◈ 1914: Eleven members of the Korean Student Band in San Francisco performed at the 5th annual National Association Memorial Ceremony.
◈ March 26, 1936: Birth of the Korean National Anthem
Ahn Eak-tai, a graduate of a music college in Tokyo, Japan, returned to his hometown of Pyongyang after a farewell performance. In the early 1930s, he arrived in the U.S. for music studies and attended his first Sunday service at the Korean Methodist Church in San Francisco, performing a cello piece that deeply moved the congregation.
At the time, longing for their homeland, Koreans sang the lyrics beginning with “Donghaemulgwa…” to the melody of a Scottish folk song. Inspired by the moment, Ahn resolved to compose a melody that resonated with the soul of Korea. He later recalled that the inspiration for composing the Korean national anthem originated from his experiences in San Francisco.
◈ 1933: Korean students in San Francisco hosted monthly music programs and held discussions on music and choral singing.
◈ November 23, 1933: Ahn Eak-tai held a cello recital at 500 Riverside Dr., New York, at 8:30 PM. Tickets were $1.50.
◈ December 24, 1933: At the Oriental Student Conference at the University of Chicago, Mary Kim’s performance of the Gayageum (a traditional Korean string instrument) was highly popular.
◈ March 26, 1936: Ahn Eak-tai, who had been residing in Philadelphia for five years, publicly presented his composition of the “Korean National Anthem.”
◈ April 9, 1954: A 38-member choir group, Bongsoonga Choir, from Korea visited San Francisco. They stayed for three days at the St. Francis Hotel and received invitations from various nearby communities. The group, consisting of 22 girls and 3 boys aged 7 to 12, toured major cities like New York and Chicago, performing 227 times to raise $10 million for Korean War orphans and their education.
◈ February 2, 1958: Ahn Eak-tai conducted the Burbank Symphony Orchestra in Burbank, California, during a North American and Hawaii tour. Known for his reputation as a conductor in European cities, particularly in Spain, his performance garnered significant attention.
Dance
◈ December 11, 1937: Renowned Korean dancer Choi Seung-hee performed in San Francisco.
◈ March 25, 1948: A Korean dance troupe, Joseon Dance Group, consisting of eight members, arrived in San Francisco. Prominent locals, Han Jang-ho, Hwang Seong-tak, and Lee Yong-jun, hosted a tour of Oakland and San Francisco before the troupe toured other regions for performances.
Sports
◈ 1933: A friendly basketball match was recorded between Korean students from Los Angeles and San Francisco.
◈ April 19, 1947: Seo Yun-bok from Korea won first place at the 51st Boston Marathon.
◈ May 27, 1948: In an unusual record, after a honeymoon in New York and Canada, Lee Rich, the son of National Association’s San Francisco district leader Shin Dal-yun, participated in several boxing matches along his tour, securing numerous victories.
◈ 1948 London Olympics: Sammy Lee, a second-generation Korean American and the son of Lee Soon-gi, became the first person of color to win a gold medal for the United States in the 10-meter platform diving event.
◈ 1952 Olympics: Sammy Lee again won a gold medal. He was also a medical doctor.
Art and Photography
Pioneer Dosan Ahn Chang-ho had a passion for photography, leaving behind numerous photographs despite the era’s limited photographic technology.
◈ October 22, 1914: A photography class advertisement offered to teach photography skills sufficient to start a business or teach others, with a tuition fee of 50 won.
◈ November 19, 1914: Photographer Bae Byung-heon established a small group of five to six Chinese students, teaching motion picture techniques and operating out of 942 Stockton Alley in San Francisco.
◈ June 20, 1918 (Shinhan Minbo): An advertisement promoted color-tinted photography services. Prices ranged from 25 jeon to 1 won for photos and 1 to 10 won for film coloring.
◈ July 18, 1918: Stricter customs regulations in San Francisco banned carrying photographic equipment, penalizing violators with fines of up to $10,000 or two years of imprisonment.
◈ October 8, 1942: The Korean National Association compiled film footage of the Korean Guard Parade in Los Angeles and the MacArthur Day parade in San Francisco.
◈ December 15, 1957: The National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., hosted an exhibition of ancient Korean art, showcasing 187 artifacts, including gold crowns, Buddhist statues, sculptures, and ceramics. The exhibition toured eight U.S. cities, attracting millions of viewers before returning to Korea on July 17, 1959.
Excerpt from the Chosun Ilbo, February 15, 1934: Ahn Eak-tai’s “Happy News” featuring a poster and performance scene from his cello recital in New York.
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