Upcoming events

Support CHSA’s Roof Repair Fund

This winter’s series of heavy and persistent storms has affected all of us, including our very own Chinese Historical Society of America facility. Our museum occupies a building designed in the 1930s by Julia Morgan, and we have been gifted a leaky roof that has put our facility at risk of damage and forced us to close our museum, impacting our ticket sales and overall business.

To help us maintain our historical museum so that we can halt further business losses, please donate now to our CHSA building improvement fund.

Our goal is to raise $15,000

About Chinese Historical Society of America

The Chinese Historical Society of America collects, preserves, and illuminates the history of Chinese in America by serving as a center for research, scholarship and learning to inspire a greater appreciation for, and knowledge of, their collective experience

Chinese Historical Society of America

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Chinese Historical Society of America

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Donate to CHSA

As a non-profit organization, Chinese Historical Society of America relies on the generosity of the community, individual members, corporations, foundations and public agencies to support our mission of being a steward of the Chinese American narrative. Your support is crucial in helping CHSA promote the history, culture, and legacy of Chinese in America.

Donate to CHSA

As a non-profit organization, Chinese Historical Society of America relies on the generosity of the community, individual members, corporations, foundations and public agencies to support our mission of being a steward of the Chinese American narrative. Your support is crucial in helping CHSA promote the history, culture, and legacy of Chinese in America.

Shop online

Our online shop features original publications and books on Chinese American and Asian American history, art, and culture, as well as works and pieces by local artists, and other merchandise that promote the legacy of the Chinese in America. Additionally, it is home to our We Are Bruce Lee merchandise.

Chinese Historical Society of America

Bruce Lee T-Shirt Merchandise

Chinese Historical Society of America

Stop asian hate image

Chinese Historical Society of America

Fighting on All Fronts Book

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Posted @withregram • @immortalwuxia Tomorrow from 5-7pm PDT, Payhuan Shiao @ancientfuturist will be giving a talk at the Chinese Historical Society of America's Bruce Lee exhibit in San Francisco @chsamuseum @wearebrucelee @standwithasians

Please tune in to our YouTube channel to watch it live: https://www.youtube.com/@ImmortalWuxia/live 

And be sure to send us any questions you have for Payhuan: https://discord.gg/cV7svazDYd

👉 click our linktr.ee for Discord & YouTube links 👈

#awakenyourhero #popculture #wuxia
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#martial #martialhero #martialartsfantasy #martialartist #martialarts #history #culture #brucelee #chinese #represent #representation #representationmatters #authentic #portrayal #lead #sanfrancisco #sanfran
The iconic martial arts skills.
The blockbuster movies. 
The legendary BRUCE LEE.

But BRUCE was also a man of incredible vision, willpower and intellectual curiosity. 

So, how did his brief career inspire highly successful projects in Hollywood, sports, comic books, video games and fashion?

Author and @wearebrucelee editorial curator Thomas Lee explores the business strategies prevalent in Bruce’s life and the teachings that helped unlock his full potential. Join CHSA for the launch of Thomas's book THE BRUCE LEE CODE: HOW THE DRAGON MASTERED BUSINESS, CONFIDENCE & SUCCESS.

📚 This book draws upon interviews with Bruce’s family and friends and his extensive writings, including letters, journals and business documents. Top business leaders explain how Bruce influenced their careers and why he continues to inspire them.

Join CHSA for a Q&A with Thomas. The new book will be on sale with signed copies available. 

Admission is FREE (donations accepted). Complimentary access to CHSA’s WE ARE BRUCE LEE exhibit is included.
RSVP link in bio.
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#BruceLeeCode #BruceLee #李小龍 #WeAreBruceLee #BookLaunch #BookRelease #ThomasLee #Entrepreneurship #CHSAMuseum #ChineseAmericanHistory #ChineseAmerican #ChinatownSanFrancisco #SFChinatown
Celebrating Women's History Month

CHSA continues our celebration of Chinese American women during Women's History Month with a look into our collections archive. 

The biography AMY TAN: WOMEN OF ACHIEVEMENT by Charles Shields spotlights the acclaimed second-generation Chinese American and Bay Area native and the acclaimed author of such classics as THE KITCHEN GOD'S WIFE, THE JOY LUCK CLUB and THE BONESETTER'S DAUGHTER. 

This exploration reveals everything from her rebellious youth to her success as a writer to the trip to China as an adult that gave her a better understanding of her mother, from whom she had often been alienated, and an appreciation of her ethnic background. It also provides a description and discussion of Tan's award-winning career.

An original copy of this book is part of CHSA's trove of Chinese American archives and artifacts collection accessible online for public viewing and historical and educational research.

For more information about our collections database visit CHSA.org.
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#WomensHistoryMonth #ChineseAmericanWomensHistory #ChineseAmericanWomen #ChineseAmericanHistory #ChineseAmerican #AmyTan #ChineseAmericanWriters #AAPIWriters #AAPIWomenWriters
In 1948 Penny Wong was crowned the first winner in the local San Francisco pageant Miss Chinatown. Since her inaugural title, hundreds of young women around the country have vied for the crown, to be recognized and to serve as ambassadors of Chinese American culture.

CHSA is proud to support and help present the Chinese American Museum's MISS CHINATOWN: AMBASSADORS FOR 75 YEARS event. This program will include a screening of the short documentary MISS PENNY WONG and include a panel discussion with former Miss Chinatowns, Cynthia Yee (1967), Rose Chung (1981), Karen Yang (2017) and Lauren Yang (2020), as they share their experiences and perspectives on how the Miss Chinatown pageant has evolved and adapted to changes within Chinese American communities. 

WHEN: Sunday, March 26, 2023, 3pm PT
WHERE: Virtual
ADMISSION: FREE, visit @camwashdc

For more information, visit www.ChineseAmericanMuseum.org.

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#MissChinatown #MissChinatownPageant #MissChinatownHistory #PennyWong #ChineseAmericanHistory #ChineseAmerican #ChineseAmerica #ChineseAmericanMuseum
Wong Kim Ark was born in 1873 in San Francisco to Chinese immigrants who were barred from ever becoming U.S. citizens under the 1882 Chinese Exclusion Act. After a trip to China, he was denied re-entry to the U.S. on the grounds that the son of a Chinese national could never be a U.S. citizen.

On March 28, 1898, the U.S. Supreme Court held in its landmark decision in United States v. Wong Kim Ark that children born in the U.S., even to parents who could not be eligible to become citizens, were nonetheless U.S. citizens themselves under the 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. 

This Saturday, March 25, 2023, CHSA and the Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association are proud to commemorate the 125th anniversary of this landmark victory with a Wong Kim Ark Day celebration. This program will include ceremonial remarks from local dignitaries, speeches and insight from subject matter experts and educators, and a reception and Q&A with panelists discussing the legacy of Wong Kim Ark and the importance of this Supreme Court case. 

Admission is FREE to the public; RSVP at link in bio. 

For more information, visit CHSA.org.
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#WongKimArk #WongKimArkDay #USCitizenship #BirthrightCitizenship #USvWongKimArk #SupremeCourtDecision #OnThisDateInChineseAmericanHistory #ChineseAmerican #ChineseAmericanHistory #AmericanHistory #CHSAMuseum #SanFranciscoChinatown #ChinatownSF
March is Women's History Month.

CHSA honors and celebrates the women who have played a vital role in the course of human civilization. Throughout California’s history, Chinese American women have accomplished and contributed to the building and shaping of our state. 

Our traveling exhibition TOWARDS EQUALITY: CALIFORNIA’S CHINESE AMERICAN WOMEN highlights their achievements in education, politics, finance and business and their pivotal role as matriarchs. TOWARDS EQUALITY shares the history of Chinese American pioneer women in California and their effect and impact on the Chinese family, California economy and the community at large.

To learn more about this exhibit and its curriculum resources, visit link in bio.
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#WomensHistoryMonth #TowardsEquality #ChineseAmericanWomen #ChineseAmerica #ChineseAmericanHistory #CaliforniaChineseAmericans #AAPIWomensHistory #CHSAMuseum #ChineseHistoricalSocietyOfAmerica
March is Women’s History Month

CHSA honors Women's History Month, commemorating and encouraging the study, observance and celebration of the vital role of women in American history.

We kick off our monthlong celebration of Chinese American women with a spotlight on local award-winning author and novelist MAXINE HONG KINGSTON and her 2003 book, THE FIFTH BOOK OF PEACE.

Combining elements of fiction and memoir through a traditional form of Chinese talk-story, Kingston creates an interpolation of elements both real and imagined. This juxtaposition of anti-war protests in Hawaii with her own conversations with Vietnam veterans bravely takes readers on a journey of empathy and moral conviction.

You can find copies of THE FIFTH BOOK OF PEACE in the CHSA Gift Shop located at 949 Clay Street as part of our Chinese American women authors collection. 

For more information, visit our online gift shop at CHSA.org.
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#MaxineHongKingston #FifthBookOfPeace #ChineseAmericanHistory #ChineseAmericanAuthors #AAPIAuthors #CHSAMueum #WomensHistoryMonth #ChineseAmericanWomensHistory
Decadent drink storytelling.
Diverse diasporas.
Dynamic drag cabaret.

Don’t miss out on this intercultural, interactive experience as CHSA debuts MIXING DIASPORAS: INTERACTIVE BEVERAGE ARCHIVE with a very special performance featuring SF’s only all-AAPI drag queen and drag king lineup!

Check out bespoke beverages, creative storytelling, historical artifact displays of Chinese American nightclubs and a historic drag cabaret performance with host @kinglotusboy and @_snjv @0bsurdly @shehaslayers 

WHEN: Friday, March 3, 6PM
WHERE: CHSA Museum, 965 Clay St, SF Chinatown

Tix on sale; visit link in bio.
This year in conjunction with the 143rd annual Marysville Bok Kai Parade and Festival, the Chinese American Pioneer Heritage Committee is holding its 5th annual Chinese American Pilgrimage on February 25 & 26, 2023 in the historic old Marysville Chinatown. 

The Chinese American Pioneer Heritage Committee works to keep this tradition continuous and alive by holding our annual Chinese American Pilgrimage in Marysville at this time of year and to provide all kinds of educational and historical programming and an opportunity for Chinese Americans from all over to come and meet and network with others to share in this history.

This year, CHSA will be on hand with our CALLED TO RISE traveling exhibit, highlighting the Chinese American experience during the China Burma India Theater of WWII.

For tix and event info, visit facebook.com/ChineseMarysville
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#MarysvilleChinatown #MarysvilleCalifornia #ChineseAmerican #ChineseAmericanHistory #CalledToRise #BokKaiParade #ChineseAmericanPilgrimage
CHSA is proud to sponsor DRUMBEATS, HEARTBEATS: COMMUNITIES AS ONE—a celebration of Lunar New Year and Black History Month.

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 5PM @ 
the SAN FRANCISCO MAIN LIBRARY

There will be music and food and an opportunity to share in this combined celebration of cultures with great people from around the City.

Featuring performances by:
🎤 Ruby Ibarra, emcee, rapper
🎙️ Kyle Shin, Son of Paper
🎷Howard Wiley [tenor saxophone] and
🎹 Jon Jang [piano]
🦁🪘 African & Lion Dance Drummers

The event is FREE and registration is required: 
bit.ly/404yuob

A partnership with the San Francisco Human Rights Commission, Office of London N. Breed, Booker T. Washington Community Service Center, APA Heritage Foundation, Chinese Historical Society of America, University of San Francisco and Both Sides of the Conversation.
As part of CHSA's Black History Month celebration, we will be screening The Black Kung Fu Experience at the Great Star Theater in San Francisco Chinatown on February 19 at 2PM. 

The Black Kungfu Experience [2012] traces the rise of black kung fu in the US in the 1960s and 1970s, and resonates in the contemporary martial arts scenes in Washington, DC, Los Angeles, The Virgin Islands, Jamaica and Hong Kong. Chinese and African American experiences evolve differently yet converge in—with the unique vehicle of kung fu.

The documentary film directed by Mei-Juin Chen and Martha Burr focuses on how a group of African American pioneers became respected masters in a subculture dominated by Chinese and white men. Their stories illustrate how kung fu was and still is a unique crucible of the Black experience, which is less about flash and style, kicks and punches than it is about community, identity and cross-cultural bridges.

It will be accompanied by a kung fu demonstration and panel discussion from accomplished Black American kung fu masters. 

Tickets on sale now. See link in bio. 
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#BlackKungFu #TheBlackKungFuExperience #BlackHistoryMonth #BlackHistory #MartialArtsMovies #KungFuFilms #ChinatownSanFrancisco #SFChinatown #GreatStarTheaterSF
Join CHSA for a very special Black History Month celebration that expands on the @WeAreBruceLee theme of social unity and solidarity between Chinese and Black Americans. 

This presentation features

🎥 Film screening of The Black Kung Fu Experience [2012], a documentary about a group of African American pioneers who became respected masters in a subculture dominated by Chinese and white men.

👊🏾 In-person kung fu and martial arts demonstrations.

🗣️ Q&A with Sifu Donald Hamby and Sifu Troy Dunwood. These two remarkable athletes and coaches will speak about their success as internationally recognized martial arts masters, their Chinese Kung Fu teachers and what this practice means in relation to diversity, race and inclusion issues.

Popup gift shop, beer, wine and other refreshments available.

WHEN: Sunday, February 19, 2PM
WHERE: Great Star Theater, 636 Jackson Street, San Francisco Chinatown

Tickets now on sale; see link in bio.
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#BlackKungFuExperience #BlackHistoryMonth2023 #BlackKungFu #KungFuDemonstration #WeAreBruceLee #ChinatownSanFrancisco #GreatStarTheaterSF #SFChinatown #ChinatownFilmScreening #ChinatownEvents
The Lunar New Year festivities continue today with activities and entertainment for all ages in the heart of San Francisco Chinatown. Celebrate the Year of the 🐇 and enjoy Chinese folk dancing, opera, drumming and more at the community street fair on Grant Ave. 

Stop by CMAC's Edge on the Square, the community's first AAPI contemporary art and media hub that nurtures belonging, equity and resilience, creativity and innovation—and shopping! 

Today, CHSA will present a special Lunar New Year pop-up gift shop, chock full of We Are Bruce Lee merchandise, literature about Chinese American history, books by AAPI authors and AAPI-themed apparel.

See you today, 10AM to 5PM, at 800 Grant Ave.
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#ChineseNewYear #YearOfTheRabbit #ChineseParade #CommunityStreetFair #ChinatownRetail #ChinatownMerchants #SanFranciscoChinatown #ChinatownSF #ShopLocalSF
FROM THE CHSA ARCHIVES
📷: San Francisco Chinese New Year parade float, 1963 (Year of the Rabbit)

📢 The world-famous San Francisco Chinese New Year parade is tonight! 

Did you know that CHSA was born in 1963 under the Rabbit zodiac? Marking our 60th year in 2023, CHSA is excited to expand its celebration, preservation, and telling of the Chinese American experience through continued research, education, and enlightenment.

Check out the @chineseparade festivities in San Francisco —all weekend. 

Wishing everybunny good health, history, and hoppy-ness this Year of the Rabbit.

Stop by CHSA afterward for an evening of music, art, history, food and drinks. 
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#ChineseNewYearParade #ChineseParade #SFChineseNewYearParade2023 #CNYParadeSF #SanFrancisco #SanFranciscoChinatown #ChinatownSF #YearOfTheRabbit #YearOfTheRabbit2023 #CHSAMuseum #CHSAArchives #ChineseAmericanHistory
Posted @withregram • @asianweekdb On This Date in History
February 4, 2014
David Henry Hwang’s play “Kung Fu” debuts

Inspired by Bruce Lee’s journey as a martial artist and actor in America, Hwang’s play put onto the stage the struggles of a Chinese man’s journey in America as he built his career and established himself as an icon of Hollywood. “Kung Fu” was an extraordinary blend of dance, Chinese opera, martial arts and drama that set it apart from traditional forms of theater. The world premiere was at the Irene Diamond Stage, and it ran until April 6.

Hwang, a Chinese American playwright and the recipient of multiple prestigious awards like the Tony Award and Obie Award, made the incorporation of Chinese history and his experiences as an ethnic minority in the United States defining characteristics of his works. The play’s success further established Hwang as a prominent figure in the theater and musical industries.

#AsianWeekDB #AsianWeek #VoiceOfAsianAmerica #History #AsianAmericanHistory #AmericanHistory #AsianAmericanHistoryMatters #AsianAmerican #EthnicStudies #AsianAmericanStudies #AAPI #AsianAmericanVoices #AsianAmericanStorytelling #AsianAmericanNews #AsianAmericanJournalism #AsianAmericanHeritage #AsianAmericanStudies #EthnicStudies #DavidHenryHwang #ChineseAmerican #ChineseAmericanHistory #KungFu #BruceLee #AAPIPlaywright #SignatureTheatre #MartialArts
Celebrate the Lunar New Year with an exploration of the relationship between Chinese culture, philosophy, rhythm and art. 

CHSA presents a creative interpretation of ZHUANGZI’S BUTTERFLY INCEPTION by artist XINYE LIN. This immersive audio-video experience combines stunning multi-channel visual projection art, entrancing vocalizations and both live and recorded Classical Chinese opera music.

Lin's work utilizes all the senses in an active and interactive manner where the depiction of methods to heal the mind, spirit and soul is not constrained to static projections of imagery. Rather inputs are tied to different human and environmental factors. Such factors include motion, emotion, scent, sound and mood.

J�oin CHSA for an evening of drinks, food, music, dance, and creative discovery.

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#CHSAMuseum #ButterflyInception #XinyeLin #ChineseMusic #Zhuangzi #ChineseAmericanHistory #ChineseAmericanCulture #ChineseOpera #SanFranciscoChinatown #ChinatownSF #SanFranciscoEvents #ArtPerformance