King Mar in "American Paper Son"

The initial idea of The King and Me was to transcribe the many letters in a folder King had saved.  While many of the letters are repetitive (yes, it was cold in February, and yes, they missed King at the Pan American), as topics cropped up I needed to find out about who some of the key people were.  I also needed to fill in details of locations and people I personally knew plus a bit of historical context (Alf Landon's bid for the U.S. presidency and the rise of Wichita as the Air Capital of the World during and after World War II).  So far, most helpful have been two books and the Wichita-Sedgwick County Historical Museum.

Reported earlier, Julian MarDock's family biography "The First of Many" made sense of all the letters coming our kin in Tyler,Texas.  My copy of that books was signed by the author, Julian MarDock.  Kim had sent me that book as a gift.

A second book is Wayne Wong's "American Paper Son."  He and his Dad worked at the Pan American and King is mentioned in greater detail than in "The First of Many."  I'm still trying to figure out if the King Mar Family is related to Wayne Wong's.  Wayne's book initial draft needed considerable help and editing from Benson Tong, a Wichita State University professor, who added a lot of the historical facts and included the topic of racial discrimination which Wayne initially did not mention.

The first time I read "American Paper Son" several years ago, I skimmed over Wayne's family tree and just read his life story and noting anything connected with the King.  

Before this E-blog and finally taking an interest in our family tree, my eyes glossed over whenever talking about names and family relationships.  Part of that that reluctance was since childhood trying to understand the Chinese names and the Chinese way of identifying relatives and translating into English plus who was who when paper son names were used.  Growing up Mom and Dad were hesitant to go into too much detail.

Kim and I both misplaced our first copies of the book.  Then I had a need to verify details in the transcribed letters, so I got a new copy on-line.  You can get used copies if you want; try Amazon.

My second reading last month, I charted out his family tree and figured out several Pan American Cafe connections.  Still am working on what connections there might be with King's family. 

Here's one connection.  Wayne came to the U.S. as the paper son of Wong Wing Lock (who's real name was Mar Moy Jing).    OK, I'll use the real name.  Moy Jing's older brother's Chinese name was Mar Tung Jing.  In America he became Henry Mar.  Henry and our King Mar came to the U.S. in June/July 1914 and eventually worked in the Pan American business with other Chinese men.  Henry and King were the only two spoke English and so  they managed the cashier and public relations.  Henry has been mentioned in several of the letters while King was in China in '36.

King Mar and Henry Mar, Dec 1946