Chinese Family Association, San Francisco
Photo: Yee Fung Toy Family Association, San Francisco, CaliforniaWhen the Chinese first started immigrating to California during the Gold Rush, most did not speak English. This made it difficult for them to assimilate into society. Combined with the racial discrimination of the time, immigrants needed to form family associations in order for protection. This eventually became The Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association, more commonly known as the Chinese Six Companies. Individually, the Chinese were weak, but as a group the associations were quite powerful politically.
Fast-forward 150 years later, family associations still exist to help immigrants out when they come to the U.S., and are typically a place where the older generation of Chinese socializes. San Francisco's Chinatown has many family associations, as well as the Los Angeles Chinatown. I would like to have posted a picture of the Wong family association, but I didn't know where it was.
Labels: California, Chinese History in California, historical subjects, images, photos, pictures, San Francisco, travel
posted by Richard @ 5:09 PM
2 comments
Richard Wong Photography: Image Boutique
2 Comments:
I like your photo. Here is photo of my wife's grandfather's ancestor house. He returned to China with eight daughters after working on the American railroads, owned a sugar cane factory, and also until he died was part owner of a restaurant in San Francisco. He must have been affiliated with this Chinese family association. The link to our photos of his house in China is: http://www.childtalk.com/History/fungclanresearch.html
Sincerely
KJC
Those are some great photos, KJC. Do you know what area of China this is? Probably the same as grandparents I'm guessing.
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