Wing Luke is more than just the name of our Museum.
Wing Luke was a tireless civil rights champion, a preserver of culture and heritage and a man who never backed down from a challenge.
A leader from an early age, Wing Luke was a veteran, a lawyer; he was the first Asian American elected to public office in King County and the first Chinese American elected to the Seattle City Council.
Today, policies around fair housing and Indigenous fishing rights that he enacted in his time are still in effect. Wing also played a critical role in preserving some of our most cherished historic landmarks.
Credit: Wing Luke Museum Collection
1925
Wing Chong Luke, the son of a laundryman and grocer, is born in China and immigrates to the United States at the age of 6. He is the first born of six children.
Credit: Wing Luke Museum Collection
1943
A natural leader from a young age, Wing Luke became student body president at Roosevelt High School in Seattle.
Credit: Hearst Communications, Inc.
His academics and civic activities earned him an invitation to the White House where he was asked to consult on juvenile issues. He never was able to make that visit as he was drafted to serve in the US Military.
1946
Though he served in the Army (where he served in the Philippines and earned a Bronze Star Medal and several battle stars), he used a furlough to support his family after they were evicted from their University District apartment. Due to their Asian heritage, his family was lumped in with Japanese Americans as “enemy aliens” causing their eviction. This incident would deeply affect Wing, and lit a fire for social activism that would permeate his political life.
Credit: Wing Luke Museum Collection
Credit: Wing Luke Museum Collection
1946
After WWII, Wing Luke enrolled at the University of Washington and studied political science and public administration. Here he was president of his sophomore class and served in other leadership roles.
1954
Wing Luke attended the University of Washington School of Law. He graduated in 1954.
Credit: Wing Luke Museum Collection
Wing Luke was hired as a Washington State Assistant Attorney General in the Civil Rights Division and served in that capacity until he ran for the open Seattle City Council seat.
1957-62
He was Chief Counsel on the Washington State Board Against Discrimination (now called the Human Rights Commission). He was the lead attorney on the state’s first antidiscrimination cease & desist order (Fox and Moss v. the Alibi Tavern) as well as on O’Meara vs. the Washington State Board Against Discrimination. Wing Luke was part of the team that argued this housing discrimination case. Though they did not prevail, this important case opened the doors to statewide movement toward antidiscrimination.
Credit: Wing Luke Museum Collection
1962
Wing Luke makes history as the first person of color elected to the Seattle City Council and as the first Chinese American elected to public office in King County.
Credit: Wing Luke Museum Collection
1963
Wing Luke plays a key role advocating for the City Council passage of the Open Housing Ordinance, which stood against racial discrimination in selling or renting real estate. The Ordinance also led to the creation of the Seattle Human Rights Commission.
Credit: Wing Luke Museum Collection
In his three years on the City Council, Luke fought for civil rights, Indigenous fishing rights, urban renewal and historic preservation (launching public campaigns to preserve Seattle’s Central Waterfront, Pioneer Square and Pike Place Market).
1965
Wing Luke’s life is cut short at the age of 40 in a plane crash in the Cascade Mountains, that claimed his life and the lives of two other people.
The wreckage was not found for more than three years.
Credit: Wing Luke Museum Collection
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1967
Wing Luke Memorial Museum was founded.
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1987
The museum’s second location was in a converted garage previously known as The China Garage. It was renamed The Wing Luke Asian Museum.
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1993
The Community Advisory Committee (CAC) creates its first exhibit, allowing for authentic and unique perspectives on the American story.
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2008
Wing Luke Museum moves into its current location on South King Street and becomes a National Park Service Affiliated Area.
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2015
Attorney General Bob Ferguson created a new AG Civil Rights Division and named it after Wing Luke.
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2021
The Wing Luke Museum becomes the first Smithsonian Institution-affiliated Museum in the Pacific Northwest and is the only pan-Asian Museum in the country.
“Don’t do things because of who is right, but because of what is right.”
— Wing Luke
Photo Credit: Wing Luke Museum Collection.
Campaign flyer for Wing Luke, who was running for Seattle city councilman. The flyer states his values, vision, education, and experience. The flyer also includes a headshot of Wing Luke.
College graduation portrait. Wing Luke Museum Collection.
Written in pencil, the receipt acknowledges a $5.00 contribution given by Wing Luke for 1955 World Service. Written in the upper left corner is "U of WA."
Note from Wing Luke to Alice Turtledove Meyer Illustration of Santa Claus with wine glass by Wing Luke. Wing Luke Museum Collection.
Top Step (left): Lung Sing "Henry" (Father), Mother, Wing; Middle Step: Ruby, Robert, Connie; Bottom Step: Marguerite, Bettie. Wing Luke Museum Collection.
(Left to Right) Back row: Connie Luke, Wing Luke; Front row: Ruby and Robert. Wing Luke Museum Collection.
“SEATTLE HIGH SCHOOLS' new inter-school student council are seen here earnestly discussing ways they can help the community through student cooperation with public authorities.” Seattle Post Intelligencer, September 29, 1943.
“WING LUKE, high school student leader, urges his fellow students to fight against Halloween vandalism.” Seattle Post Intelligencer, October 15, 1943.
Wing Luke signed a bond as acting mayor for heating equipment dealer’s license, signing his name in both English and using Chinese characters. Photograph by Charlie Heib, Wing Luke Museum Collection