Bulletin Chinese Historical Society of America September/October 2005 Vol. 41, No. 5

Making History: Our Grand Historians Philip P. Choy and

n Friday, October 7, 2005, O CHSA will celebrate the birthdays of historians Philip P. Choy and Him Mark Lai at the Conference Dinner Banquet at the Empress of China. These two individuals, whose decades of HIM PHILIP P. MARK CHOY tireless work helped to build LAI Chinese American Studies as we know it today, have become These two individuals, respected figures in fields as whose decades of tireless diverse as transnational history, work helped to build CHINESE AMERICAN historic preservation, and ethnic STUDIES CONFERENCE studies. Between the thirty-six Chinese American Studies as we know it today, have PRESENTED BY CHSA AND ASIAN years of teaching the first univer- AMERICAN STUDIES DEPARTMENT sity-level Chinese American histo- become respected figures AT SF STATE UNIVERSITY ry course to presenting at in fields as diverse as Branching Out Branching Out the Banyan Tree, transnational history, the Banyan Tree: A Changing Choy and Lai are indeed two who historic preservation, and Chinese America have made—and continue to ethnic studies. OCT 6-9, 2005 make—history. RADISSON MIYAKO HOTEL years. Upon his return, Phil Pre-Registration PHILIP P. CHOY attended UC Berkeley on the GI EXTENDED to Sept. 19 Born in China- Bill. Graduating with a degree in Pre-registration for CHSA town in 1926, Philip P. Choy grew architecture, he would continue members is only $70, and includes up in a family of five children. His to work in residential and com- admission to all conference father, a paper son, was part mercial design for fifty years. sessions, pre-registration owner of a meat market on Grant reception, and keynote luncheon. As president of the Chinese Registration info and forms online. Avenue; his mother, American- Historical Society of America dur- born though raised in China, ing the Civil Rights movement, VISIT WWW.CHSA.ORG worked in a sewing factory. Phil sensed a growing interest Reserve your place at CHSA’s After attending San Francisco and demand for Chinese American public schools and Chinese history in schools and universi- school, Phil enlisted in the Army ties. His opportunity came in Making History Air Corps during World War II. 1969, when he and fellow CHSA Dinner Banquet on October 7! While in basic training in Biloxi, member Him Mark Lai co-taught Tickets are $80 each. Sponsor our Mississippi, he witnessed segre- the first Chinese American Studies special Longevity Tables for $999. gation in its extremity, which was course in the nation at San Please email [email protected] or to motivate his activities in later Francisco State University. call (415) 391-1188 ext. 105. CONTINUED ON PAGE 4 CHINESE Introducing New Board HISTORICAL Member Galin Luk SOCIETY OF AMERICA alin Luk is proud to join Law Student Association. After G the Board of the Chinese law school, Galin attained the BOARD OFFICERS Historical Society of America. rank of Captain serving in the U.S. Willard Chin, President Born and raised in San Francisco. Marine Corps as a Judge Philip P. Choy, 1st Vice President Galin attended San Francisco Advocate. In the Marine Corps, he Donald Chan, 2nd Vice President State University where he earned litigated trials as the Chief Russell Jeung, Ph.D., Secretary a B.A. and minored in Asian District Attorney and as the Frank Jang, Treasurer American Studies. While at SFSU, Senior Public Defender for Marine he presented at the 50th Corps Air Station, New River. BOARD DIRECTORS Anniversary Repeal of the Chinese Galin now specializes in com- Irene Poon Andersen Exclusion Act and volunteered his mercial, maritime and admiralty Donald Chan time cataloging the Daniel K.E. litigation with the law firm of Cox, Joyce Chan Ching Collection. Wootton, Griffin, Hansen and Willard Chin Galin earned his law degree Poulos, LLP. He volunteers his Philip P. Choy from the University of time with local law schools and Colleen Fong, Ph.D. at Davis. While at Davis, he was the Asian American Bar Paul Fong an active member of the Asian Association Mentor program. j Frank Jang Russell Jeung Jeannie Woo Bids Farewell Him Mark Lai research and obtaining my doc- Agnes Lam torate at U.C. Davis. Catherine S. Lam It has been a pleasure work- Alexander Lock ing with this organization and Kenneth Louie getting to know all the donors, Galin Luk long time members, and histori- Anna Naruta cal groups dedicated to the same William G. Roop ear Staff, Board, and cause. From my work at CHSA, I CHSA Members, have learned about community FOUNDERS D Thomas W. Chinn Almost ten years has passed service, dedication and determi- nation from the long time mem- C.H. Kwock since I began working with the bers who have given of their time Chingwah Lee Society first as a student volun- teer transitioned to staff at 650 and labor, and perseverance in H.K. Wong Commercial Street, then as a the face of adversity. With these Thomas W.S. Wu, D.D.S. board member, and finally as the tools on hand, I take them with STAFF Collections and Exhibitions me in my move to academia. Sue Lee, Executive Director Manager on Clay Street. With this May the Society continue on Marisa Louie, Program Assistant long association with CHSA it is its path toward preserving and Russell Ow, Operations Administrator with a touch of sadness that I let researching Chinese American Leonard Shek, Program Coordinator everyone know that I will no history while fulfilling the mission Ivy Wong, Weekend Supervisor longer be with CHSA as of August it set out for itself 42 years ago. Maggie Yan, Reading Room 19, 2005. My work at the Society Thank you again for the ongoing Coordinator continuously fueled my interest in support of my work at CHSA and your encouragement of my own Jeffery P. Woo, Esq., Legal Counsel Chinese American history and beginning September 2005, I will personal goal. be continuing my academic With best wishes, Jeannie Woo

CHSA BULLETIN n PAGE 2 Pandering to Sinophobia: Remembering The Chinese Question in Political Cartoons C.C. Wang Exhibition Reception

Cartoon by G.F. Keller, published in the The Wasp, c 1870s.

collection of 19th Acentury political cartoons found in popular press and regional newspa- pers, CHSA’s newest exhibition, Pandering to Sinophobia, chronicles mounting national conflicts between politics, labor, and immigration that would lead to anti-Chinese violence and legislation. Curator Adam Mikos (l) and Political cartoons, drawings that make satirical comments on guest speaker Arnold Chang with a landscape by C.C. Wang. political and socio-economic issues of the day, exaggerate features in humorous and often outrageous ways. In the pages of publications HSA paid tribute to the nationwide, images of the Chinese turned from benign to malicious C late artist and collector as anti-Chinese sentiment intensified. C.C. Wang at the opening recep- “In the second half of the 19th century, one major political contro- tion for its new exhibition, versy was the objection of the coming of the Chinese to America,” Remembering C.C. Wang, on says Philip Choy, the exhibition’s curator. “This issue was exploited by August 18, 2005. the press, who caricatured the Chinese as physically different and as With guests from the Asian culturally inferior.” Art Museum and the Chinese For Americans, who mostly had little exposure to Chinese living in Culture Center, CHSA welcomed the U.S., these cartoons influenced public opinion. The cartoonists’ New York artist Arnold Chang, artistic licenses and cultural misconceptions would become the basis who wrote a brief essay for the for prevalent stereotypes of the Chinese. In the images on display in exhibition catalogue (available at the exhibition, viewers can grasp the hostility and tensions of this era, the CHSA bookstore.) Chang revealing the heatedly racist environment of the 19th century. talked about his long association Pandering to Sinophobia will be open through January 15, 2006 in with Wang, his mentor and the Philip P. Choy Gallery. j Chinese brush painting & calligra- phy teacher. He also related Fall 2005 Educational Wang’s immigrant experience to Programs Preview that of other Chinese immigrants, CHSA will collaborate with Marvelous past and present, and explained Stories, Wonderful Tales! storyteller Charlie how Wang’s artistic work connect- Chin for its Fall 2005 K-12 educational program- ed him with both countries. ming. Charlie, a New York City-bred musician, Remembering C.C. Wang will performer, and historian, has lived in the S.F. be open in the Frank H. Yick Bay Area for the past ten years. Gallery through December 19, Charlie will continue this summer’s success- 2005. C.C. Wang will also be a ful storytelling program and inject living person- topic of discussion in the panel ages into programs for older students. To “What is Chinese American Art?” schedule a group or class for a visit to CHSA, at Branching Out the Banyan please contact Program Coordinator Leonard Shek at [email protected], Tree, the October Chinese (415) 391-1188 ext. 107. j American Studies conference. j

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2005 n PAGE 3 Making History: Our Grand Historians

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Though no longer actively teach- which was active in the cultural ing, Phil holds the title of Adjunct sector promoting better under- Professor of Asian American standing of the People’s Republic Studies at SFSU. of China. In 1960, after having With his background in archi- Chinn and Him Mark Lai). Phil taken Stanford Lyman’s pioneer- tecture, Phil has had a strong has served as consultant and ing Asian American studies presence in historic preservation, advisor for many projects, exhibi- course through UC Berkeley serving on the San Francisco tions, and media presentations extension, Him Mark began his Landmark Advisory Board and the on the Chinese American experi- journey as a scholar in Chinese California State Historical ence. Particular favorites of Phil’s American Studies when he joined Resources Commission. He con- are the lifesize diorama of the Chinese Historical Society of ducted the extensive 1978 histori- Chinese railroad workers at the America in 1965 and Chinese cal/cultural survey of San Fran- Sacramento Railroad Museum, Culture Foundation of San cisco Chinatown. He was also an and the Chinese Pioneers exhibit Francisco shortly thereafter. early advocate for the preserva- at the Federal Courthouse. In 1967, as the Civil Rights tion of Angel Island Immigration Phil and his wife of 52 years, Movement led to rising activism Station, sitting on the Historical Sarah, have three adult children and ethnic awareness among Advisory Committee and writing and five grandchildren, and live in Chinese Americans, Him Mark the case report to nominate the San Francisco. Phil currently began writing articles on Chinese site to the National Registry of serves on the board of the American history in the bilingual Historic Places. In Oroville, Chinese Historical Society of Chinese American weekly East- California, Phil designed the America and most recently curat- West. In 1969, he co-authored A Temple Tapestry Hall to comple- ed the exhibition “Pandering to History of the Chinese in California: A ment the adjacent historic Chinese Sinophobia: The Chinese Syllabus (with Thomas Chinn and temple and to house its extensive Question in Political Cartoons”. Philip Choy), which was followed Chinese folk art collection. He continues to expand his col- by co-teaching the first Chinese Phil donated much of his time lection of Chinese Americana. American history course in the to the Chinatown YWCA, helping nation with Philip Choy at San to secure landmark status for the HIM MARK LAI Francisco State University. Julia Morgan-designed building. Born in San Francisco Subsequently, as a member of the His work would come full-circle, Chinatown in 1925, Him Mark Lai state legislature advisory commit- as he would later support CHSA’s grew up in a family of five chil- tee to preserve Angel Island acquisition of the building. CHSA dren. The son of immigrant gar- Immigration Station, Him Mark made the Chinatown YWCA build- ment workers, Him Mark attended would go on to co-author Island: ing its permanent home and San Francisco public schools and Poetry and History of Chinese opened its Museum and Learning Nam Kue Chinese School. Immigrants on Angel Island, 1910- Center in 2001, thanks to Phil’s Graduating from UC Berkeley in 1940 (with Genny Lim and Judy tireless efforts. 1947 with a degree in engineer- Yung. In addition to articles pub- Honored by countless organi- ing, He would work for thirty-one lished in journals and edited pub- zations for his work in the com- years as a mechanical engineer lications, Him Mark has also munity, Phil has also co-authored for Bechtel Corporation. served on the editorial committee The Coming Man: 19th Century Him Mark’s involvement in of CHSA’s journal, Chinese America: American Perceptions of the Chinese the Chinese American community History and Perspectives, since 1986. (with Lorraine Dong and Marlon began shortly after graduation. Him Mark’s pioneering work is Hom) and A History of the Chinese in During the 1950s he was presi- unparalleled in his advocacy and California: A Syllabus (with Thomas dent of Mun Ching Youth Club, use of both Chinese language and

CONTINUED ON PAGE 5

CHSA BULLETIN n PAGE 4 Conference “Town & Gown” Keynote Luncheon with Henry Der & Charles B. Reed ducation advocate Henry Der and California State University Charles B. Reed will speak about Eeducation and the Chinese American community at the conference keynote luncheon on Friday, October 7, 2005. Der and Reed will represent “Town” (community organizations) and “Gown” (universi- ties) respectively, but will speak from their dual experiences with both. Der, currently Senior Program Officer at the Evelyn & Walter Haas, Jr., Fund, served as the Deputy Superintendent of Public Instruction for the California Department of Education from 1996-2001. Previously, he worked with Chinese for Affirmative Action (1974-1996) and as an English as a Second Language instructor. Dr. Reed, the chancellor of the CSU system since 1998, has worked in higher education for nearly two decades. He currently serves on several national education advisory boards that build collaborative efforts Conference Field Trips: between universities and other Sign Up Through September 19 segments of the community. j HSA has opened its Sunday, October 9, 2005 confer- ence field trips to CHSA members and their guests. If C Conference you would like to tour SF Chinatown, the National Archives, Scholarship Ng Shing Gung (San Jose), China Camp, Locke, Marysville Offered to High Chinatown, or the Sacramento Delta, please contact Marisa School Students Louie ASAP at (415) 391-1188 ext. 101, [email protected]. j he Office of the President T at San Francisco State Our Grand Historians University (SFSU) is offering CONTINUED FROM PAGE 4 scholarships to high school English language sources. ject and subsequent participation juniors and seniors of Chinese Towards this end, he has pub- in international conferences descent to attend “Branching Out lished the bibliographies Chinese helped him better understand the the Banyan Tree,” the 2005 Newspapers Published in North Chinese American experience Chinese American Studies confer- America, 1854-1975 (with Karl Lo; from a global perspective. These ence. These scholarships are 1977) and A History Reclaimed: An experiences also enabled him offered to encourage students to Annotated Bibliography of Chinese (with Albert Cheng) to initiate the learn more about Chinese Language Materials on the Chinese of In Search of Roots program at the American culture and history, and America (1986), as well as a gener- Chinese Culture Center, where he to pursue higher education al history in Chinese, Cong helps to impart the importance of through the California State Huaqiao dao Huaren: Ershi shiji history and heritage to numerous University system. Students will Meiguo Huaren shehui fazhan shi young Chinese Americans. be exposed to potential intern- [From Chinese overseas to Him Mark and his constant ships, employment, and volunteer Chinese American: A history of companion and wife of 52 years, opportunities in the Chinese the development of Chinese Laura, live in San Francisco. He is American community. American society during the twen- currently working on the counter- Scholarship awardees will tieth century] (1992). part to his most recently pub- receive a scholarship to attend Stepping outside the bound- lished book, Becoming Chinese the 2005 Conference. aries of the United States, he was American: A History of Communities For more information, includ- involved in the 1979 joint study of and Institutions (2004). Him Mark ing an application, please contact Taishan emigrant villages by was also the subject of Evan Leonard Shek at (415) 391-1188 x UCLA and Guangzhou’s Leong’s 2004 documentary, Him 107 or by sending an email to Zhongshan University. This pro- Mark Lai: A People’s Historian. j [email protected]. j

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2005 n PAGE 5 Chinese in Nevada

VIRGINIA & TRUCKEE is our belief that they should be Nevada begins not on the RAILROAD CHINESE CAMP PRESERVATION studied in an effort to educate Comstock but in Carson Valley, From Gary Luce of Geocon Inland the public about the lives and Chung said. Mormon settlers Empire, Inc. history of the people who helped brought in Chinese workers to “In 1859, the Virginia & build the West and were an inte- Genoa around 1855 to build irri- Truckee Railroad was incorporat- gral part of one of the most his- gation systems because the ed to provide the means to deliv- toric railroads ever built.” Chinese were experts at getting er materials to the mining camps For more information about irrigation water to move not only and to take ores to the many the V&T Railroad Camps, please down hills but also up hills, mills along the Carson River. contact Gary Luce at luce@geo- Chung said. Construction started in February coninc.com. Thanks to Soot Jew. ... Chinese workers provided much of the labor in building the 1869. By April, 1200 workers, “THE COMSTOCK’S CHINESE” mostly Chinese who had worked railroad through Nevada, Chung Excerpted from an article by Steve on the Central Pacific Railroad, said. And Chinese workers also Timko in the Reno Gazette-Journal, were living in some 38 camps. did much of the lumbering that July 25, 2005 The railroad was completed in provided wood to build the mines Old figures freshly recompiled January 29, 1870. The entire 21- and burn as Mormon settlers and released [in July 2005] by the fuel to smelt mile route, brought in Chinese It is our belief that U.S. Census Bureau show the the ore, rising some workers to Genoa [the Chinese camps] decline of the Nevada’s Chinese Chung said. 1600 feet, around 1855 to should be studied in population in its early history. A combi- was been build irrigation an effort to educate Virginia City was Nevada’s nation of the completed systems because the the public about the largest city for the first three cen- anti-Chinese in only 13 Chinese were experts lives and history of sus counts after Nevada became backlash and months. at getting irrigation the people who helped a state. In 1870 within the limits better eco- “In June water to move not build the West. of Virginia City proper, 539 peo- [2005], the nomic oppor- ple were of Chinese descent, or only down hills but Capital Engineering Design Team tunities else- almost 8 percent of Virginia City’s also up hills. was awarded the contract for the where led to population, according to census remaining 16 miles of [the V&T the decline of the Chinese popu- figures. Chinese immigrants Railroad] to be re-built. As part of lation along the Comstock, said called Virginia City Yin Shan, or this contract, we will provide a Chung and Ron James, Nevada’s “silver mountain.” cultural resources inventory of historic preservation officer. By 1890, Virginia City was still sites identified in the Environ- Few people of Chinese Nevada’s biggest city, but the mental Assessment for the pro- descent worked in the mines, Chinese population dwindled to ject. We know of at least one James said. But they worked in about 3 percent. By 1900, the Chinese railroad camp that will several other positions, from Chinese population in the declin- be extensively studied next year. laborers and servants to teachers, ing Virginia City had dropped to “The philosophy we have is to doctors, merchants and druggists. 61, or slightly more than 2 per- try to minimize impacts to the Photographs of [Virginia City cent of the population... known sites and to thoroughly Chinese] are on display in the Sue Fawn Chung, an associate explore and catalog any cultural exhibit “On Silver Mountain” in professor of history at the resources that we will have to the Fourth Ward School Museum University of Nevada, Las Vegas, impact. New Chinese camps are and Cultural Center. said the census counts of Chinese being found that were not previ- For more information, visit populations in Virginia City could ously documented. Most of these www.fourthwardschool.org. CHSA be low. The correct figure could sites will not be impacted by con- thanks the Reno Gazette Journal be as high as 2,000, Chung said. struction. Though we are not for its permission to excerpt “The The history of Chinese in required to document the sites, it Comstock’s Chinese.” j

CHSA BULLETIN n PAGE 6 My Experience In Development As a SALT This Summer for April 2006 Chinatown is HSA hosted the tory of Chinese and Chinese Burning! Chinatown Beacon Americans. In the research of C Hugh Liang: Center’s Summer Assistant Chinese American history with Eyewitness to the Leadership Training (SALT) Leonard Shek, I’ve learned about 1906 Earthquake and Fire Program from June to August the past and the present commu- 2005. Led by CBC and CHSA staff, nities of Chinese Americans. ugh Liang was a mere high school youth learned leader- Through these various activities, H 15 years old and ship and public speaking skills the SALT’s have gained trust and already an orphan when disaster through projects and presenta- understanding of each other. struck San Francisco. Although tions. Utilizing CHSA’s education- “At the beginning of the sum- the great quake left him penniless al resources, SALT participants mer, my thoughts were mostly to with nowhere to go, he managed researched and engaged them- hang out with my friends that to find success as a vaudeville selves in Chinese American histo- were also in the SALT program, performer and a local radio star. ry. We wish the SALT students having fun with the kids I met. We have commissioned Charlie well as they begin the new school But I found out that the SALT Chin to research his life story and year! program was not just that simple. develop a full “Chautauqua” liv- The following was written by It was to become a leader through ing history presentation, premier- Vinson Chen, a SALT student, various activities, workshops and ing in April 2006. who relates his experience in the games. If you have stories, memora- program. “I have enjoyed this summer, bilia, or anything that may be “Hello! My name is Vinson even if it felt very short to me. I connected with Hugh Liang’s Chen. I am currently 16 years old, think I have accomplished a great vibrant life, please contact and attend school at Abraham deal in discovering who I am and Leonard Shek, Program Lincoln High School. My home is forever keep this summer in my Coordinator at [email protected] or (415) 391-1188 ext. 107. in the Sunset District, but I enjoy memories.” j j going to the Chinatown Beacon Center, as I could go to hang out with my friends and staff there. “Petaluma’s Chinese This is how I got into the SALT Heritage” Exhibition at program this summer at the Petaluma Museum Chinatown Beacon Center housed in CHSA’s Wells Fargo Learning he Petaluma Historical Library & Museum presents Center. T “Petaluma’s Chinese Heritage,” an exhibition on “Through the SALT training, the historical presence of Chinese and Chinese Americans I’ve gained strength, balance and in Petaluma. Though numbers of Chinese in Petaluma self confidence through the Hip and the surrounding Sonoma County dropped drastically Hop dance workshop. I’ve also by 1920, those who remained owned historic businesses bolstered my self confidence with in the town itself. The exhibition features artifacts from the Improv workshop. In the pub- lic speaking workshop we did with businesses run by the Jung and Lew families. Charlie Chin I’ve gained tech- The Museum is located at 20 Fourth Street, Petaluma, niques to speak in public without tel (707) 778-4398. www.petalumamuseum.com. An open- fear. Through the tour of the ing reception will be held at the museum on September CHSA museum with Phil Choy, 16, 2005 at 7 pm. j I’ve learned the cultures and his-

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2005 n PAGE 7 CHSA Board Announcement Volunteer for CHSA! HSA's nominating commitee is seeking candi- Cdates to serve on the Board of Directors, begin- ave a few hours to ning in 2006. We are looking for individuals dedicated to Hspare every week? promoting Chinese American history and culture. If you Spend them at CHSA! We are or someone you know possess the time, interest, and tal- currently looking for volun- ent to become part of CHSA's Board, please submit teers to sit at our front recep- either a resume or a short biographical statement to: tion desk on a regular or on- Willard Chin, Chair, Nominating Committee call basis, or to help with mail- Chinese Historical Society of America ings and light administrative 965 Clay Street work. Interested? Please e-mail San Francisco, CA 94108 us at [email protected], with the subject line “Volunteer,” and Contact Willard at (415) 972-3797 for more information. j let us know what you would like to do. j

The CHSA Bulletin is published bi-monthly. To contribute articles about Chinese American community and historical news and events, please submit articles to [email protected]. Editor: Marisa Louie || Design: Elaine Joe

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