Moreover, in surveying materials at the three repositories, there was a visual and textual trail that reflected the Chinese point of view. But they also can document the specific contributions of the Chinese to commerce, architecture, and cultural and social life. These documents tell us the history of what immigrants faced coming to the American West and the inter-ethnic tensions that were present. Yet these sources are often used even today because of the scarcity of written documentation on certain aspects of Chinese American history. These materials are often filled with caricatures and derogatory designations. Information on the Chinese in 19th century and early 20th century comes to us via books, periodicals, newspapers, and other published records as well as through original source documentation such as manuscripts and photographs, drawings, and other pictorial materials. In selecting the material and constructing this digital archive it became apparent that much of the material reflected an outsiders' view of the Chinese communities. Because of the complexity of the social and political history of the time, the presentation of the materials is organized thematically. The materials selected for this project document the nineteenth and early twentieth century Chinese immigration to and settlement in California. The Chinese in California, 1850-1925 virtual archive consists of selected materials from a number of diverse collections at The University of California at Berkeley's Bancroft Library and Ethnic Studies Library and collections held by the California Historical Society.Īgriculture, Fishing and Related Industries The materials proposed for digitization reflected a broad range of formats and topics illustrating the complex history of the Chinese/Chinese American experience in California. Additional partners in this project were The California Historical Society, San Francisco and The Ethnic Studies Library, University of California, Berkeley. The Bancroft Library received an award in the 1998/99 of The Library of Congress / Ameritech National Library Competition to support the digitization of materials related to The Chinese in California, 1850- 1925.

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