Bulletin CHINESE HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA | SPRING 2008 | VOL. 44, NO. 1 The Chinese of California: A Struggle For Community Informative New Exhibit Examines Chinese American History Museum visitors explore the main gallery of The Chinese of California exhibit at the California Historical Society in San Francisco, on display now through August 2008. HSA’s groundbreaking new rights. As legislation exemplified by Bancroft Library of the University exhibit, The Chinese of Califor- the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 of California at Berkeley, California Cnia: A Struggle For Community, is removed the constitutional guaran- Historical Society, and Chinese now open at the California Histori- tee of equal protection under the Historical Society of America, The cal Society. law for people of Chinese descent, Chinese of California will challenge Through a unique collection of discrimination and violent attacks preconceptions about the Chinese artifacts, images, documents, and intensified against them. Chinese immigrant experience by telling the personal stories, The Chinese of Cali- Californians were thus left to fight story through the voices of Chinese fornia explores the complex history for basic human rights—and for the Californians themselves. and unique challenges of Chinese very existence of their communities. Featuring a range of original Americans in their fight for civil A first-ever collaboration of The materials from these leading institu- tions rarely seen by the public, The Chinese of California includes pho- ABOUT THE EXHIBIT tographs, political cartoons, illustra- tions, letters, business records, and The Chinese of California: A Struggle For Community is open now legal papers to share these stories: through August 30, 2008 at the California Historical Society, located at 678 Mission Street in San Francisco. • IN OUR OWN WO RDS : California’s Chinese American Press HOURS: Wednesday through Saturday, 12 noon to 4:30 pm ADMISSION: Free to CHSA members with membership card, $3 for the • REDEF I N I NG AMER I C A N general public IMM I GR A T io N : The Chinese FOR INFORMATION: call (415) 391-1188 x101 or visit www.chsa.org CONTINUED ON PAGE 6 Upcoming Events CHINESE HISTORICAL session and book signing will follow SOCIETY OF AMERICA Anna May Wong: Frosted Yellow Willows the reading. Admission is free at California Historical Society, 678 BOARD OFFICERS CHSA co-presents two screenings Mission St., San Francisco. Contact Paul Fong, President of the new Anna May Wong docu- [email protected] or (415) 391-1188 Connie Young Yu, 1st Vice President mentary on March 16 at 6 pm and x104 for more information. Doug Chan, Esq., 2nd Vice President March 18 at 9:15 pm as part of Linda Cheu, Treasurer the San Francisco Asian American Hollywood Chinese Virginia Gee, Secretary International Film Festival. This film Theatrical Opening screens in conjunction with Long BOARD OF DIRECTORS Story Short about Larry and Trudie From April 11-17, at the Sundance Donald Chan Long, the popular husband-and-wife Kabuki Cinemas in San Francisco Cedric Cheng nightclub act of the ‘40s and ‘50s. and the Grand Lake Theaters in Linda A. Cheu Tickets are $10 at Sundance Kabuki Oakland, journey through Asian Willard Chin Cinemas, 881 Post St, San Francisco. American filmmaking with Direc- Barre Fong Visit festival.asianamericanmedia.org tor Arthur Dong’s new film,Holly - Calvin Fong for more information. wood Chinese, about those who have Robert Fung graced the silver screen, including Russell Leong Chinatown Stories: Anna May Wong, Nancy Kwan, James Hong, and B.D. Wong, as well Alexander Lock A Visual Presentation as those who have made their mark Galin Luk Judy Yung will read and discuss behind the camera, from cinema- Dr. Rodney Lum from her repertoire of books on tographer James Wong Howe to April 3 at 6 pm, including Unbound William G. Roop directors Ang Lee and Justin Lin. Feet; Unbound Voices; Island: Poetry & Alisa Yee For more information, visit www. History of Chinese Immigrants on Angel Jeffery P. Woo, Esq., Legal Counsel hollywoodchinese.com Island 1910-1940; and The Adventures BOARD EMERITI of Eddie Fung. Special guest Eddie Him Mark Lai Fung will join her during a pre- Celebrate APA Month! Philip P. Choy sentation on her latest book. Q&A Join us at CHSA on Monday, May 12 from 6-8 pm for the unveiling OFFICERS Welcome, New of Civil Rights Suite, the launch of the Thomas W. Chinn Annual Journal, live performances, C.H. Kwock Board & Staff and more! Free to members. Chingwah Lee Members! H.K. Wong Tour of San Jose’s Chinatown Thomas W.S. Wu, D.D.S. he first board meeting of CHSA Board Member Dr. Rod Lum 2008 was an exciting col- STAFF and Tour Guide Gary Holloway will Tlaboration for new members and Sue Lee, Executive Director lead a one-day coach tour on May officers. Congratulations to the Judy Hu, Communications Manager 18, from 8 am to 5 pm of historic new team led by Paul Fong, Chinatown sites in the South Bay, Liana Koehler, Administrative President! CHSA is also thrilled Assistant where Heilenville and other com- to introduce our new part-time Anna Naruta, PhD, Director of munities once stood. A stop at the Programs Coordinator, Pam Archives replica of the 1888 Ng Shing Gung Wong. Pam is currently obtain- Candace Tom, Operations Temple will also be included. Tour ing a Master’s Degree in Museum Pam Wong, Programs Coordinator fee TBD. The tour will depart from Studies at JFK University. Prior to California Historical Society, 678 Charlie Chin, Artist-in-Residence graduate school, Pam was Associ- Mission St, San Francisco. Contact ate Youth Director at Cameron [email protected] or (415) 391-1188 House from 2002-2006. q x104 for information. q Spring 2008 n Page 2 The Chinese Walls Historic Plaque Dedication commemorative cer- II) bought 1,500 acres emony and plaque of timberland in Wood- Adedication for The Chinese side, which he developed Walls honored 19th cen- into farmlands, orchards, tury Chinese immigrants and vineyards with the who built the enduring employment of Chinese structures of high walls and laborers. Jones went on stone paths lining Folger to establish S.L. Jones & Stable in Wunderlich Park Co., a successful import of Woodside, CA, on Febru- and export business in San ary 9, 2008 at 2 pm. Francisco with his Chinese As a joint collabora- partner, Fung Tang—a tion of Friends of the Walls unique collaboration given and CHSA, The Chinese the anti-Chinese climate Walls commemoration was in the era leading up to spectacularly attended by the Chinese Exclusion Act A commemorative plaque, designed by community folks, CHSA members, Daniel Quan, was dedicated to the Chinese of 1882. media reporters, and featured the laborers who built the walls surrounding Yet, Jones’ enduring legacy, The following notables: Susan Lang, the Folgers Stable. Chinese Walls—constructed without Folger Estate Stable Committee Co-Chair; mortar or coping—still stand today Sue Lee, CHSA Executive Director; workers setting a record of 10 miles as a testament to the craftsmanship Connie Young Yu, Historian and of track done in one day during the and expertise of the Chinese work- CHSA Board Member; and Daniel building of the Transcontinental ers. Presently, The Chinese Walls are Quan, Plaque Designer. CHSA Artist- Railroad in 1869. part of the Folger Stable Historic Dis- in-Residence Charlie Chin brought The Chinese Walls comprise a trict, as denoted in the National Reg- down the house with performances network of trails and roads built by istry of Historic Places. They are also of “Dig for the Gold,” one man’s Chinese immigrants in the 1870s. symbolic of the vast contributions story in song of California’s Gold In 1872, entrepreneur Simon Jones that the Chinese population made to Rush, and “Roll on Down the Line,” (who owned the property prior to the building of the American West, a banjo piece about the Chinese Folgers Coffee heir James Folger and California in particular. q CHSA Board Vice President Connie Young Yu stands California Historical Society Executive Director David Crosson; with Susan Green and Susan Lang, both of the Folger Author Judy Yung; and CHSA Executive Director Sue Lee at the Estate Stable Committee. ceremony honoring 19th century Chinese laborers. Spring 2008 n Page 3 Civil Rights Suite: Exploring the History of the Chinese American Fight for Equality icking off APA Month in May, CHSA will present the Civil KRights Suite: Exploring the History of the Chinese American Fight for Equality, a trio of exhibits scheduled for simultaneous display. Compris- ing the Civil Rights Suite is The Chinese of California: A Struggle For Community at the California His- torical Society; Remembering 1882: Fighting for Civil Rights in the Shadow of the Chinese Exclusion Act in CHSA’s Yick Gallery; and To Enjoy and Defend Our American Citizenship about the Chinese American Citizens Alliance in CHSA’s Choy Gallery. The Civil Rights Suite is a summation of many issues stirring within the current social conscience. Topics such as immigration, civil lib- law, the Chinese Historical Society In the late 19th century, senti- erties, and American democracy are of America’s Remembering 1882 com- ment against Chinese Americans hotly debated ideas given the up- bines a traveling exhibit, a museum was at an all-time high. Many coming presidential election and the theater performance, and a sympo- families were permanently separated fifth anniversary of the Iraq inva- sium of legal and historical experts by Chinese Exclusion and Jim Crow sion—and will prove to be more so in an effort to: segregation was legalized a year later in the near future with the changing • Celebrate the long-term positive when the Supreme Court struck demographic landscape.