Norman Gan-chao Yao 姚淦潮 (1913-1980) was born and grew up in Zengcheng County 增城縣, Canton, China. Anne Lee Yao 姚李勤芳(1915-1971) was born in Shanghai, China. Both of them attended the University of Shanghai 滬江大學 and graduated in 1938, Norman majoring in business administration, and Anne in education. After graduation, Anne worked as a primary school teacher in Shanghai while Norman returned to Canton working as an accountant and cashier at the Eurasia Aviation Corporation, first in Kunming, then in Hong Kong. In 1943, Norman and Anne met again in Shanghai. In the same year they got married at the Shanghai YMCA where Anne was employed. The next year their son, Peter Yao, was born in Shanghai. The couple stayed in Shanghai until 1946 when they returned to Canton where Anne gave birth to their daughter, Margaret. In 1947, Anne began to work as a librarian for United States Information Service, Canton Office, while Norman was employed as the chief clerk, accountant and later manager of the Canton Office of the Hsin Dah Trading Corporation. In 1949, they moved to Hong Kong. Anne continued working as librarian for the United States Information Service, Hong Kong Office, in charge of the Library in Kowloon, while Norman worked as the Photographer and Dark Room Technician in the Investigative Section of the American Consulate General in Hong Kong.

In 1956, sponsored by the Claremont Church, and the World Service Committee of the National Council of Churches, the Yaos immigrated to Claremont, California, under the Refugee Relief Program. Edward Lockwood 駱愛華, former YMCA World Service Executive who met the Yaos in Canton in 1947, played a major role in the Yao family's move to the United States, and subsequent settling into their new home. Soon after they arrived, Anne Lee Yao began working at the Honnold Library at The Claremont Colleges, a post she retained until her passing in 1971. Norman Yao was first employed at Grisworld's Candied Fruit Co., and later with The Claremont Colleges as a contracted photographer. Norman Yao was a lifelong enthusiast of photography, and the photographs he took in Hong Kong and in Claremont constitute the majority of the collections in the Yao Papers.

1912

Republic of China Founded

1913

Norman Yao was born in Canton

1934-1938

Yao attends University of Shanghai

1937 Battle of Shanghai

1939

World War II begins

Yao's first wife dies

1941

Battle of Hong Kong (Pearl Harbor)

Yao moves back to Canton

1943

Norman Yao marries Anne

1944

Son, Petter Yao, is born

1945

World War II ends

1946

Daughter, Margaret is born

1949

Chinese Communists capture Canton

The Yao family flees to Hong Kong

1953

Refugee Relief Act

1956

The Yao family moves to America

1980

Ronald Reagan elected President of United States

Norman Yao dies