Directory, 1922, p. 467 and Seattle, Washington, City Directory, 1925, p. 409.)

By 1926, Wing Sam lived at 2517 Jackson Street in the integrated Central District of Seattle. He resided at this address with Lulu and Margaret Chinn. He does not seem to have married Margaret until 1929. His father lived at 1209 East Alder Street in what would become known as the Yesler Terrace area, like the Central District, another neighborhood possible for Asian-Americans to reside. (See Seattle, Washington, City Directory, 1926, p. 409.)

Married the year before, Wing and Margaret Chinn had an apartment in the building at 2004 Claremont Avenue South as per the 1930 US Census. This was in the Mount Baker neighborhood. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1930; Census Place: Seattle, King, Washington; Page: 8A; Enumeration District: 0123; FHL microfilm: 2342232, accessed 05/10/2023.) A year later, they maintained their home at 2004 4th Avenue in the Belltown neighborhood north of Downtown Seattle. (See Seattle, Washington, City Directory, 1931, p. 351.)

They moved to a residence at 305 24th Avenue South by at least 1935, if not earlier, and remained here in 1940. Most Asian-Americans, could not own property at the time, so they rented this house for $18 per month according to the 1940 US Census. This area was nearby to the Central District and Leschi, the former being an area redlined for non-white residents at the time. The Kimuras, Otomatsu and Suwa, resided next door at 307 24th Avenue South. The 1940 US Census indicated that they owned their own house, which was rare, and may have been inaccurate. Both Otomatsu and Suwa Kimura had been born in Japan, and were, therefore, ineligible from being naturalized or owning land. The property may have been in the names of their WA-born children, although this, too, was illegal. By and large, anti-Asian land ownership laws based on citizenship did not change on the West Coast until after World War II. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1940; Census Place: Seattle, King, Washington; Roll: m-t0627-04382; Page: 7B; Enumeration District: 40-288, accessed 05/10/2023.) He remained in this house on 02/14/1942, when he completed his World War II draft registration card. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation National Archives at St. Louis; St. Louis, Missouri; Wwii Draft Registration Cards For Washington, 10/16/1940-03/31/1947; Record Group: Records of the Selective Service System, 147; Box: 31, accessed 05/11/2023.)

Wing and Margaret Chinn relocated to 503 Temple Place in Seattle's Central District by 1948, at least. Two years later, the 1950 US Census found them at the same address. At this time, they lived with Margaret's widowed mother M. Lulu Chinn (born c. 1878 in CA-d. 08/27/1958 in WA). Lulu may have been a relative but not Margaret's mother. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation United States of America, Bureau of the Census; Washington, D.C.; Seventeenth Census of the United States, 1950; Record Group: Records of the Bureau of the Census, 1790-2007; Record Group Number: 29; Residence Date: 1950; Home in 1950: Seattle, King, Washington; Roll: 2805; Sheet Number: 11; Enumeration District: 40-417, accessed 05/11/2023.) Eight years later, they continued to inhabit the dwelling at 503 Temple Place. (See Seattle, Washington, City Directory, 1958, p. 259.)

Parents

His father was Tai H. Chinn (born c. 1858 in China), his mother, Cheung Shee (born c. 1865 in China). (The 1910 US Census spelled her name "Liung Shee.")

The 1910 US Census recorded that Cheung Shee and Tai Hee were both born in China, and his father came to the US in 1875. Tai Hee was an alien in 1910. It noted that Cheung Shee had had five children by that time. One brother was Kum Shing Chinn (born c. 1883 in CA). (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1910; Census Place: Seattle Ward 1, King, Washington; Roll: T624_1658; Page: 7b; Enumeration District: 0061; FHL microfilm: 1375671, accessed 05/11/2023.)

Spouse

He wed Margaret E. Chinn (born c. 1897 in China) in about 1929. They were both 31 years old. Her surname was Chinn, and it is possible that Wing Sam and she were cousins.

Margaret grew up in Seattle. She and her mother lived at 1248 King Street in 1920. The 1920 US Census listed Margaret as a "roomer" in her M. Lulu Chinn's residence. Either Margaret was not Lulu's daughter, or she was a relative who had been born in China.

Margaret undertook various jobs to support herself before getting married. In 1922, she worked as a designer at the Frederick and Nelson Department Store in Seattlem while Lulu was a basketmaker. They both dwelled at 2517 Jackson Street. (See Seattle, Washington, City Directory, 1922, p. 467.) She was listed as a seamstress in 1925 and as a designer for the Western Dry Goods Company by 1926, while Lulu was a saleswoman for the China Trading Company. (See Seattle, Washington, City Directory, 1925, p. 409 and Seattle, Washington, City Directory, 1926, p. 409.)

Lulu had been born in CA, according to US Census records. The 1940s US Census indicated that she had completed two years of college. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1940; Census Place: Seattle, King, Washington; Roll: m-t0627-04382; Page: 7B; Enumeration District: 40-288, accessed 05/10/2023.)

Biographical Notes

Prior to 05/10/2023, PCAD incorrectly named Wing Sam Chinn as "Samuel Wing Chinn." He was listed as "Wing Sam Chinn," "Sam W. Chinn," and "W. Sam'l Chinn," "W. Sam Chinn" in various public records.

His World War II draft registration card identified Chinn as "Oriental" and listed his complexion as light, his eyes brown and his hair balding. He stood 5-feet, 10-inches tall, and weighed 215 pounds. It noted that he wore "heavy glasses." (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation National Archives at St. Louis; St. Louis, Missouri; Wwii Draft Registration Cards For Washington, 10/16/1940-03/31/1947; Record Group: Records of the Selective Service System, 147; Box: 31, accessed 05/11/2023.)

SSN: 537426509.