Edith Leong Yang was born in 1918 in Portland, Oregon. In 1954, as a Chinese-American, Yang became the first woman of color to be licensed as an architect in Oregon, and she contributed greatly to the Corvallis community through her architectural work in the city, on Oregon State University’s campus, and through her community service. She married Hoya Yang in Vancouver, Washington, and they had two children in the 1960s.
For her education, Yang attended Jefferson High School and graduated in 1936. She began her secondary schooling at Reed College in Portland for one year, before transferring to Museum Art School in Portland, which she graduated from in 1942. Afterward, she decided to pursue a career in architecture. There was a brief pause in her schooling from 1942 to 1944, when she engaged in draft work for the Kaiser Company Vancouver Shipyards. Once she returned to school, she received a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Oregon in 1946 and a Master of Science from Oregon State University in 1948. She then pursued her architectural degree at Reed College, the Portland Museum Art School, and Columbia University's School of Architecture before receiving a degree in architecture from the University of Oregon in 1950.
Post-graduation, Yang began her work in architecture with Cleo Jenkins and other architects from Corvallis and Portland from 1950-1954 to gain experience to be licensed in Oregon. Through these experiences, she learned piping, ventilation and structural drafting, production illustration, and isometrics. In 1954, she became licensed in Oregon and started a private practice. Some of the projects of note in her private practice in Benton County include Country Kitchen, Acres Farmstead, Emery’s Shopping Center, Shupe Furniture Store, Co-Resident Women, Inc Projects, and the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Corvallis buildings. From 1979 to 1991 she was the Staff Architect for the Oregon State University Physical Plant. Yang also worked on many additions and renovations of the buildings on campus outside of her time as Staff Architect; notable projects include the Chi Phi Chapter House and the Hyslop Farm Crops Lab.
Yang was a State Certified A-Level Plans Examiner and Structural Inspector and served as the Vice Chairman of the Corvallis Board of Appeals for the Uniform Building Code. Additionally, she was a member of the American Institute of Architecture from 1955-1982 and was the Secretary-Treasurer for the Southwest Oregon Chapter from 1958-1959.
Her knowledge of code, architecture, and design proved useful not only in her architectural career, but within her community service and involvement with the development of Corvallis and the riverfront area. She was a member of the Linn-Benton Housing Authority for a five-year term. In the 1960s, she was Vice President and then President of the Corvallis chapter of Zonta International, a club that promotes women’s rights and equality in every aspect of life. She was involved with providing aid and support for international students at OSU and serving as the chairman of the committee to create the Zonta float in the Corvallis Freedom Parade in 1975. Yang was appointed for a 3-year term with the Arts in Oregon Council Board of Directors in 1971 and later became the Vice President in 1976. While on the Board, she worked on the Environmental Task Force. Yang was also a member of the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Corvallis, which she joined in 1970. She assisted in various renovations of the Fellowship’s buildings from 1982 to 1988, as well as taking on architectural work from other churches in Oregon, including the United Methodist Church of Corvallis, Church of the Good Samaritan, and Tangent City Church. In addition, Yang was a charter member of Citizens of Corvallis, a chair for the Corvallis Arts Center, and a charter member of Focus Club.
Her achievements include being named one of the 1970 Theta Sigma Phi Community Women of Achievement. She was published in Wood Design Focus in their Spring 1990 issue for “Case Study: OSU Seed Lab,” and was a co-editor of “Live with Good Design” and “Live with the Arts in Oregon,” a pocket guide. She also wrote a report titled “Evolution of the Home” which includes original sketches.
She retired from architectural work in 2000 after 46 years working in her private practice. She died in 2012 at the age of 94.
This collection is open for research.
Edith Yang Papers (MSS Yang), Oregon State University Special Collections and Archives Research Center, Corvallis, Oregon.
Related materials include the
The Edith Yang Papers are arranged into six series and the materials are arranged alphabetically within those series: Series 1: Biographical Materials, 1954-2009; Series 2: Community Engagement, 1956-2002; Series 3: World War II Related Projects, 1942-1944; Series 4: Commercial Projects, 1953-2000; Series 5: OSU Projects, 1949-2002; and Series 6: Residential Projects, 1952-2003. Each entry is an individual folder, and most projects have multiple entries.
The Edith Yang Papers include biographical materials, reflect Yang's community engagement within the Corvallis community, and document a representative sample of Yang's architectural projects. The collection's scope focuses on her commercial and residential projects in Benton County, her OSU campus projects, including those during her time as Staff Architect of the university’s Physical Plant, and her World War II-related projects. Some of the projects include both her architectural designs and project documentation, others only reflect her design work: folder titles with "Project Documentation" included indicate that there are non-architectural sheets (all project documentation materials are located in boxes 1 and 2, both of which are cubic foot boxes), and if a folder includes "Extent" with a listed number of sheets there are architectural sheets included.
The biographical materials include artwork produced by Yang, newspaper profiles, interviews about Yang, and her design projects as a student. The community engagement materials reflect how Yang utilized her architectural skills for the betterment of the Corvallis community through her civic and community engagement work. Yang participated in various clubs, the organization of street tree planting and waterfront beautification projects, and she worked on involving citizens in the process of a civic development plan for Corvallis. There are a few architectural sheets within these series, but they are associated with projects that Yang was not hired for, or that she donated her time and skills to.
The bulk of the collection consists of Yang's commercial, residential, and OSU related architectural projects, as well as World War II-related projects. These are largely comprised of oversized architectural sheets, but may also contain smaller architectural sheets, correspondence, estimates and invoices, specifications, newspaper clippings, notes, and other textual documents related to the project found within the documentation.
Series 1 includes correspondence, qualification documents, newspaper profiles, newspaper clippings related to projects, interviews, artwork, reports, schoolwork, a notebook, and a portrait print of Yang. Highlights within the collection include drawings and artwork created by Yang aside from her architectural work, materials related to the museum exhibit "MatriArchs: Pioneering Woman Architects of Oregon," and Yang's architectural projects during her time as a student at the University of Oregon in the late 1940s – early 1950s. The drawings and artwork include figures, colored rooms, and abstract patterns; these were created using pencil, gouache, and oil pastels. Yang was included in the addition to the existing museum exhibit "MatriArchs: Pioneering Woman Architects of Oregon," which was featured in
This series contains materials in folders that are 8.5x11 (Box 1), 30x42, and 36x48 (Map-Folder 3), as well as boxes that are 14x18 (Box 3), 20x24 (Box 5), and 4x48 (Box 8). All measurements are in inches.
Includes 12 artworks of varying sizes.
Includes 12 drawings using oil pastel.
Envelope, postcard, and correspondences regarding projects, city codes, and personal matters.
Business cards, membership cards (Zonta, Toastmasters International, American Institute of Architects, Oregon State Board of Architect Examiners, and International Working Clearance), Resume, Theta Sigma Phi Matrix Table, and Class of 1940 Graduates List.
Museum exhibit biography notes and interview notes.
Newspaper clippings from the
Contains notes on projects such as Mural Park Professional Plaza, Volz Residence, and Co-Resident Women Inc's Anderson House.
Series 2 includes materials generated and collected through Yang's engagement with the Corvallis community during the 1960s-2000s. The materials consist of newspaper clippings, pamphlets, correspondence, petitions, government documents, publications, notes, and announcements. Notable projects include the Citizens of Corvallis, Zonta International, and Arts in Oregon Council. The documentation for these projects includes materials such as petitions, correspondence, meeting notes, and newspaper clippings. An architectural project of note is “Girl Scouts Camp Whispering Winds,” which includes architectural sheets and colored drawings of the 170-acre Santiam District Girl Scout camp near Kings Valley.
This series contains materials in folders that are 8 1/2x11 (Box 1), 30x42, and 36x48, as well as a box that is sized 14x18 (Box 3). All measurements are in inches.
Correspondence, newspaper clippings, pamphlet, meeting agendas, and an announcement with UUFC.
Pamphlets, correspondence, notes, Monroe Street redesign, drafts, council organization diagram, announcements, newspaper clippings, ordinances, and bylaws.
Member list, newspaper clippings, and bylaws.
Newspaper clipping and handbook. This is located in Kings Valley, North of Philomath, OR.
Newspaper clippings and correspondence.
Newspaper clippings and correspondence.
Newspaper clippings, drafts, correspondence, petition signatures, announcement, meeting notes, ordinances, and fact sheets.
Petitions, correspondence, questions, estimates, maps, and announcements.
Newsletter, newspaper clipping, notes, members list, meeting plans, yearly booklets, nametag, committee programs, program packets, comment forms, magazine, pamphlets, and OSU women's studies center materials.
Newspaper clippings, ordinances, announcements, correspondence, and sketches.
Handbooks, bylaws, magazines, pamphlets, and nametag.
Series 3 consists of architectural sheets and project documentation from Yang’s work during World War II for the Vancouver Shipyards in Vancouver, Washington, with the Kaiser Company. This early career work was completed before Yang obtained her architecture license and before she completed her degree in architecture at the University of Oregon. These drawings focus on piping, ventilation and structural drafting, production illustration, and isometric rigging for warships. The Kaiser Company project includes a large blueprint of the isometric rigging of a ship that is 7.52 feet long. It also contains a small print artwork of a ship and a larger redraw of that same image, presumably done by Yang. The sheets drawn by Yang are signed using Yang’s maiden name, Leong, seen on the sheets as “E. Leong”; however, there are many sheets within this set of materials that were not generated by Yang.
This series contains materials in folders that are 8 1/2x11 (Box 1), 36x48 (Map-Folder 3), as well as boxes that are 20x24 (Box 5) and 23x31 (Box 7). All measurements are in inches.
These sheets have some water damage and frass.
Notes and conversion table.
Series 4 consists of architectural sheets and related documentation of Yang’s commercial projects in Benton County. Several projects may include project documentation such as correspondence, estimates and invoices, design notes, and newspaper clippings. Some of her major projects are included in this series: Country Kitchen, The Big "O" Drive-In, Shopping Centers, Inc., and Shupe Furniture Store. The Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Corvallis building project differs from the other architectural projects as the materials found in this project reflect the high level of involvement that her fellow Fellowship members had in this process. Some of the materials that can be found in the documentation for this project include notes on input from Fellowship members, announcements, correspondence, addendums, field reports, plan checks, photographs, and newspaper clippings. Another project of note is Philomath City Hall, which was a project that never came to fruition due to Yang's contract being terminated. The project documentation includes Yang's perspective on why she believes this happened and a timeline of events.
This series contains materials in folders that are 8 1/2x11 (Box 1), 36x48 (Map-Folder 3), and around 30x42, as well as boxes that are 14x18 (Box 3), 20x24 (Box 5), 22x28 (Box 6), and 23x31 (Box 7). All measurements are in inches.
Correspondence, budgeting, certifications, contracts, proposals, newspaper clippings, and design notes.
Pamphlets, newspaper clippings, proposals, receipts, specifications, addendums, contracts, agreements, correspondence, and design notes.
Specifications.
Budgeting, applications, meeting agendas, design notes, estimates, and certificates.
Calculations and design notes.
Related newspaper clipping in Box-Folder 3.4: Project Related Newspaper Clippings.
The plans and drawings for the proposal.
Business card and calculations.
Maps, indenture request, design notes, and calculations.
This building is located in Philomath, OR.
Related newspaper clipping in Box-Folder 3.4: Project Related Newspaper Clippings.
Correspondence, receipts, calculations, bids, pamphlets, change orders, contracts, newspaper clippings, newsletters, and specifications.
Proposals, newspaper clippings, calculations, estimates, and photographs.
Estimates, proposals, newspaper clippings, and correspondence.
Has colored architectural drawings.
Stock receipt, list of stockholders, zoning letter, newspapers, and newspaper clippings.
Leases and newspaper clippings.
Contains projects titled "Barber & Beauty," "Jewelry Shop," "Econowash," "Williams Drugstore," and "Emery's Foodliner."
Contains projects titled "Cornet Store," "Cornet, Drug, and Others," and "Shopping Centers, Inc Development."
Contains project titled "Emery's Foodliner."
Calculations, plans, and receipts.
Specifications and newspaper clippings.
Newspaper clippings, fire code restrictions, notes, correspondence, and analysis.
Related newspaper clipping in Box-Folder 3.4: Project Related Newspaper Clippings.
Future goals and considerations, 1982; Guidelines, criteria, meeting notes, photograph, and correspondence, 1984; Addendum and meeting notes, 1985; Field reports, correspondence, meeting notes, and newspaper clipping, 1986.
Correspondence, announcement, and plan check, 1987-1989; pledges, 1992; specification, correspondence, and an article, 1993-1996; photographs and design notes, 2003; email correspondence and a note, 2006-2007.
Fellowship Addition and Religious Exploration (RE) Addition, 1984-1985; Unitarian Universalist (UU) House, 2000-2003.
This project contains many different iterations of work on the Unitarian Fellowship Building Addition, Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Corvallis (UUFC) Expansion, Religious Exploration (RE) Expansion, and Unitarian Universalist (UU) House.
Series 5 consists of architectural sheets and related documentation from Yang’s Oregon State University projects. Yang served as the Staff Architect for the Oregon State University Physical Plant from 1979-1991; however, her work for OSU was not limited to this time. Yang worked on nine OSU projects before and after her time as Staff Architect, as early as 1952 and as late as 2002.
This series contains materials in folders that are 8 1/2x11 (Box 1), 36x48 (Map-Folder 25), and around 30x42, as well as boxes that are 14x18 (Box 3 and 4), 20x24 (Box 5), 22x28 (Box 6), and 23x31 (Box 7). All measurements are in inches.
Now called Kerr Administration Building.
Specifications. Now Called Kearney Hall.
Now known as Community Hall.
Material list and scope of work.
Specifications and newspaper clippings.
Now called Hovland Hall.
Now called Hovland Hall.
Correspondence and specifications.
Now called Cascade Hall.
Now called Cascade Hall.
Area data and pamphlets. Now called Cascade Hall.
Now called the Valley Library.
Now called the Valley Library.
Now called the Gladys Valley Gymnastics Center.
Estimates, authorizations, and correspondence.
Also called Plageman Student Health Center.
Also called Plageman Student Health Center.
Contains one architecural sheet labeled "Freeze Protect. Bldg MSC." Also contains 4 documentation papers that are not associated with any project, including scope of work and project notes.
Estimates, authorizations, correspondence, notes, and purchase orders.
Series 6 consists of architectural sheets and related documentation from Yang’s residential projects in Benton County. The residential projects, including individual residences, remodels, and apartment complexes, represent the majority of the collection, comprising just under 2,000 architectural sheets, not including related documentation. Projects of note include Acres Farmstead (394 architectural sheets); Benton Manor, an apartment building (217 architectural sheets); the Co-Resident Woman, Inc.'s Anderson House (79 architectural sheets); and the Co-Resident Woman, Inc.'s Co-ed Cooperative (174 architectural sheets). Unless otherwise noted as located elsewhere, all projects are located in Corvallis.
This series contains materials in folders that are 8 1/2x11 (Box 2), 36x48 (Map-Folder 25), and around 30x42, as well as boxes that are 14x18 (Box 4), 20x24 (Box 5), 22x28 (Box 6), 23x31 (Box 7), and 4x48 (Box 9). All measurements are in inches.
Photographs, meeting agendas, correspondence, estimates, calculations, and holiday cards associated with the Acres Farmstead designed for Jo and John Acres.
Calculations.
Calculations.
Correspondence and notes.
Estimates receipts, bills, newspaper clippings, and invoices. The building was originally Benton Manor Cooperative, then University Townhouse, then Executive Plaza; there is an online archive from one of the owners discussing the timeline of the building.
Upholstery swatches, correspondence, paint chips, magazine clippings, newspaper clippings, catalogues, notes, schedules, and tile coloring.
Correspondence on range and refrigerator colors and notes on apartments plans.
This is located in Albany, OR.
Contact information and fax related documents.
Invoices, correspondences, surveys, project details, certificates, newspaper clippings, goals, pamphlets, checklists, and addresses.
Specifications, plans, notes, and correspondence.
Contains one oil pastel drawing.
Specifications.
Specifications, calculations, and newspaper clippings.
Correspondence, notes, instructions to bidders, specifications, handouts, notices, proposals, inspection reports, warranties, licensing laws, invoices, and field report.
Notes.
Specifications, correspondence, notes, and guidelines.
Specifications, contracts, notes, correspondence, addendums, and handouts.
This is located in Philomath.
Notes, proposal, agreements, postcard, and art scan.
Transmissions reports and field reports.
Cost estimates and notes.
Specifications.
Notes.
Notes, permits, instructions, calculations, specifications, and schedule.
Estimates and proposals.
Goals, considerations, applications, and notes. This is located in Albany, OR.
Correspondence and permit. This is located in Albany, OR.
Correspondence.
Correspondence, instructions, specifications, handouts, addendum, newspaper clippings, brochure, invitation, map, photos, and a newsletter. This building is located in Albany, OR.