Chinese American History Museums and Historical Associations Make History First Time National Gathering Held to Establish a National Network SAN FRANCISCO, California – To better inform the public about Chinese Americans’ history and contributions and promote diversity and inclusion, leaders of several of the nation’s Chinese American museums and historical societies met for the first time to form a network in which exhibits, funding, best practices, advocacy and other resources might be shared. The recent meeting at the end of September in San Francisco was convened by the Chinese Historical Society of America (CHSA), the oldest organization devoted to preserving … [read more →]
Public meeting Aug. 14, 2019 for Julius Kahn Playground renaming
A public meeting will be held Wednesday August 14, 2019, 6:30pm at Julius Kahn Clubhouse (West Pacific Avenue and Spruce Street, San Francisco), when the recommended replacement name for Julius Kahn Playground will be presented. All are welcome to attend to comment on the recommendation for the replacement name. CHSA has been at the forefront of the push to rename Julius Kahn Playground, due to the anti-Asian policies and rhetoric of the U.S. congressman after which it is named. On April 30, 2018, CHSA hosted a press conference where a coalition of city officials and advocates called for the renaming … [read more →]
In Memory of Chan Hoon (C.H.) Kwock (1920-2019) – CHSA Founder
It is with great sadness that we acknowledge the passing of Chan Hoon Kwock (known to many as C.H. Kwock) on July 20, 2019, four days shy of his 99th birthday. C.H. Kwock was the last surviving founder of the original five (Thomas W. Chinn, Chingwah Lee, H.K. Wong and Thomas W.S. Wu) who established the Chinese Historical Society of America in 1963. C.H. Kwock was born in Honolulu, Hawaii on July 24, 1920 to a merchant couple from Sekkei, Zhongshan as the first of nine children. His childhood was spent traveling back and forth between Hawaii and Hong … [read more →]
CHSA Press Coverage – Spike150 Celebration – May 10, 2019
On May 10, 2019, CHSA Board Emeritus, historian and railroad worker descendant Connie Young Yu represented CHSA at the Spike 150 celebration. Her speech opened the event at Promontory Point, Utah, celebrating the 150th Anniversary of the U.S. Transcontinental Railroad. Connie’s speech paid homage to Chinese railroad workers and called for the reclaiming of immigrants’ rightful place in history. Her presence also fulfills a mission begun 50 years ago by CHSA President Phil Choy at the Centennial. Below we’ve rounded up press coverage of this historic event: NBC News: “Thousands gather to reclaim Chinese railroad workers’ place in history” by … [read more →]
Spike 150: Thousands travel from around the country and world … (Deseret News)
By Lauren Bennett Published: May 10, 2019 6:04 pm PROMONTORY SUMMIT, Box Elder — People from all walks of life came together Friday morning for the inaugural day of the three-day celebration marking the 150th anniversary of the driving of the golden spike. ….To kick off the ceremony, elementary-age children performed the “Chinese Lion Dance: Good Luck and Happiness,” which was met with cheers from the crowd. Connie Young Yu, author, historian, lecturer on Chinese American issues and Chinese railroad worker descendent, opened the speech portion of the ceremony, noting the erasure of an estimated 15,000 to 25,000 Chinese railroad … [read more →]
Chinese-American pride celebrated in 150th anniversary of Transcontinental Railroad (WKZO.com)
Thursday, May 09, 2019 By Terray Sylvester PROMONTORY, Utah (Reuters) – Connie Young Yu says that when her parents joined a delegation of fellow Chinese-Americans attending a 1969 event commemorating the centennial of the first U.S. Transcontinental Railroad, they were snubbed, upstaged by Hollywood star John Wayne. Now 50 years later, she and others descended from Chinese immigrants who built much of the cross-country rail line are looking forward to the 150th “Golden Spike” anniversary in Utah for rightful recognition they say is long overdue. “It’s our connection to and participation in American society,” Yu, 77, a board member of … [read more →]
Recovering an erased history: The Chinese railroad workers who helped connect the country (NBCNews)
Published April 22, 2019, 8:26 AM PDT By Chris Fuchs They thought this was their chance. May 10, 1969, marked 100 years since the golden spike was hammered in at Promontory, Utah, signifying the completion of America’s first transcontinental railroad — a monumental engineering feat that linked together the nation’s coasts. A ceremony commemorating the anniversary drew a crowd of around 20,000. Among the attendees were Philip P. Choy, president of the San Francisco-based Chinese Historical Society of America, and Thomas W. Chinn, one of its founders. Centennial officials had agreed to set aside five minutes of the ceremony for … [read more →]
CHSA Appoints Tamiko Wong as Executive Director
The Board of Directors of the Chinese Historical Society of America is pleased to announce the appointment of Tamiko Wong to the position of Executive Director, effective April 16, 2019. Jane Chin, who has been in a dual role serving on the Board and as Interim Executive Director since August 2017, will now serve as the newly elected Vice President of the Board. A San Francisco native of Chinese and Japanese descent, Tamiko is recognized throughout the Asian and Pacific Islander American community for her creative work in leading and designing programs that have promoted and supported the community for … [read more →]
