Resilient Women of California's Chinatowns
The Resilient Women project was proposed in 2021 in collaboration with the SDSU Chinese Cultural Center and Project Director, Anne Hoiberg, and received funding from California Humanities. Project activities have explored the following questions:
- Who were the Chinese women who arrived in San Francisco’s Chinatown, survived slavery, worked in horrific jobs, moved to Chinatown in San Diego, married and raised a family, and enriched Chinatown and the community?
- What impact did anti-Asian discrimination and bias as well as state and federal Chinese exclusionary acts from 1858 until 1943 have on the lives of these Chinese women?
- What do their stories tell us about their strength and resilience as well as the culture of their communities?
- What contributions to the community were made by Sue Leong, wife of Ah Quin (the “Mayor” of San Diego’s Chinatown), their twelve children, and descendants?
- How can the lives of these women be acknowledged and honored by students, tourists, and local residents through the creation and viewing of media recounting their stories?
- What historic buildings reflect the humanities of the Asian Pacific Historical Thematic District, the official name of San Diego’s Chinatown?
Women of the Gaslamp Quarter and Chinatown
Resilient Women of California's Chinatowns: Leong Sue Quin's Story
Resilient Women of California's Chinatowns: Ah Ying's story
A booklet, which highlights the stories of different women who played an important role in different aspects of the development of San Diego's Chinatown and its preservation is available at the SDCHM for purchase.
Resilient Women of California's Chinatowns: Ah Ying's story
Resilient Women of California's Chinatowns: Leong Sue Quin's Story
Resilient Women of California's Chinatowns: Ah Ying's story
Author Russell Low (Three Coins: A Young Girl's Story of Kidnapping, Slavery, and Romance in 19th Century America) produced a short (20-minute) video, exploring the story of his great-grandmother, Ah Ying, as part of the project. It is available to view at the Mission building or through private screenings upon request.
Resilient Women of California's Chinatowns: Leong Sue Quin's Story
Resilient Women of California's Chinatowns: Leong Sue Quin's Story
Resilient Women of California's Chinatowns: Women Who Fought Human Trafficking in San Francisco
This video file was produced from an interview with Cyndie Quin-Soo, the great-granddaughter of Sue Leong and Ah Quin.
Resilient Women of California's Chinatowns: Women Who Fought Human Trafficking in San Francisco
Resilient Women of California's Chinatowns: Women Who Fought Human Trafficking in San Francisco
Resilient Women of California's Chinatowns: Women Who Fought Human Trafficking in San Francisco
Lilly Birmingham explores the stories of women associated with the Cameron House in San Francisco, like Margaret Culberson, Dolly Cameron, and Tien Fuh Wu in this video-presentation.
Women of Chinatown walking tour
Resilient Women of California's Chinatowns: Women Who Fought Human Trafficking in San Francisco
Resilient Women of California's Chinatowns: Professional Women
A walking tour of sites in San Diego's historic Chinatown spatializes the stories of women featured in the Women of the Gaslamp Quarter and Chinatown booklet, giving participants the opportunity to celebrate their creation of a safe and productive community for their families, addressing unconscious bias, and preserving historic buildings.
Resilient Women of California's Chinatowns: Professional Women
Resilient Women of California's Chinatowns: Women Who Fought Human Trafficking in San Francisco
Resilient Women of California's Chinatowns: Professional Women
Lilly Birmingham explores the stories of Dr. Faith Sai So Leong (1st female dentist), Bessie Jeong (one of the 1st Chinese American female physicians), and Alice Fong Yu (1st Asian American teacher in San Francisco) in this video-presentation.