Educator Alice Fong Yu is recognized as the first Asian American schoolteacher in San Francisco, California. Photo credit: The San Francisco Digital History Archive
During AAPI Month, we recognized the contributions of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders to the American story. One of these was Alice Fong Yu, who is recognized as the first Asian American schoolteacher in San Francisco, California.
Alice was born on March 2, 1905, in a small mining town of Washington in Nevada County, California. She was the second child of ten born to third-generation immigrants from China. Her father was a supervisor in a gold mine and her mother was a teacher. At the time of Alice’s birth, anti-Chinese racism was widespread, but the intrepid young woman never let that stop her.
In 1923, Alice was the first of her siblings to graduate from high school. She then earned her undergraduate degree at San Francisco State Teachers College. Once she completed her education, Alice made it her mission to become the first Chinese American teacher to be hired to work in a San Francisco school. Despite intense opposition, she achieved her goal in 1926 when she was hired to teach at Commodore Stockton Elementary School in San Francisco. Her employment at that school spanned 34 years.
In 1938, Alice married Jon Yong Chang Yu, a Chinese newspaper editor and businessman. She gave birth to two sons, Alon and Joal. When she discovered that her second son was born with cerebral palsy, his condition motivated Alice to go back to school to learn more about coping with his diagnosis. She was 57 years old at the time. She enrolled at UC Berkeley where she earned her credential in special education and speech therapy. She then launched a new phase of her career as a special education teacher.
In addition to her work with students, Alice was active in the community. In 1924, she founded the Square and Circle Club, a community service organization, and she served as the club’s president. The organization raised money for the Chung Mei Home, a boys’ orphanage in San Francisco. The Square and Circle is still active today. Alice also served as the President of the Chinese Historical Society in 1974. In her year as president, she networked with a variety of organizations to promote Chinese culture, language, and history.
For her years of community service, Alice earned many awards. At San Francisco’s 17th Annual Awards in March, 1976, she garnered the Phoebe Apperson Heart Medallion, an award which recognized the former teacher as one of San Francisco’s Distinguished Ten for her many contributions and accomplishments, as well as for her courage to pursue her dreams despite her obstacles. In addition, the Alice Fong Yu School, the nation’s first Chinese immersion public school, was founded in her honor in 1995.
Alice Yu passed away on Dec. 26, 2000. She was 95 years old. To read more about her, click on this link to an essay published by the San Francisco Digital History Archive.
