Chinese in Chicago: 1870-1945

by Chinatown Museum Foundation

Book Overview

The first wave of Chinese immigrants came to Chicagoland in the 1870s, after the transcontinental railway connected the Pacific Coast to Chicago. In 1882, the Chinese Exclusion Act prevented working-class Chinese from entering the U.S., except men who could prove they were American citizens. For more than 60 years, many Chinese immigrants had acquired documents helping to prove that they were born in America or had a parent who was a citizen. The...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0738534447
• ISBN13: 9780738534442
• Release Date: August 2005
• Publisher: Arcadia Publishing (SC)
• Length: 128 Pages
• Weight: 0.80 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.4" x 6.6" x 9.4"

Customer Reviews

Chinese go Chicago

It is a long overdue photo publication on Chinese immigrants in Chicago and neighboring States by Chinese American Museum of Chicago Chinatown, in personal livelihoods, families, communities, culture and interaction with the American society. These pioneers collectively put out their effort, blood and tears in making Chicago Chinatown among the best. This book is a community album of historical value and significance. It represented an era of Chinese struggle in coming and making a life in the middle of America. Despite the odds, hardship and discrimination, they contributed to the society with determination, endeavor and sacrifice. This book makes a documentary and honors this odyssey. The repeal of the Chinese Exclusion Act in 1943 and the different waves of Chinese immigrantions brought along profound changes. Refreshing this forgotten history, this volume is an encouragement for the new comers to excel in poltics, encomics, academic, medicine and art to insure that history will not repeat itself for the 60 years of the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 by Congress. It is expected the next edition "Chinese in Chicago, 1945-2005" will be as promising and exciting as this one.